Fruit Interests. 



23 



closely the ordinary plantain, but is striped lengthwise with 

 white. We find the Large Fig banana a most excellent sort. 

 In flavor it is between a Hart's Choice and Dwarf (Cavendish), 

 but more closely resembles the latter. The plant is very pro- 

 lific and fruits as quickly after planting as does Hart's Choice. 

 Mtisa Ensete, the ornamental banana, does not succeed in 

 Southern Florida. The soil is too thin and light. It needs 

 rank manuring and plenty of water. 



Psidium Guineense, the Guinea guava, has fruited for the 

 first time in Florida. The fruit is pear-shaped, with a very 

 rich flavor ; a novice with guavas would not eat many. The 

 Cattley guava and the Chinese or Yellow guava still continue 

 popular. They will grow in any soil, and while growing 

 vigorously, bear enormously. The fruit does not make as 

 good jelly nor as much of it, as varieties of our common 

 guava (P. guaiava), and many are disappointed in this respect. 

 It can, however, be canned and preserved in other ways, be- 

 ing excellent when cooked. 



Solatium Guatemalense, the widely advertised melon-pear or 

 melon-shrub, produces well when manured heavily and watered 

 excessively. 



A new pomegranate called "Purple-seeded" is advertised 

 from Northern Florida. The proprietor advances many good 

 qualities for it. It is not disseminated widely yet, even for 

 trial. The introduced varieties from California — Paper- 

 shell, Hermosillo and Spanish Ruby — have been planted con- 

 siderably along the Gulf, but no mention of them is made in 

 the horticultural papers. The fruit of each sort is exceed- 

 ingly jJelk:ious and trees bear well if properly cared for. 



The kaki or Japan persimmon finds greater favor every year, 

 and much credit is due Mr. Van Deman for his painstaking 

 care in assorting the many names and bringing order out of 

 chaos. The growers responded liberally in sending speci- 

 \ mens of fruit to him for examination and comparison, and 

 soon we may see advertised strictly correctly named trees. 



The olive is coming rapidly into demand. Young trees of 

 a variety of sorts, but chiefly Picholine, are bearing in various 

 places. The soil and climate are suited for this tree over the 

 greater portion of Florida and the region bordering closely on 

 the Gulf westward. 



LeConte and Keiffer pears are growing and bearing in the 



