482 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY. 



SOME SUBTROPICAL FRUITS GROWN TO LESS 

 EXTENT IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Alligator Pear (Pcrsea gralissima). — A handsome evergreen tree. 

 Fruits pear-shaped, about the size of a Bartlett pear, with a single, 

 quite large seed. When the thin skin is ripe it can be peeled from 

 the pulp, which is quite firm and buttery, and it is eaten with orange- 

 or lime-juice, or with pepper and salt. Nearly aU persons like it at 

 first trial, and epicures are willing to pay fanc}^ prices for it. The 

 fruit is picked at intervals of from ten to fourteen days for a period of 

 two months. Grown in South Florida, Texas, Arizona, and in Cali- 

 fornia as far Xortli as San Francisco. 



Granadilla [Fassi flora edulin). — A species of Passion-vine common 

 in California and the Gulf region, bearing fruits about the size of 

 a pullet's egg, purple in color, with thin brittle shell enclosing a mass 

 of seeds covered with yellow pleasantly acid pulp, from \Aliich an 

 excellent jelly is made. 



Jujube (Zizyphus sativa). — A smaU tree. The orange-red fruits, 

 one-half to three-quarters inch long, on short stalks, are produced on 

 plants three years old. Thcj^ are used for making the jujube paste 

 of the confectioner which is much prized in Asia, and in this country 

 where known. Cirown in Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California. 



Mango (Mnngijera indica). — .\ round-topped handsome ever- 

 green tree, the fruit of which is a staple article of food in the tropics 

 during the hottest months. Prior to the freeze of 1SS6 it was regarded 

 a valuable fruit in South Florida for home use and shipping; 12-5,000 

 of the large fruits were shipped to Northern markets in 1S84. The 

 fruit is four to five inches long, kidney-shaped, with smooth skin; 

 color pale green to yellow, with light red cheek; the flesh of the 

 best varieties is sweet, luscious, and prized for dessert use in most 

 markets of the world adjacent to subtropical climates. Grown in 

 Southern Florida, near Brownsville, Texas, and in extreme South 

 California. 



Marmalade Plum (Lucuiiia VKDiniiiina). — A small, round-topped, 

 ornamental tree. The friiit is oblong oval, fully six inches long, with 

 but one large seed. Flesh yollo\\ish red, soft, very sweet, with quite 



