48 



the same bitter principle in its juice and flesh, and there is a similarity 

 of flavour. The skin is thinner, finer in texture and has a silky feel 

 and glossy appearance, which is not found in the larger fruit. 



Botanically, both Shaddock and Pomelo belong to the same fam.ily ; 

 from a horticultural point of view there are many differences. The 

 most important is that the Shaddock being of little if any value, its 

 culture is not worth wasting time and money over, whilst the growth 

 of the pomelo is of considerable profit, and the improvement of its 

 varieties well worthy of all the time and attention which may be spent 

 on them. The name " Grape Fruit " has been given to it on account 

 of the habit if the fruit being to grow together in clusters, not unlike a 

 bunch of grapes. Recent developments have, however, resulted in the 

 introduction of varieties which have the habit of bearing one fruit only 

 on a stem. Pink flesh pomelos are also to be had, although so far 

 one cannot say what success this type is likely to meet with com- 

 mercially. 



Popular in the United States. 



The fruit is extremely popular and in great demand in the United 

 Slates, where it is looked upon as a breakfast necessity, not only on 

 atcLunt of its appeal to the palate, but also because of its medicinal 

 qualities. Its popularity has also spread to England, and the demand 

 for the right type of grape fruit there is good and prices paid are such 

 as to make its growth profitable. Travellers on the steamer lines 

 between England and South Africa are now accustomed to look for it 

 daily at breakfast, and although it will never have the same universal 

 distribution and sale as the orange and lemon, it may safely be said 

 that, provided we can supply the right type of fruit, our South African 

 growers would be justified in planting out a good many thousands of 

 trees. 



Stocks foe Grape Fruit. 



As is the case with other members of the citrus family, there are 

 a number of stocks on which the grape fruit can be successfully 

 worked. On the sandy loams of the Transvaal, deep, not particularly 

 rich in some cases, and occasionally in recent years with a shortage 

 of water, it has been found that the rough lemon makes the most accept- 

 able stock. This is also the case on the red loams, but in soils of 

 a moister and heavier nature the same remarks do not apply. Ordinary 

 sweet orange seedlings should make suitable stocks for some parts of 

 Natal where the lemon does not succeed as well. In those 

 parts of the Union where pampelmoes succeeds as a stock — 

 principally in the midlands of the Cape — that particular one is marked 

 out as the best on which to work the grape fruit ; there are also 

 instances of successful growth on its own roots. As the coastal 

 districts must, of necessity, prove to be the headquarters for the 

 development of the pomelo, experiments embracing its working on the 

 following stocks r."ould not be out of place : — 



Sweet orange. 

 Sour orange. 

 Pomelo. 

 Shaddock. 



