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In tropical countries a very sticky bird-lime is prepared from 

 the milky juice of the tree, which is extracted by wounding the 

 bark. 



Very handsome cabinet work is made from the yellow satin- 

 like wood. 



Either for ornament or usefulness, or both, the Jack-fruit 

 deserves a place in every tropical garden. 



LITCHI (Nephelium Litchi), 



A handsome evergreen tree, some 20 to 25 feet high, native of 

 Southern China. The best sorts are propagated by grafting, seed- 

 ling, or layering. Extensively cultivated in India, Ceylon, and in 

 the coastal lowlands of Mauritius, where the excellence of the fruit 

 has marked for it a prominent place amongst the best tropical fruits 

 grown. At the time of ripening the heavy clusters of crimson fruit 

 form a startling contrast with the dark glossy foliage. The fruit, 

 which is roundish conical, consists of a large, smooth, oval, brown 

 stone, covered by a pulpy arillus of a nearly transparent white, like 

 jelly ; sweet, with a delicate sub-acid flavour. The whole is encased 

 in a rough, crimson shell-like covering. 



The sun-dried fruits are largely exported from Canton and 

 Hong Kong, and can be seen in Chinese greengrocers' shops of 

 Perth. 



LONGAN (Nephelium longanum). 



The tree is much like the litchi, but taller ; it is also hardier, 

 and can be raised true from seed. The fruit is not -so rough 

 externally as the litchi, and, like it, is contained in a shell-like 

 covering ; it is roundish in shape, with a round brown stone covered 

 by a pulpy arillus like the litchi, but not so palatable. 



THE MANGO (Mangifera 



The mango, all the world over, is classed amongst the best of 

 tropical fruits ; few rival and none excel it. The tree is a hand- 

 some, large- spreading evergreen, which grows from 10 to 30 feet in 

 height, and even more. It is a native of India, but is now widely 

 cultivated all over the tropics, and even in many subtropical 

 countries. The leaves are lanceolate, and the flowers in terminal 

 panicles. En size, shape, colour, flavouring, and quality of flesh 

 the fruit varies widely. 



Its varieties range in weight from 2ozs. to 21bs. each. In 

 shape it is generally kidney-form, although some are roundish and 

 flattened and others elongated and curved. The colour of the skin 

 is generally green at first, although some are red or purple, and 

 they assume, when ripe, a yellowish colour. Other varieties are 

 mottled with various shades of red, while a few do not change 

 colour at all in ripening. Between the skin and the kidney-shaped 

 stone in the centre is the fleshy pulp, which is yellow, sweet, and 

 luscious. The "tar and turpentine" flavour which some 



