12 M. Thou in on the Cultivation [Appendix. 



longer than all, is inserted like the stamens, petals, and four divi- 

 sions of the calyx upon a globular germen, which swells into a 

 green fruit, 4 gradually changing to white with a pale rose coloured 

 tinge on the side exposed to the sun. 



In size and shape, the fruit is not very unlike a Medlar; its 

 flesh rather firm, hut easily broken, near a quarter of an inch thick, 

 slightly acid, and perfumed with a smell approaching that of the 

 Rose, from which it has acquired the name of Rose Apple in some 

 of the French colonies: in the middle are several nuts, easily 

 detached from the flesh : if there is only a single nut, it is sphe- 

 rical, but when more are perfected, as is often the case, they 

 become angular in the parts which touch each other. The shell 

 of the nut is thin and brittle, inclosing a greenish white kernel, 

 which easily breaks into irregular pieces. The cavity of the 

 kernel, varying in size and figure, but more or less oval, is lined 

 with a brown pellicle, which adheres very slightly. These fruits 

 ripen from September till December, and though not actually 

 nutritious, their perfumed flavour renders them very agreeable 

 to most palates. 



The individual one above described was brought from Hindo- 

 stan in 17&5 by the Abbe Gallois, and placed in the late M. 

 Lemonnier's stove at Versailles. Though very young, by plung- 

 ing it in the tan-bed, it soon flowered, but never ripened fruit till 

 1786. When it had attained the height of six feet, it was trans- 

 planted into a small box, and exposed gradually to the open air, 

 during two of the hottest months in the year, but afterwards re- 

 moved back to the tan-bed. 



In 1794 this tree was added to the National collection, and 

 being stout and vigorous, I determined to treat it more hardily. 

 During winter, instead of the tan-bed, it stood on the floor of 

 the stove, but near the flue, and during summer it was exposed 

 to the open air, in a sheltered southern exposure, not housing 

 it till October. This method of culture, however, did not agree 



