164 TROPICAL FRUITS 



Flacourtia inermis. Lovi-lovi, Tomi-tomi ; u Louvi " S. A 

 Malayan, ornamental thornless tree, growing to about 30 ft. high,, 

 bearing in great profusion bright red, cherry-like berries, which are 

 produced in two seasons, March to April, and August to September. 

 The attractive looking fruits are deceptive, being exceedingly sour 

 in taste ; but they make excellent jelly and may also be used in 

 preserves. The tree is propagated by seed, and thrives in any 

 moderately good soil in the low-country. Sow the small seed in 

 pots or boxes, under cover ; prick out the seedlings into baskets or 

 bamboo pots when large enough. The plants take about eighteen 

 months to be ready for planting out (See illustration). 



Garcinia Cambogia (Guttiferae). "Goraka" S; "Korakkai- 

 pulli" T. A moderate-sized handsome tree, with a round head 

 and drooping branches, native of the moist low-country of Ceylon 

 and Western India. The large roundish fruit is of the size of an 

 orange, with several (usually eight) deep vertical grooves, forming 

 blunt lobes ; it is smooth on the surface, red or orange-yellow in 

 colour, and sweetish-acid in taste. When ripe (from June to July) 

 it is commonly collected by the Natives in the low- country of 

 Ceylon, the thick succulent shell being cut in sections, dried in the 

 sun and preserved for use as required. It is largely employed for 

 preserving rish, being made into a brine with salt ; also used as a 

 substitute for limes in curries. The tree thrives up to 2,000 ft. 

 Propagated by seed. 



G. Mangostana. Mangosteen ; "Mangus" S. " Mangus-kai " 

 T. A moderate-sized conical tree, with large leathery leaves, indi- 

 genous to Malaya. Its globular purplish brown fruit, about the size 

 of an apple, is famed as one of the most delicious fruits of the 

 tropics, some writers describing it as "perhaps the most luscious 

 fruit in the world, partaking of the flavour of the strawberry and 

 the grape." The delicate white juicy pulp surrounding and adher- 

 ing to the seed is the part eaten. In striking contrast to it is the 

 dense, thick, reddish rind, containing tannic acid and a dye. The 

 fruit is in season in the low-country of Ceylon from April to June, 

 and at higher elevations from June to August or September. Here 

 it is usually sold in the markets, or hawked about, at 75 cts. to 

 Re. 1 per dozen ; it is always charged for on hotel menus as an 

 extra. The tree is of very slow growth, and does not usually come 

 into bearing till about nine or ten years old. The essential con- 

 ditions for it are a hot, moist climate, and deep, rich well-drained 

 soil. It thrives up to 1,500 feet elevation in the moist region, but 



