174 GARDEN PLANTS. PART IT. 



India. It is grown in vast abundance about Calcutta, but whether 

 it be that, with the exception of the Cayenne, we have not there 

 any of the established European varieties of this most delicious 

 fruit, or whether sufficient attention has not been given to the 

 cultivation of the kinds we have, it is certain that the fruit 

 produced in this country is not to be compared for flavour to 

 that raised in the hot-houses at home. 



1. The Bengal kind is not by any means an indifferent fruit 

 when grown in a situation exposed to the sun. The large 

 insipid fruits sold in such quantities in the bazars are nearly 

 all produced under the shade of trees, in out-of-the-way places, 

 the shade conducing as much perhaps to the size as it tends to 

 detract from the flavour. The following are the varieties 

 issued from the Gardens of the Agri-Horticultural Society : 



2. The Ceylon, introduced originally by Mr. Eobinson, is 

 decided to be the finest in flavour of all. The fruit is rather 

 large, greenish when young, and of an orange colour when ripe. 



3. The Sylbet, or Koomlah, is a small fruit, compact in form, 

 of very high reputation ; when young of a black colour, and 

 bright yellow when ripe. It is peculiar, too, for the very large 

 size of its eyes, and for not having more than seven or eight 

 of them. 



4. The Dacca ; also a fine fruit, remarkable for the smooth- 

 ness of its rind and white colour of its eyes. 



5. The Penang : one or two sorts introduced from Penang 

 differ but little from the ordinary Bengal kind. 



.6. CONICAL-CROWN: a variety of curious long sugar-loaf 

 form, but of no particular excellence. 



7. Striatifolia : a variety I believe from Java. With its 

 merits I am unacquainted, as it is unproductive here. The 

 beauty of its leaves, striped with red and white, seems to be 

 its principal recommendation. 



8. CAYENNE : a variety much cultivated in Europe, where it 

 is in high estimation, and where it is accounted the best kind 

 for winter fruiting. There are two sub-varieties, the Smooth 

 and the Prickly. The one we have was introduced in 1860 

 from Peridenia in Ceylon ; is remarkable for the deep verdant 

 green of its leaves, and for their being almost entirely divested 

 of spines. It has not fruited here yet. 



9. Moscow ; 10. Queen : Mr. L. Berkeley informed me that 



