CHAP. IT. DESSERT FRUITS. 237 



the scent of Strawberries, without, however, possessing in the 

 slightest degree their flavour. It makes a very agreeable 

 preserve. The way in which the fruit is borne on the tree is 

 very singular* hanging merely by slight thread-like footstalks, 

 in clusters of eight or ten, from the oldest branches, but prin- 

 cipally from the trunk itself. 



In the square within the cloisters of the Koman Catholic 

 church at Bandel, near Hooghly, is a row of remarkably fine 

 trees. Propagated easily from seed ; but the young seedlings 

 are very delicate, and in the locality of Calcutta, unless kept in 

 some warm sheltered place during the first two or three Cold 

 seasons, are all but sure to perish. 



POLYGONACE^E. 



Coccoloba uvifera, 



SEA-SIDE GRAPE* 



A stout shrub, with largish glossy round leaves ; native of 

 the West Indian Islands. Its fruit, sold in the markets there, 

 is described as sweetish-acid, rather agreeable, but not valued 

 much. A solitary plant or so is found in the Calcutta Botanical 

 Gardens* where Dr. Yoigt speaks of it as bearing in October. 

 I have at that season observed a few scanty fruits upon the 

 tree, resembling little green, half*grown, hard Gr rapes mere 

 worthless berries. 



PERIGYNOUS EXOGENS, 

 LAURACE^E. 



Persea gratissima* 



AVOCADO PEAR ALLIGATOR PEAR* 

 SUBALTERN'S BUTTER. 



A native of the West Indies ; in this country a moderate- 

 sized tree ; but Humboldt states that near Caraccas he met with 

 " enormous trees " of Persea, and that it may be watered with 

 either fresh or salt water. Though now tolerably common iri 

 Lower India, it does not appear to have been long introduced* 



