August 5, 1886} 
NATURE 317 
fication are grouped together under the general term of 
apple. To select a few out of many such names, we have 
the sugar or custard apple (Azova reticulata, L.), the Kei 
apple (Aderia caffra, H. and S.), the Mammee apple 
(Wammea americana, L.), the star apple (Chrysophyllum 
Catnito, L.), the rose apple (Eugenza [ambos, L.), and the 
golden apple (Sfondzas lutea, L.). In plums there are the 
Caffre plum (Harfephyllum caffrum, Bernh.), the coco 
plum (Chrysobalanus icaco, L.), the hog plum (Sfoxdias 
mangifera, Pers.), the Chinese date plum (Dzospyros 
kaki, Lin. fil.), the blood plum (Hematostaphis Bartert, 
H. K.), and the gray plum of Sierra Leone (Pavinarium 
excelsum, Sabine) ; and so with the gooseberry, essentially 
a cold temperate fruit, English colonists have applied the 
name to such widely-diverging fruits as those of Physalzs 
Peruviana, L. (Cape gooseberry), Pezvescia aculeata, Mill 
(Barbados gooseberry), and Czcca drsticha, L. (Otaheite 
gooseberry). 
The so-called Nuts of the Tropics are in a worse state 
of confusion as regards the common names, and hence it 
by no means follows that what are imported as nuts 
belong at all to that category of fruits. The most familiar 
of tropical nuts is the cocoa-nut (Cocos nucifera, L.),a 
true nut; but the Para or Brazil nut (Bertholetia excelsa, 
H. B.) is simply the seed, not nut, which is inclosed in a 
large globular fruit, almost as large as a 36-pound cannon- 
ball ; exactly the same occurs in the case of the Sapucajo 
nut (Lecythis Zabucajo, Aub.) as well as in the best of 
these so-called tropical nuts, viz. the souari or butter-nut 
of British Guiana (Caryocar nuctferum, L.). The cashew 
nut (Azacardium occidentale, L.) is a fruit borne upon 
a swollen pear-like peduncle, and presents one of the 
most remarkable instances of growth met in the tropics. 
The fruit when roasted is esteemed at dessert, and passes 
in India under the name of “promotion nut.’ The 
Jamaica walnut (Aleurites moluccana, Willd) is the 
seed of an Euphorbiad, as also the cob-nut (Omphalea 
triandra, L.). 
From the above remarks it will be noticed from what 
various sources, and from what a diversified range of 
plants tropical fruits are derived. Also that little depend- 
ence can be placed on the common English names 
applied to these fruits. Where obtainable little objec- 
tion can, however, be made against adopting the native 
or aboriginal names of tropical fruits, as in many cases 
they are sufficiently distinct, and at the same time are asso- 
ciated with circumstances of a local character, which 
render the name of permanent value. On this account a 
native or aboriginal name is quite as good, locally, as the 
scientific name; but of course it loses its value outside 
its own country. We have incorporated the aboriginal 
name in the case of the pine-apple (Axanas sativa, L.), 
and many instances of a similar character are found in 
the nomenclature of Indian and Chinese fruits. 
Although not strictly speaking a tropical fruit, the 
orange is found in both the eastern and western tropics, 
and it is the best known of any foreign fruit. Large 
increase has occurred in the importation of this fruit to 
England within the last few years, and the present con- 
sumption is at the rate of 43 million bushels per annum, 
or equal to a consumption of sixteen oranges per head of 
population. Of fruits belonging to the same natural 
order as the orange there are the lemon (C2¢rus medica, 
var. Limonum, Brand), not largely grown in the tropics ; 
the shaddock, or pumelo (C7trus decumana, L.), a fruit 
often 24 inches in circumference; the citron (C7trus 
medica, Riss.), chiefly used for “ candied peel ;” and the 
lime (Cz¢rus medica, var. actda, Brand), which is chiefly 
known as the West India lime, and largely grown for 
making lime juice, raw and concentrated, for the manu- 
facture of citric acid. This West Indian lime should 
take the entire place of the lemon in the English market, 
and when used in cooking gives a most piquant and 
refreshing flavour, not obtainable from any other source. 
