BREAD-FRUIT-TREE. 141 



ARTOCARPE^. 



To the genus from which the name of the family has been 

 borrowed belongs the well-known bread-fruit (^r^ocarpw* 

 incisa),* and the jack or jaca {Artocarpus integrifoUa). _ The 

 former as well as the latter is said to be found in India, be- 

 sides eight other species, as appears from Dr. Wallich's 

 catalogue. The bread-fruit-tree is about forty feet iri height, 

 having a trunk commonly from one to two feet in diameter, 

 and alarge umbrageous head. The dark-green and glossy 

 leaves grow to a great size, even two or three feet in length 

 by fourteen or eighteen inches in breadth. According to 

 Mr. Ellis, the trunk is sometimes two or three feet in diame-' 

 ter, and rises from twelve to twenty feet without a branch. 

 Speaking of this vegetable, the same author says, " A fine 

 stately tree, clothed with dark shining leaves, and loaded 

 with many hundreds of large light-green or yellowish- 

 coloured fruit, is one of the most splendid and beautiful 

 objects to be met with among the rich and diversified scenery 

 of a Tahitian landscape. Two or three of these trees are 

 often seen growuig around the rustic native cottage, and 

 embowering it with their interwoven and prolific branches. 

 The tree is°propagated by shoots from the root : it bears in 

 about five years, and vvill probably continue bearing for 

 fifty."t The fruit, which, in the South Sea islands at least, 

 is produced two or three, or even four times a year, is some- 

 thing like a roundish or oval melon, with hexagonal marks, 

 and "six or eight inches in diameter. The seedless variety- 

 is most esteemed, and its substance, when roasted, resem- 

 bles the crumb of wheaten-bread. The bread-fruit was 

 called by Solander the most useful vegetable in the worid ; 

 and Ellis, the excellent missionary, considers it the staff of 

 life to the South Sea islanders. Its praise has been sung 

 by a noble poet, who has " married to immortal verse" less 

 interesting and less innocent subjects. 



" The bread-tree, which, without the ploughshare, yields 

 The unreap'd harves-t of unfurrow'd fields, 

 And bakes its unadulterated loaves 

 Without a furnace in unpurchased groves, 

 And flings oflT famine from its fertile breast ; 

 A priceless market for the gathering guest." 



* Botanical Magazine, tab. 2809,2870, and 2871. 

 t Ellis's Polynesian Researches, vol. i. p. 333. 



