238 GARDEN I LANTS. PART II. 



The trees in the Gardens of the Agri-Horticultural Society 

 flowered and bore fruit for the first time in 1854. T-he tree is 

 as yet unknown in the Punjab. It comes into blossom in the 

 locality of Calcutta at the beginning of February, bearing sprays 

 of very small pale yellow flowers ; and bears ripe fruit from the 

 end of August to the middle of September. 



The fruit in outward appearance bears the strongest resem- 

 blance to a very large green Pear. In the centre is a stone of 

 about the size of a Walnut. The fleshy part of the fruit around 

 the stone is of a bright yellow colour, of the consistency of firm 

 butter, and of the fine flavour of a fresh Walnut ; this eaten with 

 salt is very delicious. But Sir J. Paxton states that " however 

 excellent when ripe, the Avocado is very dangerous if pulled 

 and eaten before maturity, being known to produce fever and 

 dysentery."* 



In this country it is usually propagated by seed. Sir J. Pax- 

 ton says that it may be struck from cuttings of half-ripened 

 wood, and planted, without mutilating the leaves, in sand under 

 glass. 



CHKYSOBALANACE^E. 



Chrysobalanus Icaco. 

 CALLIMATO-TREE: SPANISH NECTAKINE. 



ICACO COCOA-PLUM. 

 The fruit of this tree is described by Don as 



" About the size of a Plum, ovate, roundish, varying much in 

 colour, either red, yellow, but commonly purple ; the pulp white, 

 adhering firmly to the stone ; the taste sweet, with some austerity, 

 but not unpleasant ; eaten either raw or preserved ; sold in the 

 markets in the West Indies." 



A large handsome shrub, with dense foliage of blackish- green 

 leaves, has existed in a flourishing condition for many years past 

 in the Gardens of the Agri-Horticultural Society, but has never 

 yet fruited or blossomed that I am aware of. Dr. Lindley 

 states that it " requires a cool moist soil to bring its fruit to 

 perfection."t 



* ' Flower Garden,' vol. ii p. 54. 

 t ' Transactions of the London Hort. Soc,' vol. v. p. 78. 



