FRUIT CULTURE 



177 



rambutan, of a deep purple brown, with short blunt processes, and, 

 according to RIDLEY, the flavour is decidedly superior to that of 

 the latter fruit. 



N. Litchi. "Litchi," or "Litchee." A small bushy tree, with 

 handsome dense foliage, native of China. It blossoms in the dry 

 season (about February), producing sprays of pale-green flowers, 

 and ripens its fruit about June. The fruit, produced in clusters, is 

 of the size and form of a large plum, with a rough, thin warty rind, 

 which becomes of a beautiful red tinge, gradually turning to a dull 

 brown colour before it is quite ripe. The jelly-like pulp or aril 



RAMBUTAX. Xephelhiw lappaccnm. 



which covers the seed is of a translucent whiteness and of an 

 agreeable refreshing flavour. This fruit, represented by different 

 varieties of varying quality, is grown to great perfection about 

 Calcutta and elsewhere in India, and is commonly sold in the 

 bazaars when in season. CAMERON says it thrives up to 3,500 ft. 

 in South India, giving at Bangalore two crops of fruit a year 

 (in May and December). It is grown successfully in Mauritius, 

 but, curiously, is rarely met with in Ceylon, though introduced here as 

 early as 1802. The tree flourishes and produces fruit at Peradeniya, 

 but the variety grown here is obviously an indifferent one. There 

 are several varieties in cultivation, distinguished by size and shape 



