533 



seen trees which though heavily floriferous have never been known 

 to produce fruits. As most of the species of the genus are uni- 

 sexual, it is probable that these are strictly male trees. 



The Kaki of Japan and China (Diospyros Kaki) is well enough 

 known to town residents as the fruit is largely imported from 

 China for sale. It will not thrive in the Straits, the climate being 

 probably too hot for it. 



APOCYNACE/E. 



The fruits of some species of Willughbeia are eaten by natives, 

 but contain too much India rubber to be pleasant. The best I have 

 tried is the small fruited W. dulcis of Pahang, a low climber with 

 small apricot coloured fruit about as big as a pigeon's egg, very 

 soft and sweet but full of rubber. 



Carissa carandas, L. Karanda, is a pretty spiny shrub with fra- 

 grant white flowers. The fruit is at first pink then becoming black 

 about an inch long. It is best cooked, and is said to make a good 

 imitation of Red Currant Jelly. The shrub grows best in sandy 

 and dry places, and makes good hedges. Native of India. 



Laurine/e. 



The Avocado Pear, Per sea gratissima a South American tree, 

 is not as much cultivated in the Straits as it should be. It is a 

 moderate sized tree with pear-shaped or oblong fruit, green or 

 brownish-purple, with a very large round seed in the centre. The 

 flesh surrounding the stone is yellow and green, soft and buttery 

 with a delicate flavour, much appreciated by many. It is eaten 

 raw with pepper and salt. The tree raised from seed grows well 

 in good soil in Singapore, and fruits well once a year. The fruit 

 is very liable to the attacks of bats, and has to be covered w ith 

 netting or cloth to keep them off. 



Urticace^e. 



The most important genus of this order is that of Artocarpus, of 

 which several species are eatable. 



The Bread-fruit, Artocarpus incisa is an introduced tree easily 

 known by its dark green lobed leaves. It is not rarely planted and 

 is to be seen in many of the older Settlements but certainly does 

 not play the important part in the food of the natives here that it 

 does in South America and elsewhere in the tropics. The tree 

 does not, as a rule, attain the great size that it does in South Ame- 

 rica nor is the fruit as good, being more woody. The Bread-fruit 

 is a globose mass of small fruits, of a dark green colour, with white 

 flesh inside. It is about as large as a child's head when fully de- 

 veloped, but usually much smaller here. It is eaten either boiled, 

 and sliced and spread while hot with butter or baked either whole 

 or in slices. 



The Jack, Artocarpus intcgrifolia is almost too well known to 

 require description. It is very extensively grown here as indeed 

 all over the East. The fruit (or rather head of fruits) always borne 

 on the old wood, attains an enormous size, and is one of the most 

 popular fruits with the natives. It varies very much in flavour, 



