March, 1969.] 



Ml 



Edible Products 



In addition to the foregoing fruits, 

 there are those which have become 

 standard commodities, such as Oranges, 

 Dates, Figs, &c. Of equatorial or strictly 

 tropical fruits, however, there yet 

 remain unrepresented in Covent Garden 

 a number which are of excellent quality, 

 and which could not fail to become 

 popular in Europe if they could only 

 be imported in good condition. The 

 celebrated Durian fruit, for instance, is 

 itself "worth a journey to the East to 

 enjoy the pleasure of eating it," in the 

 estimation of so high an authority as 

 Dr. Russell Wallace. Notwithstanding 

 its very offensive odour, the Malays 

 attribute marvellous properties to this 

 fruit, and when it is in season they 

 camp out in families so as to enjoy it to 

 the full. The following fruits are all of 

 excellent quality, and worth the atten- 

 tion of epicures and dealers in tropical 

 fruits. 



Durian (Durio zibethinus).—A gigan- 

 tic, quick-growing, handsome tree, thriv- 

 ing only in moist and hot districts. The 

 large oblong fruits, which are covered 

 with formidable spikes, are borne mostly 

 on the stouter branches, each weighing, 

 when ripe, several pounds. The edible 

 portion is the peculiar, fat-like, creamy 

 substance in which the seeds are em- 

 bedded. In spite of its odour, Europeans 

 and others soon acquire a taste for it, 

 often preferring it to all other fruits. 

 Locally, the fruits are sold at the equiva- 

 lent of lOd. to Is 6d. each. This fruit 

 has probably never been grown in 

 Europe ; indeed it may be questioned 

 whether it has been seen there in an 

 edible condition. 



Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana).— 

 A medium-sized, slow-growing tree, with 

 large, handsome leaves. The pretty, 

 smooth-skinned fruits are of the size of 

 Apples, perfectly round, and purple 

 when ripe. Surrounding the seed is a 

 snowy-white substance, which has a 

 delicious flavour and melts in the mouth. 

 The fruits are sold at about Is to Is. 4d. 

 per doz. They are always charged for 

 as extra at hotels in Ceylon. A few 

 specimens of this fruit were once grown 

 in the conservatory at Syon House Gar- 

 dens, near London, and were, I believe, 

 presented to the late Queen Victoria. 



Sapodilla or Nasbberry (Achras 

 sapota). — A small, slow-growing tree. 

 The fruits vary from round to oval in 

 shape, and are about the size of small 

 apples. When ripe they become soft 

 and of a dull-brownish colour, the skin 

 being very thin. The brownish pulp is 

 of a sweet delicious flavour. Few tro- 

 pical fruits can equal this one as a 

 dessert fruit. I am not aware that it 

 has ever been seen in Europe. 

 31 



Papaw or Tree-melon (Carica 

 papaya). — A small herbaceous tree, with 

 large palmate leaves ; the large, hollow 

 fruits are roundish or oblong in shape, 

 10 to 15 inches long, resembling a Sweet 

 Melon. They are very refreshing, and 

 are said to be an excellent aid to diges- 

 tion. Vegetable pepsin (papain) is ob- 

 tained from the fruit iu an unripe state. 

 The leaves have the property of render- 

 ing meat tender if wrapped in them for 

 a short time. 



Tree Tomato (Cyphomandra betacea). 

 — A shrub or small tree. The fruit is of 

 the form of a hen's egg, and is produced 

 in large numbers. Orange-yellow or 

 reddish-purple, when ripe, it has a very 

 pleasant, slightly acid flavour, and is 

 used as dessert or stewed. Though of 

 the tomato family and resembling the 

 tomato in the interior, it has no resem- 

 blance to it in flavour. The tree is 

 suited to sub-tropical conditions, and 

 the tree bears transport well. 



Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum).— 

 A large, spreading tree. Ihe fruit ia 

 orange-yellow or bright-red, about 2 

 inches long, of an oval form, and covered 

 with long, soft, fleshy spines of the 

 same colour as the rind. Surrounding 

 and adhering to the seeds is a white, 

 aciduous pulp, which is pleasant and 

 refreshing. 



Purple Guava (Psidium Cattleya* 

 num). — A small, slender tree with 

 smooth bark and shiny leaves. The 

 fruits, which are produced in great 

 abundance, in two crops a year, are 

 readily distinguished from the common 

 guavas by their deep, claret-coloured 

 rind. They are filled with a juicy, very 

 agreeable, acid-sweet pulp. 



The following fruits have an import- 

 ant economic value in the tropics, but, 

 owing to their perishable nature, are 

 not exactly suitable for importation to 

 this country :— 



Bread-fruit (Artocarpus incisa).—A 

 medium-sized, very handsome tree, with 

 large, shining, deeply-cut leaves. The 

 fleshy, oval fruit is of the size of a Musk 

 Melon, pale green in colour ; it consists 

 of a solid mass of succulent pulp, which, 

 when sliced and roasted, is said to 

 "resemble the crumb of a new loaf." 

 It is esteemed as a vegetable for curries 

 and is prepared and eaten in various 

 other ways. The Rev. Ferminger, who 

 partook of the fruit in Ceylon, con- 

 sidered it hardly distinguishable from 

 an excellent butter pudding." T^is 

 fruit forms the principal diet of the 

 natives of the South Sea Islands. On 

 the recommendation of Captain Cook, 

 the explorer, special expeditions were 

 aent by the British Government to the 



