paw-paw, have caused them to be not a little confused in the 

 popular mind. The papaw (Carica Papaya) is a distinctly trop- 

 - ical fruit, but has been introduced into southern Florida, where 

 it makes a scanty growth and produces fruit of fair quality. It 

 is a peculiar soft-wooded tree, bearing at the summit an umbrella- 

 shaped crown of huge leaves. At two or three years of age it 

 begins to fruit, and thenceforward produces fruit freely during 

 its life, of from seven to ten years. The fruit has the form and 

 size of a musk-melon, though somewhat pointed. Its pulp is 

 similar and the cavity is thickly covered with rounded black 

 seeds resembling swan shot. The pulp is of peculiar flavor and 

 one must learn to like it, but it is sweet and agreeable. It might 



ferior musk-melon. Its great value lies in its high percentage of 

 nutriment and in its power to aid in the digestion of other food 

 eaten with it. When unripe it is irritant and even somewhat 



The paw-paw is probably to be considered as our richest and 

 most delicious native fruit. Indeed, people are not wanting who 

 cious of all fruits produced in this country. 



It is 



of the 



and chirimoya, queen of American tropical fruits. The small 

 tree is abundant in the southern United States, from Arkansas 

 east, and produces its fruits in late summer. Those who know 

 them best say that they should not be eaten until dead-ripe and 

 touched by frost. The fruit resembles a small short and stout 

 banana, but is one-sided and slightly curved. Its seeds, as large 



them lies the rich, creamy, deliciously sweet pulp. It passes in 

 ripening through the same color changes as a yellow banana. It 



>uther 



ind ther 



needed and promising field for experimentation in horticulture 



The fruits thus far considered are mostly of very considerable 

 importance, and not very "little-known." Let us now pass on 

 to consider some which are rather in the nature of curiosities to 

 us, yet important products to those whose general supplies are 

 scanty and poor. 



