AKEE TREE, AVOCADO PEAR. 



373 



A house upon the principle shown in tlie annexed diagram would als 

 be a very eligible structure for fruiting Tropi- 

 cal trees : it might be about five feet wide, 

 and as high as the garden wall against which 

 it is placed. The trees should be planted out 

 against the back wall, and trained horizontally 

 or fan-shaped, according to circumstances ; 

 by this means the most lofty trees could be 

 so trained as to occupy little space, and the 

 control of training would tend to bring them 

 into a bearing state much sooner. This house 

 may be heated by hot water or flues placed 

 in front, upon a solid foundation, to prevent their sinking as well as to 

 limit the space for the roots to run in. The lights may be fixed and 

 ventilation carried on by the use of wooden ventilators, built in the front 

 and back walls. 



In such houses much might be done in attaining the end in view. 

 We will now proceed to notice some peculiarities in the culture of diffe- 

 rent species- 



THE AKEE TREE {BUgMa sapido). 



This tree is a native of Guinea, and was introduced into this country 

 in the year 1793. It is veiy commonly met with in collections of stove 

 plants. It attains a height of from twenty to twenty-five feet, in its 

 natural state, but is seldom half so much when cultivated in this country^ 

 The fruit, which is about the size of a goose's egg, and of a reddish 

 yellow colour, is esteemed by the West Indians as a wholesome and 

 nourishing food. 



This tree is propagated by seeds, cuttings, layers, &c., like most other 

 stove plants, but the British cultivator who means to attempt its cultiva- 

 tion as a fruit-bearing tree, had better order a few trees to be inoculated 

 in Jamaica, and then sent over in tubs ; these might be treated as directed 

 for orange trees, and then planted in a border of rich earth, submitted to 

 a Jamaica climate, and flat-trained near the glass. The Akee, treated in 

 this manner, or kept in tubs or large pots, would, there is no doubt, pro- 

 duce fruit \nt\\ us as freely as the orange or citron does. 



THE ALIGATOR, OR AVOCADO PEAR {LaUVUS perSlCO). 



This tree, like most of its family, does not often exceed the height of 

 thirty feet in its natm-al state, and much less when submitted to cultiva- 



