HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



116 



fruit is about the size of a rock melon, which it re- 

 sembles somewhat in appearance and flavor. As they 

 are mostly raised from seed, the quality of the fruit 

 varies considerably; but the choice sorts rank high, 

 and are eaten raw and boiled, pickled and preserved. 

 If any part of the leaf, stem, or green fruit be punc- 

 tured with a needle, the white milky sap flows out 

 freely ; and if a couple of drops be put into a cup of 

 milk, it will very shortly be transformed into curds 

 and whey. It is also stated that a few drops of the 

 sap, or part of a leaf, put into the pot with an old 

 fowl, it will boil quite tender, or that the same effect 

 may be produced by hangiug tough meat of any kind 

 for a few hours among its leaves. Care must, however, 

 be taken not to use too much sap, or allow the meat 

 to hang too long, or decomposition will set in. The 

 sap is also said to be a cure for ringworm. Some 

 growers convert the fruit into jam, adding one- third 

 the quantity of citron. 



THE PASSION FRUIT-(PassifloraEdulis). 



The passion fruit is so well known that it needs no 

 description. It is hardy, prolific, of agreeable flavor, 

 and wholesome, and should have a few yards of espalier 

 devoted to it in all gardens. 



For cultivation, <fca, see " Granadilla," to which it is 

 allied. 



THE PEACH— (Amygdalus Persica). 



The peach is a native of the temperate zone, now in 

 course of acclimatization in the latitude of Brisbane, 

 Many valuable sorts have been raised or introduced to 



