180 TROPICAL FRUITS 



Passiflora quadrangularis. Granadilla ; "Garandilla" or 



Ratapuhul, S. ; " Seemai-sorakai " T. A strong quick-growing 

 climber, with large oval leaves and square stems, native of tropical 

 America. Its large oblong greenish -yellow fruit is not unlike a short 

 and thick vegetable-marrow, and contains in its hollow centre a mass 

 of purple, sweet-acid pulp mixed with the flat seeds. In the unripe 

 state the succulent portion of the fruit may be boiled and used as 

 a vegetable. The root is usually swollen and fleshy, and is some- 

 times eaten like a vam. The flowers are generally fertilised by 

 insects, but these should be aided by artificial fertilisation by hand, 

 so as to ensure a larger crop oi fruit. When the fruit is over, the 

 shoots should be well cut back, retaining little but the stem. The 

 plant is propagated by either seed or cuttings, and thrives up to 

 about 3,000 ft. in Ceylon. It should be trained over a fence 

 or trellis-work, or allowed to climb trees with low spreading 

 branches. 



Persea gratissima. (Lauraceae). Avocado Pear ; Alligator- 

 Pear ; Soldier's Butter; "Et-pera" S. "Anakoya-pallam" T. A 

 small tree, 25 to 30 ft. high, native of tropical America. The 

 fruit is a salad rather than dessert ; it is ordinarily green, but 

 acquires a yellowish or pinkish tint when ripe. It is of the form of 

 a large pear, with a very thin tender skin, and contains in its hollow 

 centre a large round fleshy seed. Between this and the rind is a 

 thick layer ol greenish-yellow pulp, of the consistency of firm 

 butter, and somewhat resembling walnut in flavour ; this may 

 be scooped out with a spoon and eaten either plain or flavoured 

 with salt, pepper and vinegar; it is much esteemed by many 

 people and considered wholesome. The fruit should be picked 

 before it is quite ripe, and kept for a few days to become slightly 

 soft. The tree is now commonly grown in the Eastern tropics, as 

 well as in Florida, Queensland, Madeira, Natal, etc. The fruit is 

 very popular in the United States, and is also imported into 

 London, to a small extent, from the Canary Islands. It is very 

 susceptible to injury by bruising, and therefore rather difficult of 

 transport, the least bruise causing a black mark. The tree thrives 

 best, in Ceylon, at medium elevations, where it bears fruit abun- 

 dantly, chiefly from July to August. There are several distinct 

 varieties in cultivation, the fruit of these varying in shape, size, 

 thickness, colour of the skin, etc. While in some it is smooth and 

 green, in others it is warty and crimson. A good tree will bear 

 from 600 to 800 or more fruits a year, and each fruit may weigh 



