THE PLANTS AND GARDENS OF THE CANARY ISLANDS. 101 
obtained originally from Peru. The tree is about 15 to 20 feet 
high, somewhat resembling a small Apple tree. The fruit is the 
size of a double fist, heart-shaped, with a yellowish tinge of 
green. Inside the pulp is snowy-white, with black almost fiat 
seeds. The Sour-sop (A. muricata), the Custard Apple {A. 
reticulata), and the Sweet-sop, or Sugar-apple {A. squamosa), 
are closely allied to the Cherimoyer, but usually require a warmer 
climate. None of the latter is so good as the Cherimoyer. 
Alligator Pear (Persea gratissima). — This is grown largely 
in Madeira, and the fruit is often seen in the London market. 
The tree flourishes both in Grand Canary and Teneriffe. The 
fruit is a large pear-shaped body, either green or purple, with a 
large globular seed in the centre. The pulp is soft and creamy. 
It is used in the West Indies as a salad and as a substitute for 
butter. This fruit if carefully packed might prove valuable for 
export purposes on a small scale. 
Peach (Prwms Persica). — The Peach is not carefully culti- 
vated. The trees are, however, widely distributed. In early 
spring the blossom is very pretty. The fruit is inferior and 
seldom suitable for dessert. Some superior sorts have lately 
been introduced by Colonel Wethered and others into the Orotava 
Valley. 
Almond {Primus amygdahLs).-~Wid(}\j distributed every- 
where. Almonds are largely exported in good season. The 
exports in 1892 were of the value of £7,361. 
Melons [Cucumis melo). — The best varieties of Melons require 
great care. They thrive better in newly broken land. This 
applies generally to Melons, Vegetable Marrows, Cucumbers, and 
all cucurbits. Water Melons reach England in immense quanti- 
ties from Malta ; hence there is not much prospect for this fruit 
from the Canaries. Good, well-flavoured sweet Melons would 
do better. 
Guava {Psiclmm Guayava). — 'The apple and pear-shaped 
Guavas, of a yellowish-green colour, are common. They are not 
of good flavour, and are not much liked as a dessert fruit. They, 
however, make good jelly. The small purple Guavas (P. Cattlei- 
aiium) are a superior fruit when well cultivated. 
Prickly Pear [Oimntia spj).). — This hardly deserves to be 
mentioned as a fruit. The inferior sorts produced on wild plants 
are only eaten by the poorer people and by animals. The choice 
