550 Transactions of the American Institute. 



The Chayote, ok Bkead Fruit, of Mexico. 



Dr. G. Naphegyi, having been invited by a unanimous vote of the 

 Club to address them upon the chayote plant, or bread fruit, of Mex- 

 ico, read as follows : 



Some time ago I had the honor of a call from Chief Justice Charles 

 P. Daly, and, while drawing his attention to the chayote plant, he 

 promised to bring it before the notice of your Club ; and I feel highly 

 flattered to have now the opportunity to demonstrate to you this most 

 interesting plant, which, for many years during my rambles through 

 South America, and especially during my long residence in Mexico, 

 has engaged my interest to such a degree that, as soon as I arrived in 

 New York, and having had the opportunity to build myself a conserva- 

 tory, I made it my object to have this plant imported, with the view 

 to introduce it into this country and procure its propagation. The 

 bread tree, which is known to naturalists under the botanical name of 

 " rima," is one of those vegetables which nations possessing colonies 

 in the torrid zone transport with difficulty to their lands ; but in Cen- 

 tral America, although " rima " does not abound, there is a fruit simi- 

 lar to it, namely, the " chayote," which is a rare and admirable pro- 

 duction of nature, and- was early mentioned by Fra Clyvijero, the 

 historian, who accompanied Fernando Cortez in his expedition to 

 Mexico. The fruit is formed in the shape of an egg, about six inches 

 in diameter, more or less; the skin is of a strong consistency, and 

 covered with thorns ; there are also some classes which have no thorns. 

 The interior is composed of a juicy pulp, in the center of which is 

 the kernel, elliptic in form and about one inch in diameter. The plant 

 is curious, not only on account of its fruit and beauty, but also for the 

 means provided by nature for its propagation. "When boiled, it closely 

 resembles the rima or bread fruit ; and while growing may be compared 

 to a species of pumpkin, presenting a beautiful aspect, the sprouts 

 extending to a length of many yards, which, when trained in a hori- 

 zontal position, completely cover the bed, so as to form an impenetra- 

 ble barrier to water, as the leaves, which are in abundance, form a 

 roof after the manner of tiles. This plant possesses the prerogative 

 of not only fructifying in warm climates, but also in the north, and, 

 when once planted, sprouts every year over the bed, or climbs trees 

 which may be in its vicinity. On all the knots of the plant 

 there shoot out fibers which enable the vine to cling to the 

 object which sustains it in an elevated position, while, when it 

 does not meet with this object, it forms a spiral line which it winds 

 around itself, and thus furnishes an evidence that nature destined it 



