254 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [October i, 1887. 
BOYAL GAEDENS, KEW. 
(Fiom the Bulletin 'of Miscellaneous Information.) 
[Introduction of certain West Indian Food-plants to the 
East Indies. In tbe following notes information is 
given respecting certain food-plants from the West 
Indies recently introduced to the East Indies, and 
which are now established in the latter. These are 
the Tree Tomato ( ' Cyphomaudra ■ betacea) , the Chocho 
(Sechium edule), the Arracacha (Arracacia csculenta), 
and the Cherimoyer (Anona Cherimolia). 
The introduction of the Arracacha was first attempt- 
ed, at the instance of the Government of India, in 
1879, but, after many failures, was only successfully 
accomplished in 1883. The Chocho was introduced 
Ceylon by means of a single plant, which survived 
the journey direct from Jamaica to Ceylon, in January 
1885. The Tree Tomato and Cherimoyer were intro- 
duced by seeds, which travel well and are more con- 
venient for distribution than plants. In a few years, 
no doubt, all these plants will be widely distributed 
throughout the East, and they will be found useful 
additions to the vegetable diet of both Europeans and 
natives. Already the Chocho introduced to Ceylon as 
recently as 1885 is to be found in the local markets; 
and the Tree Tomato is mentioned " as a most valu- 
able acquisition to Southern India." 
All the four plants here mentioned are likely t° 
thrive at Hill Stations in India and in all districts 
suitable for coffee and cinchona cultivation. They 
are sub-tropical rather than tropical in their require- 
ments, and hence no doubt they will be found of 
service in South Africa, in certa in parts of Australia, 
Northern New Zealand, and in hilly districts gener- 
ally throughout our tropical possessions. The inform- 
ation here summarized will indicate their useful- 
ness as food-plants and the sources both in the Old 
and New "World from which future supplies of seeds 
and plants may conveniently be obtained.] 
TREE TOMATO. 
{Cyphomaudra batacea, De Candolle.) 
Although called a tomato, this plant, which is a 
native of the Andean regions of Tropical America, 
is a large free-growing shrub or small tree often 
attaining a height of 8 to 12 feet. The fruit in 
form is more like that of the egg-plant or brinjal, 
but in colour and flavour it more nearly approaches 
the tomato. Like these two, however, it belongs to 
the natural order Solanaceae. 
* * * 
On the mainland of Central America it is known 
as the Tomato de la Paz, in Jamaica as the " Tree 
Tomato," and sometimes, on account of its supposed 
beneficial action on the liver, " Vegetable Mercury.'' 
Plants are easily raised from seed, and come into 
bearing in about two years. They are very prolific 
bearers, and the fruit is available during the winter 
months, November to March, when ordinary tomatoes 
are not so easily obtained. 
If the fruit is allowed to fully ripen on the trees 
it may be eaten raw, and it has somewhat the fla- 
vour of gooseberry. If the skin is removed and the 
fruit (without the seeds) stewed with sugar, it re- 
sembles apricot, but with a slight sub-acid flavour, 
which is very refreshing. 
Mr. Miers (Hook. Journ. Botany, 1845, p. 358) de- 
scribes this plant under the name of Pionandra batacea, 
and mentions that " this is doubtless the same fruit 
that I saw in the markets of Lima, where it is com- 
monly used for cooking in lieu of the ordinary to- 
mato the flavour of which it resembles." 
The Tree Tomato was introduced to Jamaica many 
years ago, and it is sparingly met with on old coflee 
plantations in the hills of St. Andrew and Manchester. 
It does not flourish in the plains. Its range of elevation 
in Jamaica is from 2,000 feet to 5,000 feet, with a range 
of temperature from 72° to 63° Fahr. It is found 
at Madeira and the Azores, and cultivated in the South 
of Europe. According to Dr. Masters, the fruit is 
occasionally se"n in Covent Garden Market uuder the 
erroneous name of " Oreuadilla. " Plants are grown 
at Kew in the Temperate House and also in the cool 
Economic Ho use. They generally bear lata in the 
autumn, and hence the fruit seldom ripens properly 
and is not in good order. Through the agency of 
the Botanical Department at Jamaica, seed of this 
plant and information respecting it, have been widely 
distributed throughout British Colonies, and it may 
now be considered fairly established in most of the 
regions of a sub-tropical character suited to its 
growth. 
