CHAP. II. DESSERT FRUITS. 217 



in March, and the second in September ; but the operation of 

 stripping the roots is only resorted to once, about the time of 

 pruning in July." * 



AUKANTIACE^:. 



Triphasia trifoliata. 



Cheena Narunga.^ 



A small, unpretending, thorny shrub, native of China ; bears 

 small white fragrant flowers. The fruit, which is spoken highly of 

 by some authors, both in respect to its flavour and its excellence 

 for preserving, is about the size of a large Black Currant. It 

 encloses a stone which fills nearly the whole of the centre, leaving 

 room for a small quantity of juicy pulp of an agreeable aniseed- 

 like flavour. It can, notwithstanding, be hardly regarded as 

 better than a mere berry. The plant, which is almost constantly 

 bearing, produces its crop principally in February, when the 

 bright red fruit gives it rather a pretty appearance. It may 

 be propagated either by seed or by cuttings. 



Cookia punctata. 



WAMPEE. 



A small tree, native of China ; rises to about twenty feet in 

 height; is of rather handsome growth, with fine luxuriant 

 foliage ; blossoms in the early part of April with small dense 

 bunches of whitish sweet-scented flowers, and ripens its fruit in 

 June. The fruit is borne in clusters, and when ripe resembles 

 a diminutive Lemon, being about the size of an acorn, with a 

 rough orange-like rind. It contains three large seeds, which 

 nearly fill the interior. The small quantity of juicy pulp between 

 the seeds and the rind is of an aniseed-like flavour. In the 

 vicinity of Calcutta, where the tree is not uncommon, the fruit 

 can hardly be considered better than a poor unserviceable berry. 

 Possibly in China, and in other localities more congenial to it, 

 a more palatable fruit may be produced. 



A variety however is met with, I understand, in some gardens 



* Sir E. Torment's Ceyloii,' vol. ii. p. 539. 



