SUB-TROPICAL OR TEMPERATE FRUITS 201 



India, Malaya, China, etc. It is commonly found wild in open 

 patna land in Ceylon, up to 4,000 ft., bein;4 also sometimes 

 grown in gardens for ornament. The round green fruits, of 

 the size of marbles, with a comparatively large kernel, are 

 made into a much-esteemed preserve (See under Useful Recipes). 

 The fruit is collected from plants in the wild state when in season, 

 chieHy from November to February, and sold at from 3 to 

 6 cts. per hundred. Propagated from seed. Suited to inter- 

 mediate elevations. 



Phy sails Peruviana (Solanaceae). Cape Gooseberry ; Peruvian 

 Cherry. A low, straggling or creeping herbaceous perennial, 

 native of Peru, naturalised at the Cape and to some extent in 

 the hill districts of Ceylon. The fruit is of the size and form 

 of a small cherry, and is concealed in the dry, leafy, persistent 

 c ilyx. When quite ripe it is yellow and of an agreeable and 

 refreshing flavour, being used for dessert or for making jam or 

 preserves. In South Africa it is largely made into jam, which 

 forms an article of export there. The plant is easily raised 

 from seed, and will thrive in any ordinarily good soil, but is 

 most productive on rich sandy soil. Sow in sheltered beds, 

 and plant out seedlings about 18 inches from each other in 

 rows 3 feet apart. Suited to elevations of 3,500 to 5,000 feet 

 or higher. (See illustration). 



Pistacia vera (Anacardiaceap). Pistachio-nut. A small tree, 

 reaching about 30 feet in height, considered to be indigenous 

 to Syria. It is extensively cultivated in Northern India, 

 Florida, etc., for its delicious nut, which is eaten as a dessert or 

 prepared and used in various ways. During the cold weather 

 in India these nuts, being brought from Cabul by Afghan 

 traders, are said to be obtainable in great abundance in the 

 bazaars, so that "travellers often take them to be a product 

 of the country." In the Ceylon boutiques, however, the nuts 

 appear to be a V unknown commodity. The tree might thrive 

 to some extent at moderate elevations in the drier parts of the 

 Uva Province of Ceylon. 



Prunus Armeniaca (Rosaceae). Apricot. The cultivation of 

 this delicious fruit in Ceylon has so far been nowhere successful, 

 nor does it seem to have been attended with much better results 

 in India. In the latter country, however, the tree is said to 

 ^row with vigour on the hills, where it is sometimes propagated 

 by budding or grafting, which is done in April or May. 



