Edible Products. 



Z10 



[March, 1909. 



shops at double or treble this price. 

 Oherimoyers do not travel well, and a 

 large proportion of every consignment 

 arrives in London in an unsaleable con- 

 dition. 



Passion-fruit {Passifloria edulis).— 

 The fruit of a pretty climber, of the size 

 of a large Plum, purple when ripe ; the 

 interior consists of sweet acid pulp in- 

 termixed with the seed ; this, beaten 

 up with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda, 

 forms a delicious drink. When ripe, the 

 rind soon shrivels, giving the fruit an 

 unfavourable appearance ; hence it is 

 not suited to the English market. 

 Trial shipments have been made from 

 Australia which transport well, but the 

 shrivelled appearance of the rind is 

 usually against its sale. In Covent Gar- 

 den the name Passion-fruit " is given 

 to another species of Passillora, which 

 seems to be the Sweet Cup. 



Sweet Cup or Water Lemon of 

 Jamaica (Passifloria laiirifolia),— The 

 fruit of this is of the size of a duck's egg, 

 the rind being smooth and of a pale 

 amber colour. It is imported regularly 

 from Madeira, where it is known by the 

 name "Maracugia." The fruits are re- 

 tailed in London at 6d. to 8d. each. Both 

 this and the preceding species are some- 

 times known in Covent Garden by the 

 name " Granadilla," a term which is 

 more correctly applied to Passiflora 

 quandrangularis. 



Monster a deliciosa.— A very hand- 

 some creeper, with huge leathery, curi- 

 ously perforated leaves. The fruit is 

 like a long, green cone, from S to 15 

 inches long ; it is pleasantly fragrant 

 when ripe, and partakes of the flavour 

 of Pineapple ; but the small, black hairs 

 attached to the edible portion cause an 

 uncomfortable sensation in the throat. 

 The fruits arrive in Covent Garden from 

 the Canary Islands, and occasionally 

 from Jamaica, and are sold at Is. 6d. 

 to 2s. (3d. each. 



GuAVA (Psidium Guava). — A small 

 tree. The fruit varies in size accord- 

 ing to variety, but usually it is oval 

 and about the size of a medium Pear. 

 It is renowned for making jelly, but 

 is not popular for dessert. Yet the 

 fruit has arrived in London from Ma- 

 deira in increasing quantities during 

 the last few years ; it is said to sell at 

 2s. 6d. to 3s. 6d. a dozen. 



Brazil Nut (BerthoUetia excelsa).— 

 A tall, handsome tree of Brazil. The 

 fruits are globular in shape and dark 

 brown, 4 to 6 inches in diameter, with 

 a thick, woody husk ; this contains the 

 hard-shelled seed, which are the Brazil 

 Nuts of commerce. They are commonly 



retailed at 6d. to 8d. a pound, according 

 to quality. These are used at some res- 

 taurants instead of suet for making Jpud- 

 dings. 



Souari Nut or Butter Nut (Caryocar 

 nuciferum). — A lofty, handsome tree, 

 with large opposite leaves, native of 

 tropical' South America. It produces 

 large, dark-brown fruits of the size of 

 a child's head, and similar to the Brazil- 

 nut fruit. It contains about four large, 

 kidney-shaped seeds ; these have a red- 

 dish, woody shell, which can only be 

 broken by an axe or similar implement. 

 The seeds are the Butter Nuts of shops ; 

 each contains a large, white kernel, 

 which has a very pleasant, nutty flavour. 

 The nuts are sold in England at about 

 3d. or 4d. each. 



Cashew Nut {Auacardium occiden- 

 tale.)— The fruit of a moderate-sized 

 spreading tree. It consists of two dis- 

 tinct parts— a much-enlarged, succulent, 

 green receptacle, at the end of which is 

 the hard, brown, kidney-shaped fruit. 

 The latter contains the Nut, which when 

 roasted is very palatable. These Nuts, 

 though scarcely known in Covent 

 Garden, are imported from India and 

 the West Indies by a few dealers, who 

 find no difficulty in disposing of good 

 samples at 6d. to 8d. a lb. The Nuts 

 will keep in good condition for several 

 years if kept dry. A sample ten years 

 old was exhibited at the recent Colonial 

 Fruit.Showat the R. H. S. Hall. 



Ground Nut or Monkey Nut (Ara- 

 ehis hypogwa). — A small, leguminous 

 annual, which has the peculiar habit of 

 burying its youug pods underground, 

 where they develop and ripen ; these 

 are forked up when ready for harvest- 

 ing, cleaned, sorted and exported in 

 their small, grey, papery shell. They 

 keep good for a long period, and are 

 generally seen in small lots for sale in 

 greengrocers' and fruiterers' shops, the 

 retail price being about 3d. to 4d. a lb. 



Lichi or Litchi (Nephelium Litchi).— 

 A celebrated Chinese fruit borne on a 

 medium-sized tree. The Lichi is usually 

 of the form of a small Plum, with a thin, 

 brittle shell of a reddish colour, covered 

 with wart-like protuberances. It is 

 filled with a sweet, jelly-like, opaque 

 pulp, and is held in great esteem for 

 dessert and preserves in China. Lichies 

 are obtainable in London at Is. to Is. 6d. 

 per lb. 



Loquat (Photinia Japonica).—A small 

 Japanese tree. The fruit resembles a 

 small Apple or Medlar, and is of a sub- 

 acid flavour, It is sometimes imported 

 from South Europe. 