In the Report of the Director of the Botanical 
Gardens, Ceylon, for the year 1884 it is stated 
that the Qyphomandra batacea "is a close ally of 
the ordinary Tomato, and a native of Peru and 
neighbouring countries, but cultivated on the hills 
in many parts of South America and the West 
Indies. Its fruit, which is red, and the 6ize of a 
pigeon's egg may be employed in all ways like the 
tomato, and resembles it in flavour. Seeds have been 
received from Jamaica, and there are now many 
young plants at Hakgala. " 
In the Report for the year 1885, Dr. Trimen 
mentions that at Hakgala at 6,000 feet, some of the 
tree Tomato plants " are now 1 1 feet high, and the 
fruits produced are very fine. They are egg-shaped, 
about 3 inches long and 2 inches in diameter, and 
when fully ripe are of a bright yellowish-red colour. 
They make excellent tarts, are very good stewed, 
and are much relished by most people when quite 
ripe, and eaten raw like gooseberries. The plant is 
very robust and easy to grow here, and I believe 
it will thrive aDd be very profitable from an elev- 
ation of 2,000 to 6,000 feet. Under favourable con- 
ditions the plant remains in bearing for many (10 
or more) years." 
In the last Report to hand, that for the year 
1886, it is stated that " the Tree Tomato has spread 
rapidly through the hill country. This fruit keeps 
well after being gathered, and as it has a tough 
skin and travels well, it might be largely cultivated 
in the villages for sale in the towns. " 
CHOCHO. 
(Sechium edule, SwJ 
This is a cucurbitaceous plant well known in 
Tropical Amercia, where its wholesome fruit is com- 
monly used by all classes as an article of food. In 
Brazil it is called Chuchu, in Jamaica Chocho, in 
the French islands Christophine, in the English col- 
onies Vegetable pear, at Madeira I'ipinella, Chayota, 
or Chahiota, 
The plant is a climber with three to five-cleft 
tendrils, and a smooth somewhat stout stem rising 
from a very large fleshy perennial root having the 
appearance of a yam. The leaves are heart-shaped, 
rough to the touch, and five angled. The flowers 
are green or yellow, with separate male and female 
flowers on the same plant. The fruit is pear-shaped, 
about three to five inches long, covered with soft 
prickles, and either green or cream coloured. The 
one seed or kernel is like a large thin almond. There 
are two well-marked varieties, (a) with flower and 
fruit of a pale green colour, and (b) with flower 
and fruit rather larger, cream coloured or white. 
As a "West Indian plant reference is made to the 
Chocho by Hans Sloane and Patrick Browne, but it 
was first described and named by Swartz, Fl. Ind. 
Occ, Vol. II., p. 1150. It was mentioned and figured 
by Jacquin as Chayota edidis (Amer. ed. pict. II. 
tab. 245). Descourtilz places it under Cucumis acutangidvs 
(Fl. des Antilles, v. 94, tab. 328) as common in the 
Island of St. Christopher, and gives a fairly good draw- 
ing of the fruit, which, however, has nothing to do 
with C. acutanyulus, Linn., now known as the common 
Luffa. The plant was recently figured and described by 
Oogniaux in Flora Brasiliensis. Vol. II., pt. 4, p. Ill, 
tab. xxxv. In this the fruit is evidently drawn from 
dried specimens and is not good. A better illustration of 
the fruit from a spiecimen received from Madeira, with 
a description by the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, is given 
in Gardeners' Chronicle, 1865, p. 51. 
De Candolle states that "the plant is probably a 
native of the South of Mexico and of Central Amer- 
ica, and was transported into the West India Islands 
and to Brazil in the eighteenth century." 
