MISCELLANEOUS FRUITS 



453 



in great abundance and in hanging clusters at the ends of the 

 branches, is in season almost throughout the year, but chiefly 

 from March to May. At first greenish purple, it changes in 

 ripening to reddish yel- 

 low. The subacid and 

 succulent fruits are re- 

 freshing and agreeable 

 when eaten raw, but 

 their chief use is for 

 stewing; they may also 

 be made into jam or 

 preserve. The tree is 

 a quick grower, and 

 commences to bear fruit 

 when about two years 

 old, remaining produc- 

 tive for several years." 



It has been found in 

 California that the 

 species withstands sev- 

 eral degrees of frost. 

 It may be killed back 

 to the large limbs by 

 a temperature of 26 to 

 28 above zero, but it 

 promptly recovers. In 

 Mexico and Central 

 America, where it is 



known as tomate, it is cultivated by the Indians at elevations 

 of 4000 to 8000 feet. It likes a rich loamy soil and grows best 

 when abundantly irrigated. It does not require a high degree 

 of atmospheric humidity. 



Propagation is effected by means of seeds which germinate 

 readily and develop rapidly into strong plants. 



FIG. 62. The tree-tomato (Cyphomandra 

 betacea), a fruit produced by a half -woody shrub 

 from South America, closely resembles the to- 

 mato in character, and is useful in the same 

 ways as the latter. (X i) 



