FRUITS OF THE MYRTLE FAMILY 



293 



a fruit at that time unknown save as a wild species upon the 

 campos of southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and parts of 

 Argentina. He tried them in his garden on the Riviera, and 

 they succeeded remarkably well. In 1898, by means of an 

 article in the Revue Hor- 

 ticole, he brought the 

 stranger to the attention 

 of horticulturists, and it 

 was soon planted experi- 

 mentally all along the 

 Riviera. About 1900 it 

 was introduced into Cali- 

 fornia, where its cultiva- 

 tion has attracted much 

 attention in the past few 

 years. Its prompt dis- 

 semination in that state 

 was due largely to the 

 efforts of F. Franceschi 

 of Santa Barbara. 



As a rule wild fruits, 

 or those which have not 

 been improved by culti- 

 vation, are seedy or have 

 scanty flesh. The feijoa, 

 taken directly from the 

 wild, is remarkable for 

 the minute size of its 

 seeds, its abundance of 

 flesh, and its delicious perfumed flavor. 



The plant reaches an ultimate height of 15 or 18 feet. There 

 are several types in cultivation; one may be compact, low- 

 growing, while another will be tall, open, and inclined to be 

 straggling in habit. The leaves are similar in form and appear- 



FIG. 38. Foliage, flowers, and fruits of the 

 feijoa (Feijoa SeUowiana). (X 3) 



