cultivating in England. By Mr. John Lindley. 125 



ripened its fruit in the conservatories about London ; it is suf- 

 ficiently well known to render any account of it unnecessary. 



The Chinese also produce at table the thickened pedun- 

 cles of Hovenia dulcis, and they are said to taste like a Ber- 

 gamot Pear,* but I believe they are not in much esteem. 

 There are, probably, some others of minor importance 

 which have escaped my recollection, not to mention the 

 excellent Psidium Cattleianum ; but I apprehend they will 

 be found to be such as are far surpassed by the commonest 

 garden fruits of our own climate. In 



THE SOCIETY ISLANDS 

 is a fruit known among the English by the appellation of the 

 Otaheite Apple (Spondias cytherea), which is held in some 

 estimation. It is the produce of a large upright tree with 

 pinnated ash-like leaves and bunches of small white flowers. 

 Sonnerat, who saw it cultivated in the Isle of France, de- 

 scribes the fruit as being as large as a hen's egg, with a fleshy 

 coat, and a great stone covered with fibres, which penetrate 

 the flesh. Its taste is like that of a Reinette Apple, but less 

 agreeable. He adds that it is easily propagated by cuttings.-f 



Before I conclude I must beg to state distinctly that either 

 to describe or mention all the fruits which may or can be 

 eaten has not only been quite foreign to my purpose, but 

 would have swelled this paper to a most inconvenient size. 

 Indeed, I am sensible that it is already longer than perhaps 

 it ought to have been, but I have in vain endeavoured to 



* Kampfer, page 809. f Sonnerat Voyage aux Indes, Vol. ii. page 222. t. 1«5. 



