THE STAR- APPLE OR CAIMITE. 



acreage of tomatoes at least three-fourths, not being 

 near enough to a market where the demand would 

 be sufficient to anywhere near take the product of 

 ten acres. Oi^ the other hand, I sometimes question 

 whether it would not be polic}' for me to cease grow- 

 ing for the factories and put my strength into rais- 

 ing a number of things of the best quaUty for local 

 markets." So writes one correspondent. In opposi- 

 tion to this opinion, another correspondent says, in 

 substance, that if he could not reach the factory 

 he would be obliged to turn his attention to growing 

 orchard fruits or to general farming. His argument 

 is based on the fact that he is some miles from a 

 good market, with poor shipping facilities. It is ob- 

 vious that location is thus one of the prime factors 

 of this question as it bears upon the growers. 

 Questions eleven, twelve and thirteen cover ground 



somewhat removed from the subject properly in 

 hand, though by no means wholly foreign to the 

 point. But two of our correspondents cared to ex- 

 press an opinion on these questions, so we have held 

 them for enlargement and to form the basis of our 

 next paper. These questions are of vast import- 

 ance, forming as they do the very groundwork on 

 which rests the entire question of handling the ex- 

 igencies arising from the flagrant prostitution of 

 the law of supply and demand. In considering them 

 we may happily strike the chord which will lead us 

 to a desirable solution of the vexed problem ; though 

 if the evidence shall not be positive enough to cause 

 an indisputable conclusion to be formed, we shall 

 believe that the facts brought out justify our efforts. 

 [to be continued.] 



THE STAR-APPLE OR CAIMITE. 



-x- * -:v "And what is next, like an evergreen peach, shedding from the under 

 side of every leaf a golden light — call it not shade? A Star Apple." — Kingsley. 



A tropical fruit worthy of much greater attention 

 than it has yet received in our Gulf States, is the 

 star-apple of the West Indies. It is a sapotaceous 

 tree, known as ChiysophyUum Cainito. Our illus- 

 tration on page 205 is reproduced from Le Jardin, 

 and presents the essential features of the plant and 

 fruit. As Mill be seen from the cut fruit, the name 

 is very appropriate. The late P. W. Reasoner gave 

 the following account of it in Mr. Van Deman's bul- 

 letin No. I, on tropical and semi-tropical fruits : 



"The Star- apple tree ultimately attains a height 

 of 30 feet, and is a profuse bearer. The fruit is of 

 the size of an apple, though nearly as smooth and 

 round as a billiard ball. It ripens in April and May. 

 When cut into halves transversely the fruit discloses 

 a greenish or purple pulp, with whitish star-shaped 

 'core,' containing from four to ten brown seeds as 



large as pumpkin seeds. * * * Star-apples are 

 worth from 15 to 30 cents per dozen in Key West, 

 and there is a good demand." 



Bois and Mawry, in Le Jardin, distinguish three 

 leading varieties of Star-apple : Janiaicense, with 

 sub-oval, reddish-green fruit ; Ccvruleiint, with a 

 globular, small, blue fruit — this is known in Mar- 

 tinique as the Gros Bonis ; Portoricence, with small 

 leaves. 



The Star-apple is cultivated in Brazil and Gui- 

 ana, and has been introduced into India, while as 

 may be noted from Mr. Reasoner's remarks, it is 

 grown to some extent in southern Florida. Further 

 attention to its culture will probably increase its 

 range, and if it will " ship " or get to the great cities 

 in good shape, it will be only another addition to the 

 profitable resources of the flower state. 



