SEPTEMBER, 1900, TO DECEMBER, 1903. 251 



9135 to 9146. Opuntia sp. Tuna. 



From Mexico. Received through Dr. Edward Palmer (Nos. 1 to 12), December 

 19, 1902. 



A collection of seeds as follows: 



9135. 



Amarillos. " One of the finest of the Mansa forms of tuna and well suited 

 to the use of travelers, being large and containing sufficient water to quench 

 the thirst. Outside it is amber-yellow in color; inside it is decidedly amber 

 or with orange patches. Very productive fruit of this form will be found in 

 the market up to December. The flesh is firm, with the flavor of boiled car- 

 rots with a large admixture of sugar." (Palmer.) (No. 1.) 



9136. 



Cardona. ' ' Nine pears of this variety sold in the San Luis Potosi market for 

 1 cent. It is a small, rich, sweet fruit. The flesh is blotched w r ith maroon 

 and red. The commonest and most useful of all the tunas, yielding a fair 

 supply in December. This fruit is much used in making a summer drink 

 known as 'colonche,' which is largely in use. Queso de tuna, tuna cheese, 

 is a round cake made from Tuna cardo. The fruit is divested of its jacket and 

 then rubbed through an earthenware strainer and the resulting mass is cooked 

 six hours, then worked (like candy) until all the heat is expelled, and then 

 put into round frames to harden. This is a commercial article all over Mexico. 

 The tuna Cardona contains sugar enough to preserve it." (Palmer. ) (No. 2. ) 



9137. 



Durasnillo Blanco (little white peach tuna) . ' ' Sold in the market of San Luis 

 Potosi, 25 for 1 cent. This tuna is eaten entire, not having its rind removed. 

 The seeds are compacted in a wad to resemble a peach stone. It is but a second 

 class fruit. Inside it resembles a white freestone peach, firm, acid-sweet, with 

 water-colored pulp. Its rind is canary-colored outside. I think this tuna 

 would make a good pickle. " (Palmer.) (No. 3.) 



9138. 



Durasnillo Colorado, or little red peach tuna. "Sold 25 fori cent in the 

 market of San Luis Potosi. The fruit is eaten entire. Fine acid-sweet, much 

 relished by some. Has the flavor of some late freestone peaches. It is rose- 

 colored on the outside and a rose-pink inside (with a fleecy white spot near the 

 base and also at the apex of the fruit). The seeds are compacted inside in a 

 mass to resemble a peach stone. I think this would make a good pickle." 

 (Palmer.) (No. 4.) 



9139. 



Cuejas. "Sold 30 for 1 cent in the market at San Luis Potosi. A remark- 

 ably juicy fruit, with a delightful acid taste, which might make it suitable for 

 wine and a fine jelly. The fruit is first dark mauve, then rich maroon, a color 

 fine for wine and jelly. It is considered but a second-class fruit; nevertheless 

 all that come to the market are consumed." (Palmer.) (No. 5. ) 



9140. 



Cameosa. "A Mansa form, sold in the market of San Luis Potosi 9 for 1 

 cent. A fine rich fruit with a watermelon flavor, and very juicy, making it 

 fine for a breakfast fruit. Inside it has white patches intermixed with its 

 mealy, tempting pulp, which is rich reddish crimson in color. The exterior 

 is a pink crimson. This much prized fruit is abundant until the end of Octo- 

 ber." (Palmer.) (No. 6.) 



9141. 



Mansa Colorado. ' ' Sold in the market of San Luis Potosi 4 for 1 cent. Old 

 fruit is a dark mauve on the outside and bright maroon inside. A juicy, agree- 

 able fruit which might make a good wine. At the base is a white patch, and 

 at the apex under the skin is a circle of rose color. Many consider this equal 

 in quality to any tuna. Disappears from market at the end of October." 

 (Palmer.) (No. 7.) 



