92 THE LVCHEK AND JA'NGAN 



This variety appears on the markets rather late in the season 

 but commands ^ high price and there never seems to be an over 

 supply, probably due to the fact that an excess production is used for 

 drying. Some people dispute the superiority of the No mi ts'z (No 

 mait'szf&Jfclt) over the Kuei wei (Kwai mi $fen), which appears on 

 the Canton markets about the same time. The fruit of the No mi ts'z 

 is one of the largest of any and good fruit will average about three- 

 fourths of an ounce in weight. Good types of this variety have 

 exceptionally small and shrivelled seeds which will not germinate. 

 This quality doubtless places it in the first class. The form of the 

 fruit is somewhat rounded, but with prominent shoulders (fig. 45), 

 one of which may be somewhat higher than the other. The skin is 

 roughened and markings prominent. The fruit is red and this color 

 is also quite evident on the inside of the skin. The flesh is solid, 

 crisp and of a fragrant, sweet flavor. It is so dry and dean that 

 the Chinese remark that when the fruit is first opened the flesh can 

 be wrapped in thin tissue paper without even moistening the paper. 

 The flesh is very smooth and is said to resemble fat. It is one of 

 the best varieties for drying and large quantities are thus preserved. 



Kua lu (Kiva Ink W&) Hanging yrtcn 



If one were to consider fame this variety should certainly come 

 first. It is the most mystical of all varieties and Chinese literature is 

 full of interesting stories connected with it. It is produced in the 

 hilly district of Tseng Ch'ing (Tsang shing ifJ^) where the original 

 tree is still to be seen near a monastery. This tree has been described 

 under Tseng ch'ing the Home of a Lychee of National Fame.* 



The leaves of this variety are deep green, small, narrow and 

 quite pointed. It appears on the markets after the Huai chih (Wai 

 chi S$0 but is not very commonly found on the markets of Canton. 

 Before the time of Republic much of the fruit of this variety was sent as 

 contribution to officials and used for presentation purposes. :In those 

 days I had one Kua lu (&%&) presented to me in a little red box and 

 my friend informed me that he had paid one dollar for it. J took it 

 to an expert on the lychee who at once informed me that it could 

 not have been from the original tree as it did not have the green tip 

 and line characteristic of the fruits of this tree. It is this tip and line 

 which gives the fruit the name "hanging green. ? 



*SfC .w/>;v/, Hiaptrr VII, page 50 