The banana generally found in the English market is 
the dwarf Chinese fruit (Zsa Cavendishiz, Paxt.). This 
is smaller and not so good as the true banana (d/usa 
sapientum, L.), of which there are numerous varieties. 
The banana chiefly grown for export purposes in the West 
Indies is called the Martinique banana, a large yellow 
fruit about 6 to 8 inches long. The Cuban banana is a 
red-skinned variety, much coarser than the Martinique 
fruit, and only eaten when very “ full,” or in the ripe state 
of an English medlar. A variety of the banana with 
short thick fruits of very choice quality is called the fig 
banana, and this is esteemed as the best of the family, 
and consumed locally. The plantain (A7usa paradisiaca, 
L.), is practically the tropical potato, and is used roasted, 
boiled, or fried, exactly as we use potatoes in England. 
At the present time the consumption of bananas in the 
United Kingdom is comparatively small. Some of the 
steamers trading with the West Indies are, however, being 
fitted with refrigerating chambers for carrying tropical 
fruit, and the banana should soon become as plentiful 
and as cheap as the orange. It has the merit of being 
wholesome and nutritious, and is suitable for invalids and 
young children as well as for dessert purposes. 
The pine-apple we have already noticed. This is a 
deliciously refreshing fruit with healthful juices, and the 
demand for it isincreasing daily. Hitherto, foreign pine- 
apples, which are gradually driving the home-grown fruit 
out of the market, are obtained in large quantities from 
the Azores. The further supply will no doubt come from 
the West Indies, where pine-apples can be grown in the 
open air as readily and as cheaply as the English farmer 
can grow beets or turnips. Unfortunately the choice 
varieties of pine-apples possess, as the growers say, 
“bad keeping” qualities; but with increased facilities 
for packing and stowing the fruit, there should be no diffi- 
culties of an insurmountable character in the way of 
bringing over pine-apples from the West Indies in excel- 
lent condition. At the colonial market attached to the 
Colonial and Indian Exhibition pine-apples from Antigua 
are sold at sixpence each, and we find from the Blue Book 
Report that the Bahamas export annually, either in a 
fresh or canned state, pine-apples to the value of 
50,0907. annually. The mango (Wangtfera indica, L.) is 
the apple of the tropics, and the mango tree is grown and 
occupies orchards as do apple-trees in England. Although 
an East Indian tree, it has become thoroughly naturalised 
in the west, where it spreads by self-sown seedlings over 
all waste places. Its introduction into Jamaica is thus 
described by Lunan (“ Hortus Jamaicensis,” 1814, p. 486) :— 
“This beautiful tree was one of those brought to this 
island in June 1782, and taken in a French ship, bound 
for Hispaniola, by Capt. Marshall, of His Majesty’s ship 
Flora, one of Lord Rodney’s squadron. Capt. Rodney, 
with the approbation of Lord Rodney, deposited the mango 
plants and a great many others taken in the same vessel 
in Mr. East’s garden (at Gordon Town), where they were 
cultivated with great assiduity and success, and have 
now become one of the commonest fruit-trees in Jamaica, 
in a great number of its varieties.” As the mango ripens in 
July and August, and would come into the English market 
at a time when our own fruits are plentiful, it is possible 
it will not be greatly in demand. The best varieties are 
the Bombay sorts, while in Jamaica one of the plants 
deposited by Lord Rodney and having a number only, is 
is still known there and highly esteemed as “ No. 11.” 
The passion fruits, of which there are several species, 
are highly prized. Of these there are the granadilla 
(Passiflora quadrangularis, L.), the pomme d'or, or 
water lemon (P. /aurifolia, L_), the sweet cup (P. edulis, 
L.), and the calabash sweet-cup (P. malzformiis, L.). 
From the East Indies few if any fruits can be im- 
ported to England with success. In fact Ceylon and 
India have very few fruits which they can easily spare 
capable of bearing a long sea voyage, and the choice 
