CHAP. IT. DESSERT FRUITS. 261 



Psidium Guajava. 



GUAVA. 



Pydra Unjeer. 

 Umroot Sufree-Am. 



The Guava-tree is said to be a native of South America, whence 

 originally it was introduced into this country. It is, however, so 

 thoroughly naturalised in all parts of India as to lead one to 

 suppose it must be indigenous to this country, a conclusion 

 Dr. Wight seems to have come to, as he has included it in his 

 Prodromus. 



It is a vigorous, stout-growing shrub, rising sometimes to 

 become a small tree of fifteen feet high or more. It commences 

 to blossom during the Hot season, and continues to do so as 

 well as to bear fruit during the Eains, up to the end of the Cold 

 season. The finest fruit, however, is to be met with when the 

 general season of bearing is over. About the end of January 

 fruits of extraordinary size and beauty are usually exhibited at 

 the Calcutta Horticultural Shows. 



To preserve the fruit on ripening from being devoured by 

 birds, bats, and squirrels, each one at an early stage must first 

 have the calyx on its summit cut clean off, and then be tied up 

 loosely in a piece of fine cloth. 



Young plants are easily raised from seed ; but to make sure 

 of a good kind, propagation by layers is usually resorted to. 

 Kooted suckers, also, may be occasionally taken from the base 

 of the main stem. 



PEAR GUAVA. 



Of this there are two varieties. 



1. The fruit of the best cultivated kind is of the size and form 

 of a Lemon, with a perfectly smooth exterior, of a pale straw 

 colour outside and white within; soft as butter, with a very 

 strong perfume. This is borne one only upon the footstalk. 



2. Caffree is the native name of a variety very distinct in 

 appearance from the previous one. It is a large irregular-formed 

 fruit, warted and furrowed not unlike a Citron. Of the two kinds 

 this is considered somewhat the inferior, though the difference 

 perhaps is trifling. Of this variety I have observed as many 

 as three borne on the footstalk. 



