CHAPTER XXVIII 



THE CUSTARD APPLE, THE CHERIMOYA, 

 SW^EET AND SOUR SOP AND POND APPLE 



AnonacecB 



WITH one exception (the wild, North American papaw) 

 the members of the AnonacecB or Custard Apple 

 Family are tropical. (It must be remembered that the 

 North American wild papaw and the tropical papaw are 

 two entirely different fruits.) The fruit which bears the 

 family name individually, the Custard Apple, or Bullock's 

 Heart (A. reticulata), resembles distantly the wild Northern 

 papaw. It is dark brown in colour; roundish in form, and 

 is best in its natural state, thoroughly ripened, for eating, 

 though it may be varied by serving with sugar and cream, 

 with whipped eggs or by being frozen. 



TheSweetSopor Sugar AppleisthcAwowa squamosa. The 

 sweet, mealy, aromatic pulp of this little fruit is sometimes 

 cooked in simple form but it is most delicious in its natural 

 state. (The seeds, powdered, will drive away fleas or other 

 insects.) In appearance the Sugar Apple somewhat 

 resembles tiny, crownless pineapples. 



The Sour Sop (Anona muricata) , is much larger than the 

 Sweet Sop, weighing up to five pounds or more, and, while 

 also aromatic, is somwhat tart and chiefly used in making 

 cold drinks, ices, etc. , as it is most refreshing in effect. 



The Pond Apple, A. palustris or A. glabra, or laurifolia, 

 sometimes mistakenly called "the Custard Apple," 

 which name properly belongs to the Bullock's Heart, is not 

 as great a favourite as the other members of the family 



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