102 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 
seeds makes a star from which the fruit gets its name. For 
the table, the pulp is often combined with orange juice and is 
then called ''matrimony." 
The average civilized man approaches the custard-apple 
with misgivings and leaves it with disgust, and yet in this 
fruit. Nature came near to producing one of her best creations. 
In its present state, however, it is likely to impress one as being 
unfinished ; as a fruit abruptly halted on its way to perfection. 
It is a round or eggshaped affair of yellow color and as large 
as ones two fists. Its substance is soft and custard-like, but 
after tasting it, one is inclined to believe that this particular 
custard was not baked enough, or that it was not concocted by 
a master cook. It tastes for all the world like flour and water 
with a dash of lemon and slightly sweetened. There is no use 
going to the tropics for the custard apple when one can get 
uncooked flour paste and sugar at home. 
The sour-sop is some improvement upon the custard-ap- 
ple, but not enough to make much difference in value. In 
shape, size and structure they are much alike, but the outside 
of the sour-sop is warty and encloses a somewhat firmer pulp. 
There is considerable acid in its composition, but it had the 
same raw taste as the custard-apple. It is only endurable to 
most palates when made into a drink by pouring boiling water 
upon it. It then has the look and taste of sweetened butter- 
milk. 
The reputed fondness of the American for sweets follows 
him to the tropics and among the first fruits to be recommended 
to his consideration is likely to be the naseberry. This is not 
a berry at all, in fact tropical berries are few and far between. 
It is probably the sweetest of tropical fruits, but has only sweet- 
ness to recommend it. It resembles the star apple in structure 
and belongs to the same family of plants. The skin is rough 
and of a swarthy brown and the flesh is nearly of the same 
color. The latter is soft and juicy, but coarse grained and 
