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three inches in diameter, globose, yellow, aromatic, somewhat astrin- 
gent. Very good for jellies and preserves. There are several varieties 
of this species, which differ slightly in form, size, and colour. One 
variety is pear-shaped, the leaves are acute, peduncles one-flowered, 
smooth skin, yellowish when ripe. This variety supplies most of the 
guava jelly of the West Indies; it is also preserved and canned as 
are other frutis. This matter is touched upon in a subsequent 
chapter. 
THe Jack Fruit (Artocarpus integrifolia). 
Ts closely allied to the Breadfruit trees, but is hardier, and a 
larger tree. In size it reaches 30ft. to 40ft. and is a very quick 
grower. The branches, which are numerous and spring all over the 
trunk, carry a thick evergreen foliage which is much liked by stock. 
For that reason, if planted for ornamental purposes, the young tree 
should be protected by means of a tree guard for the first few years 
of its growth. The Jack tree, which is a native of India, is now 
naturalised all over the tropical world. Several varieties are culti- 
vated, and amongst others the “Honey Jack, and the “Root-bearing 
Jack”—an esteemed variety which bears excellent fruit on its super- 
ficial roots. The tree is easily grown from seeds, which germinate 
readily and come to bearing at an early age—three or four years 
after starting. The fruit is extremely heavy, and is carried dlong 
the main limbs or the trunk. In weight it varies from 5lbs. to 50lbs., 
and even more. Rough outside, it contains when ripe a mass of 
sticky fibres around yellowish sweet envelopes which surround the 
seeds. Both these sweet envelopes and the seeds are edible. The pulp 
possesses a delicious flavour, which is much liked once the objection 
to the peculiar penetrating smell which characterises them has been 
overcome. This smell can to a great extent be neutralised by throw- 
ing the sweet pulpy envelope into a bowl containing some water and 
salt. The seeds, which many prefer to the best chestnuts, may be 
eaten either boiled or roasted. They are oblong in shape, and about 
114 inches long. 
The sometimes objectionable smell referred to is more percept- 
ible in over-ripe fruit, and is much lessened by burying the fruit 
for a while. 
In tropical countries a very sticky bird-lime is prepared from 
the milky juice of the tree, which is extracted by wounding the bark. 
Very handsome cabinet work is made from the yellow satinlike 
wood. 
Either for ornament or usefulness, or both, the Jack-fruit de- 
serves a place in every tropical garden. 
Litcui (Nephelium Liteht). 
A handsome evergreen tree, some 20 to 25 feet high, native of 
Sonthern China. The best sorts are propagated by grafting, seed- 
