264 



NOTES ON SOME OF THE EDIBLE FRUITS OF THE WEST 

 INDIES. 



BY J. R. JACKSON. 



Amongst the tropical edible fruits brought into this country, none, 

 perhaps, are more universally in favour than the Pine-Apple, though 

 there are many which, if we can rely upon the statements of European 

 travellers, are equal, and even more delicious, than this much prized 

 fruit : take, for instance, the Mangosteen of the Malay Islands, the 

 Cherimoyer of Peru, the Mango of the East, and the Guava of the West 

 Indies. Many of these, as well as others, when once tasted, require no 

 further recommendation to the European ; and yet there is an amount 

 of prejudice amongst us which inclines us towards our own fruit pro- 

 duce, or those to which we have been long accustomed, before we can 

 suit our palates to a new production of other lands. There are many 

 imported fruits which, as they form a large portion of our commerce, are 

 as necessary for domestic purposes, and perhaps more so, than those 

 produced in our own island ; for Christmas would be wanting in one of 

 its gieatest features were there any lack of raisins and currants, which 

 we receive in such large quantities from the Ionian Islands, Greece, 

 Liparis, &c. 



It is not my intention in this short paper to speak of the merits or 

 demerits of the fruit produce of all parts of the globe, but briefly to 

 notice those indigenous to the West Indies, where many have been 

 spoken of so highly by travellers. The Cherimoyer (Anona Cherimolia, 

 Willd.) attains its greatest erf'ection in Peru, where it is considered one 

 of the finest fruits known amongst the natives. Its growth extends from 

 Peru up to Mexico, but it has been naturalised in the West Indies, and 

 is also cultivated in some parts of Europe, as in the south of Spain it is 

 sometimes found fruiting, as an orchard tree. It has also been intro- 

 duced into England, but never cultivated. It is a small tree, attaining 

 about twenty feet in height ; the leaves have a very strong and agree- 

 able scent. The fruit, which is by some considered the most delicious 

 fruit grown, is of a soft pulpy nature, with a pleasant sweet taste ; its 

 colour, when ripe, is of a darkish purple, the exterior scaly, somewhat 

 resembling a pine-apple, as is the case with most of the Anonas, and of 

 a somewhat conical form with a blunt apex, and about the size of a small 

 melon. The seeds, which are enveloped in the pulp, are covered with a 

 shining brown testa, and like all other species of the genus, when cut In 

 half, exhibit a beautifully ruminated albumen. 



Closely allied to this are the Sour Sop (Anona murlcata, L.), the Sweet 

 Sop (A. squamosa, L.), and the Alligator Apple (A. palustris, L.). These 

 are all now common in the West Indies. The Sour Sop and Alligator 

 Apple would seem to be indigenous, but the Sweet Sop is probably a 

 native of South America, though now cultivated extensively in the East 



