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taken  into  consideration  and  the  unusual  opportunities  open  to 
the  grower  of  tropical  crops,  the  dissemination  of  the  claims 
of  this  Territory  upon  the  agriculturist  will  attract  settlers 
drawn  from  sources  best  calculated  to  establish  permanent 
communities  of  well-to-do  and  enlightened  citizens. 
MON  ST  ERA  DELI  CIOS  A. 
One  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  decorative  climbing  plants 
of  the  Honolulu  garden  is  the  species  of  Philodendron,  Mons- 
tera  deliciosa.  In  favorable  sites  upon  old  walls  or  upon 
trees  it  grows  freely,  and  its  generous  sized  leaves  ornamented 
with  a margin  of  oval  perforations,  together  with  the  some- 
what snake  like  form  of  its  mottled  aerial  roots  gives  the  plant 
an  unusual  and  attractive  appearance. 
Although  unexpected,  this  somewhat  weird  creeper  yields 
one  of  the  most  exquisite  and  delicate  of  tropical  fruits.  The 
flowers  are  small  and  unpretentious,  but  are  surrounded  with 
a large  white  spathe  as  other  members  of  the  Araceae.  The 
fruit,  which  is  vivid  green  in  color,  becoming  duller  as  it 
ripens,  consists  of  a quantity  of  hexagonal  sections  arranged 
spirally  upon  the  central  stem.  Those  who  are  familiar  with 
the  pineapple  will  notice  the  similarity  of  its  fruit  to  the  Deli- 
ciosa, which  latter  may  be  likened  in  appearance  and  construc- 
tion to  a greatly  prolonged  but  much  narrowed  green  pine- 
apple without  the  latter’s  decorative  crown  or  generous  color- 
ing. When  fully  grown  the  Deliciosa  measures  about  fifteen 
inches  long  and  three  in  diameter. 
The  taste  of  this  exquisite  fruit  is  to  be  described  as  par- 
taking of  a mixture  of  tropical  flavors  in  which  that  of  the 
pineapple  predominates.  When  ripe  it  diffuses  a very  fragrant 
odor.  One  peculiaritv  of  the  Deliciosa  is  the  length  of  time 
which  the  fruit  when  fully  grown  requires  to  ripen — a period 
of  many  months  elapsing  before  it  is  ready  for  the  table.  An- 
other unusual  characteristic  is  that  it  commences  to  ripen  from 
the  end  and  is  only  suitable  for  consumption  in  sections — two 
or  three  inches  being  available  for  eating  daily.  In  this  way 
a good  sized  fruit  lasts  some  days,  the  exterior  hexagonal 
flakes  becoming  detached  and  revealing  the  ripened  sections 
below. 
To  all  who  are  fond  of  fragrant  fruits  the  Deliciosa  is  rec- 
ommended. Its  peculiar  growth  and  unusual  characteristics 
make  it  an  object  of  great  interest,  while  its  delicious  fruit 
possesses  a luscious  flavor  which  few  other  varieties  can  claim. 
