168 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



nobilis of the lower parts of Ceylon is a large breadfruit tree 

 with columnar fruit 6 to 8 inches long and 2 inches in diam- 

 eter. This fruit is largely eaten by the natives with curries. 



The jackfruit (A. integrifolia) is a huge tree native of 

 Southern India which bears ellipsoid green fruit covered with 

 hexagonal scales. These fruits vary in size from lo to 6o 

 pounds and are borne on the trunk and branches of the tree. 

 The fruits are sometimes eaten by the natives, especially the 

 nut-like seeds in the stringy pulp. The pulp, however, is fibrous 

 and filled with an extremely sticky latex which coagulates into 

 a rubber-like material. 



CHAYOTE 



Chayote is a common and familiar cucurbit (Sechium edule), 

 native of West Indies and now cultivated generally in the 

 Tropics. It is a perennial creeper with pear-shaped, solid, one- 

 seeded fruits weighing 2 or 3 pounds. The fruit is cooked and 

 eaten like a squash, which it resembles in flavor. The plant 

 is propagated by planting the whole ripe fruit containing the 

 seed. Supports are required for the vines which climb to great 

 heights and long distances. The chayote bears fruit about 3 

 months after planting. The tuberous roots reach the size of 

 20 pounds and are prepared and eaten like yams. The roots 

 contain 20 per cent, of starch and are of fairly good flavor. 

 The chayote is also widely used as a hog feed. Chayote is quite 

 extensively grown in Porto Rico, Mexico, tropical America, 

 Algeria, East Indies, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Under fav- 

 orable conditions one vine will bear 300 to 500 fruits a season. 



LOTUS 

 The Chinese lotus (Nelumbium speciosum) , native of Asia 

 and Africa, is a water lily with a large, circular, peltate leaf, 

 resembling those of the Victoria regie, and white or rose-col- 

 ored flowers 5 to 8 inches in diameter. The plant bears long, 

 moniliform or sausage-like rootstocks, and a curious receptacle 



