CHAP. IT. DESSEKT FRUITS. 257 



May to the middle of July for tarts and puddings, for which 

 purpose no fruit of the country is preferable. It has when cooked 

 much of the flavour of the green Gooseberry. The trifling tough- 

 ness of its skin is the principal objection to it. 

 Plants are propagated from seed. 



Garissa Chiiiensis. 



CHINESE KUR6NDA. 



This was introduced some years ago by Mr. Fortune into the 

 gardens of the Agri-Horticultural Society, but no plants of it 

 exist there now. Probably the climate was unsuitable to it. Of 

 the merit of the fruit I know nothing, but no doubt it must be 

 considerable to have induced Mr. Fortune to send plants of it 

 here from China. 



Arduina bispinosa. 



NATAL PLUM. 



A small thorny shrub, native of Natal; bears a strong resem- 

 blance to the Kuroada, to which indeed it is so closely allied as 

 in general aspect to appear but a superior variety of that plant ; 

 very handsome when in full blossom with its bright sparkling 

 white flowers, and, as may be seen at the Cape, with its dark 

 rich fruit ripening upon it at the same time. 



The fruit is of the form and size of a small Egg-plum, and 

 when ripe of a deep purple colour like a Damson or Kuronda. 

 The gardener at the public gardens at Cape Town told me it 

 was in great request there for cooking purposes, and was held 

 in high esteem. 



I raised plants from seed I brought with me from the Cape ; 

 but during the six years they were in my garden they were 

 never productive. It has existed many years in the Calcutta 

 Botanical Gardens ; but I learnt that it has never produced 

 more than a solitary fruit or two there. I was told by Mr. M'lvor 

 that it thrives well and bears fruit abundantly at Kulhuttee on 

 the Nilgherries. 



It would in all probability bear being grafted upon the 

 Kuronda, and might possibly thus be rendered productive. 



