THE BREADFRUIT AND ITS RELATIVES 419 



on the roots, which discover themselves by the cracking of the 

 earth above them, are held in the highest estimation." When 

 grown in a cool climate the fruits are of inferior quality. The 

 ripening season extends over several months. 



Paul Hubert states that Batocera rubra L. attacks the tree 

 in some regions. This insect', which is a cerambycid beetle, 

 causes much damage to fig trees in India by boring in their 

 trunks, and probably works on the jackfruit in the same manner. 

 The larva of a moth, Perina nuda F., is said by H. Maxwell- 

 Lefroy to feed on the jackfruit throughout India. 



"Of this tree," says the excellent Rheede, "they reckon 

 more than thirty varieties, distinguished by the quality of their 

 fruits, but all may be reduced to two kinds ; the fruit of one 

 kind is distinguished by plump and succulent pulp of excellent 

 flavor, being the Varaka ; that of the other, filled with softer 

 and more flabby pulp of inferior flavor, being the Tsjakapa." 

 This classification is borne out by more modern writers. 

 Thomas Firminger speaks of the hard and soft kinds, and the 

 same two forms are known in Brazil. H. F. Macmillan gives 

 the following resume of the subject : 



" Jak-fruit occurs in several varieties, the two most distinct 

 in Ceylon being: (1) 'Waraka/ distinguished by a firm fruit, 

 which the natives recognize by the sound when flicked with 

 the fingers ; (2) ' Vela/ characterized by its softer rind, through 

 which the finger may be thrust when approaching ripeness, 

 the pulp being less sweet than that of the former variety. Of 

 these there are several subvarieties, as ' Kuru-waraka ' (with 

 small and almost round fruit), and ' Peni-waraka ' (' honey 

 jak '), which has a sweetish pulp. A variety called ' Johore jak/ 

 with hairy leaves and a small oblong fruit with a most over- 

 powering odor, is greatly esteemed by those who eat the fruit." 



Since these "varieties" are propagated by seed, they should 

 properly be termed races. Of true horticultural varieties- 

 propagated vegetatively, there are none. 



