374 



THE TROPICAL FRUIT STOVE. 



tion. The flowers are produced towards the points of the branches, 

 care, therefore, should be taken that they be as seldom shortened as 

 possible. The fmit is about the size of a small pear, having a rich 

 and dehcate flavour, and, unlike exotic fruits in general, very soon gaining 

 on the palate of Europeans, who become as partial to it as the \yest 

 Indians themselves, who esteem it one of their best fruits. It is in 

 general eaten with Ume-juice, wine, or pepper and salt, as melons are by 

 some connoisseurs in this country. 



The remarks we have made on the propagation, importation, and culture 

 of the Akee tree are equally applicable to this also. 



ANCHOVY PEAR {GHds cauUflord). 



In its natural state this tree attains the height of fifty feet and upwards, 

 requiring, therefore, in a state of artificial culture, a house as lofty as the 

 Musas, &c. The medium height at which it might be expected to pro- 

 duce its fruit in this country, may be taken at from twenty-five to thirty^ 

 feet. It is a native of the AYest Indies, producing a fmit somewhat 

 similar to the last, both in size and shape. It is used more as a pickle 

 than in its natural state, and, in the former, resembles in taste the East 

 Indian Mango. 



It is propagated readily from seeds, and also by the other usual modes, 

 and, Mke all lofty-growing exotic fruits, might be more advantageously 

 trained to a trelhs, in a horizontal manner, than grown as a standard, 

 requiring, of course, a less lofty house. 



AFRICAN CUSTARD APPLE {Aiioua smegaleiisis). 



This is a native of Senegal, Sierra Leone, and the banks of the Congo. 

 It attains, naturally, a height of about twelve or fifteen feet, and produces 

 fruit about the size of a pigeon's egg, which in flavour resembles that 

 of the other custai'd apples (which see), but is superior to most of them. 



BARBADOES GOOSEBERRY (PeresMa aculeata). 



This well-known plant, if allowed room to extend its branches, trained 

 under the rafters of a stove, and planted in a large pot, in rich, well- 

 drained soil, will produce its fruit abundantly. It is, however, less 

 esteemed in point of flavour than most of the other Cactuses, which see 

 under the name Indian Fig, &.c. 



