67 



Two bunches of blossoms are sometimes produced on the horse- 

 shoe geraniums, the one growing out of the other. 



\\ bile abnormalities are of no special scientific value, they at- 

 tract the attention of almost every one on account of their odd- 

 ness. 



Lincoln, Nebraska. 



THE GRAPE FRUIT. 

 By Willard X. Clute. 



Although the grape fruit is still comparatively unknown 

 outside of the larger cities and towns, it is apparently rapidly in- 

 creasing in favor with the American people. Last year the Island 

 of Jamaica alone sent nearly thirty thousand dollars' worth of 

 this fruit to our markets. In its season grape fruit may now be 

 obtained at almost any large fruit store. 



Notwithstanding its name this fruit in no way resembles the 

 grape. One authority has it that the name is derived "from the 

 size and shape of the globules containing the pulp," but since the 

 interior construction of the grape fruit is exactly like that of the 

 orange, this derivation seems scarcely likely. Americans seem 

 generally to think that the name is given because of the flavor of 

 the fruit, although this has but a faint resemblance to that of any 

 grape with which I am acquainted. 



The grape fruit is a member of the orange family, being re- 

 garded as a variety of the pomelo or shaddock (Citrus decum- 

 ana) . There seems to be some question as to which variety is the 

 real citrus decumana. There is a noticeable difference in shape; 

 the grape fruit appearing like a very large, light-colored orange, 

 while the shaddock is still larger and pear-shaped, with a thicker 

 rind and coarser grain. In fruit the shaddock is an interesting 

 sight. If one can imagine a medium sized apple tree hung with 

 pear-shaped fruit as large as small melons he will have a very 

 good idea of w T hat it is like. 



In the United States the grape fruit is usually prepared for the 



