212 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



best when fairly soft to the touch. First-rate results may be had from plants 

 grown in large pots or tubs. The root-system of a Musa is large, and therefore 

 a liberal allowance of root-space is necessary. They like a strong loamy soil and 

 liberal supplies of manure. All the forms of AI. sapientum require a tropical 

 temperature ; the Chinese banana may be grown in an intermediate tempera- 

 ture, but it is at its best only in a house where the winter temperature does not 

 fall below 60 degs. and in summer not lower than 70 degs. If a border can be 

 afforded for Musas it should be at least 3 feet deep, and contain 2 feet of rich 

 soil on I foot of drainage. The soil should be renewed for every fresh planta- 

 tion. Musas enjoy plenty of sunshine and a liberal supply of water at all times. 



TREE TOMATO 



A Solanum-like plant, Cyphomandra betacea, which has become popular 

 in some tropical and sub-tropical countries where the fruits are eaten raw 

 or made into a conserve. It is a native of Peru, where it is known as Tomato 

 de la Pas. The fruits are sometimes offered for sale by London dealers. As 

 with the tomato proper, a liking for the tree tomato has to be acquired. 

 They are really palatable and refreshing to those who have learnt to appreciate 

 them. Their flavour is that of the sweet-cup [Passtflora edulh) with a suspicion of 

 raw potato added. The plant grows readily from seeds, and if planted in a warm 

 house in good loam it forms in about two years a big herbaceous shrub not unlike 

 a Datura, copiously branched, and bearing pendent clusters of egg-shaped orange- 

 yellow fruits 2^ inches long ; the thick leathery rind encloses a soft pulp, 

 which can be easily sucked or squeezed into the mouth. Several hundreds of 

 fruits are borne by a single plant. They keep well, and no doubt would travel 

 easily. With regard to this plant we have yet to teach English fruit-eaters 

 that it deserves a place among dessert fruits. In hot weather it is decidedly 

 refreshing. Twenty years ago it was difficult to get many people to eat 

 tomatoes, and most of those who did partook of them only in a cooked state. 

 It is very different now. In tropical countries the tree tomato is rapidly 

 growing in popularity. 



POMEGRANATE 



Fruits are rarely produced by the pomegranate {Punka Granatum) in 

 England, where it is grown only as an attractive flowering shrub ; but in 

 countries where the sun has more power it fruits as freely as the apple does 

 with us. It has been cultivated by man from an early period, being frequently 

 mentioned in the Bible. It is wild in Cabul and Persia, and is cultivated 

 throughout the warmer regions of the globe. The best varieties are propagated 

 by grafting. Seedlings should only be used as stocks for the several first-rate 

 varieties which bear fruits containing plenty of pulp. There is a seedless 

 variety known to Indian cultivators. Captain Burton, in his " Pilgrimage to 

 El Medina and Mecca," describes three which he met with in Arabia : " The 

 best is Sh^mi ; it is red outside and very sweet, almost stoneless, like a muscat 



