266 NOTES ON SOME OF THE 



which it is classed amongst the best of the "West Indian fruits in tfee 

 markets, where it is always to he seen in great abundance. This- pulp 

 is of a sweet aromatic smell, and of a peculiar yet delicious flavour. It 

 is, however, nnsuited to a delicate or weakly constitution, as it is said to 

 leave a cloying bitterness upon the palate, which lasts for a considerable 

 time. It is usually eaten in the same manner as an ordinary pear or 

 apple, but is sometimes sliced, and taken with sugar or wine. It like- 

 wise makes a very good jam, by being preserved in sugar. In some 

 parts, the flowers are used for making an intoxicating beverage, by dis- 

 tillation with spirit. 



The Avocado Pear (Per.s-ecs gratitsima, Gaertn.) is the fruit of a large, 

 straight-growing tree, producing a soft wood, of little or no use. The 

 fruits are, however, eaten both by men, birds, and quadrupeds. It is 

 sometimes called vegetable marrow, and is eaten with salt and pepper. 

 The flavour has been likened to that of a peach, but by some is consi- 

 dered even more delicious. The fruit is very seldom eaten alone, on 

 account of its richness, lime juice, spices, or sugar, being most frequently 

 added. The pulp is firm, of a rich yellow colour. The form of the fruit 

 is very similar to that of the common pear, but somewhat larger. The 

 time of ripening extends over August, September, and October. The 

 seeds are enclosed in a soft rind, and embedded in the pulp. They 

 have a strong astringent property, and it has been said that, by 

 writing with one of them on a whitewashed wall, the letters are imme- 

 diately changed to a bright red, and are permanently fixed. We have 

 been told, also, that by puncturing them, a bright yellow juice instantly 

 flows from them ; some doubt ought probably to be attached to this 

 assertion. 



The Guava is a fruit well known in all tropical countries, several 

 species of the genus producing in their respective habitats valuable 

 fruits. The common, or pear-shaped Guava (Psidium pyriferum > K), 

 and the red, or apple-shaped (P. pomiferum, L.), are both found in the 

 West Indian Islands, and are very generally cultivated in the East 

 Indies. P. pyriferum is a small tree, ten to twenty feet high, flowering 

 in June and July, and producing a fruit in form and size much resem- 

 bling a pear, and when ripe, of a delicate yellow colour. It has a plea- 

 sant aromatic flavour, and is in great favour, as much by Europeans as 

 by the natives, both as a fruit in its crude state, and as a preserve. A 

 delicious jelly is made from it, which is well known in this country, and 

 which is in every way suited to the refined palate of an Englishman. It 

 is considered one of the best conserves imported from the West Indies. 

 The fruit, like the mango and several other tropical fruits, soon deterio- 

 rate, and is consequently almost unknown in England, except as a con- 

 serve. The plant in its wild state is short and shrubby, but by careful 

 cultivation, it may be changed to a large and beautiful tree. It was 

 introduced into this country about the middle of the seventeenth cen- 

 turv, and occasionally fruits in our stoves, but is not cultivated with us 



