CHAP. II. DESSERT FRUITS. 255 



Achras sapota. 



SAPOTA SAPODILLA BULLY-TREE. 

 NASEBERRY OR NEESBERRY. 



A tree of moderate size ; native of Jamaica ; with foliage of 

 so ornamental a character as to render it on that account alone 

 a desirable object for the garden. 



The fruit is of the size and form of an Orange, with a rough, 

 brown, bark-looking, but thin and tender rind. The interior 

 containing black almond-formed seeds, consists of a pale-brown 

 juicy pulp. A more luscious, cool, and agreeable fruit is not to 

 be met with in this or perhaps any country in the world. 



The tree bears two crops in the year : one during August, of 

 not much value; and one in all February and March. Two 

 varieties of the fruit are mentioned, distinguished by the one 

 being round, and called Zapotilla, and the other by being of the 

 form of an egg. In point of flavour or merit I have discovered 

 no difference whatever between these so-callecl two varieties. 

 The fruit, though common enough in the neighbourhood of 

 Calcutta, does not seem to be much known in other parts of the 

 country. The tree blossoms in bunches of small dingy flowers. 



Plants are propagated by grafting upon seedlings of the 

 'Mimusops Kauki for stocks. Young plants are likewise easily 

 raised from seed ; but these, the malees say, do not till after 

 a long time come into bearing, nor are they considered suitable 

 for grafting upon. 



Mimusops Kauki. 

 Khirnee. 



Dr. Hooker states that "this tree is cultivated in China, 

 Manilla, and Malabar, for its esculent, agreeably acid fruit.'* 

 In this part of India its produce, borne in the Hot season, is 

 sometimes eaten by the natives ; but otherwise it hardly deserves 

 enumeration among the fruits of India. The tree is not a 

 common one here, nor does it possess any merit to claim for it 

 admittance into the garden, except perhaps for its foliage, which 

 is very handsome, resembling somewhat that of the Camellia, 

 but of a pale olive-green. 



