Octobek if 1887.3 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
2$5 
At present, it is widely distributed in all parts of 
Tropical America, and it has also been introduced to 
Madeira and the Atlantic Islands, from whence the 
fruit is sometimes sent to the English market uuder 
the name of Chayote. 
The introduction of this useful plant to some of 
our possessions in the East Indies was effected during 
the last two or three years, and alroady very gratify- 
ing accounts have been received of it. 
In the Wost Indies the Chocho is cultivated in the 
hills, and it flourishes at temperatures ranging from 
tiS° Fahr. to 75° Fahr. It apparently fails in the 
lowlands, and may therefore bo looked upon as re- 
quiring sub-tropical rather than tropical conditions. 
It is easily propagated by planting the whole fruit, 
which after germination of the seed gives rise to a 
persistent amorphous rhizome of a woody or a fibrous- 
lluhiliy character. The stem can easily be trained to 
grow over fences or arbours ; but failing these, it 
spreads along the ground, aud has then much of the 
habit aud appearance of the common vegetable 
marrow. 
The Kev. H. T. Lowe, who met with this fruit at 
Madeira mentions (Flora of Madeira, p. 292) that 
boiled it is a favourite vegetable aud highly esteemed. 
It resembles a young pumpkin rather than a cucumber, 
but when ripe is somewhat firmer, drier, or more 
mealy in consistence, with a peculiar nutty flavour. 
" The larger cream-coloured or white-fruited variety 
is better looking, but it is not considered so good 
as the groen variety." 
Macfadyen on the other hand states (Flora of Jamaica, 
Vol. II., p. 141) that the white variety " is by far 
the more delicate. " He adds, with the addition of 
lime-juice and sugar, it supplies an ingredient for 
tarts ; the root when dressed is very wholesome 
and palatable, and can scarcely be distinguished from 
the yam. 1 ' 
Lunan, in 1811 (Hort. Jamaiceusis, Vol. I., p. 182), 
states that " the fruit is au agreeable, wholesome 
vegetable, but is much improved by lime juice, by 
salt or spicy ingredients. Mixed with lime juice and 
sugar it is a good substitute for apple sauce. The 
vine bears all the year round aud makes very good 
arbours. The root of the old vine on being boiled 
or ruasted is farinaceous and wholesome. The seeds 
(of which each fruit contains only one) arc very 
good if taken out after the fruit is boiled and fried 
with butter. 
Tho introduction of the Ohocho to Ceylon was 
effected by means -of the Jiotanical (lardens in that 
island. In the Report of the Director for tho year 
1884, p. 13, it is stated that a case of plants received 
from Kew in October were all dead on arrival, but 
that out of a box of germinating seeds sent direct 
from Jamaica iu the following .January one survived, 
from which afterwards three rooted cuttings were 
obtained. 
In the Report for 188"), p. 11, it is stated that the 
" Ohooho" has been SJCcessfudy established at Hak- 
gala from the single surviving seed of those sent 
from Jamaica in January. 
Mr. Nock, Superintendent of the I lakgala (lardens, 
reports : — 
" After beiug nursed up in the propagating house for 
a low weeks, the plant was put out at the end of 
February into tin nursery. It commenced to bear in 
May mid lias continued to do so ever since, affording 
un excellent crop. The vegetable (fruit ) it produces is 
I" ir-sbspcd, and the average weight is 3.'. lb. The 
plant being perennial adds greatly to its value. 
" As it is tin- firht that has been grown in this country, 
it may be useful if I state the best way of cultivating 
it- It thrives best iu a rich deep well-drained soil, 
bill may ho made to grow anywhere by preparing the 
lite iu the following manner : — Make a hole I or 3 feet 
111 diameter and IS inches to 3 feet duep according to 
the subsoil. If tho subsoil is good and froe, you may 
go to the depth ol :t fret, but if jt is clayey "or likely 
tO hold water [8 inches will be quite deep enough. 
Place a layer of rough stones at of bottom of 
tin bole to a depth of (I to '.» inches for drainage, and 
e\i 1 Ibis a few int'Ues deep of >uwll twigs or half rot- 
ted leaves to prevent the fine soil from getting between 
the stones and choking the drainage. The hole may 
be filled up with the loll >wing compost : one-third 
ordinary garden soil, one-third half-rotted cattle or 
stablo manure (cattle manure preferred for hot sandy 
soils, and stable manure for cold ch'.yey soil), and the 
remaining third may be formed of leaf-mould, sand, 
wood ashes, lime, aud the Bweepiugs of the poultry 
yard, in about equal portions. When the hole has 
only been taken out about 18 inches deep, it will be 
necessary to raise the soil 18 inches above the ground ; 
indeed in every case except in very dry districts it is 
best to raise it. The whole fruit, which is sont out 
in a germinated state, must be planted about 3 inches 
deep in the centre of the hole. It begius to grow at 
once, aud in a week or 10 days, it will havo made a 
good start. It is a creeper, and each plant will require 
a space of about 20 feet square." 
" The Chocho also does very well at Peradeniya, but 
the fruit does not there att;iin quite so large a size. 
I think it will be less suitable for the lower elevations. 
I consider it to be a very valuable introduction, and 
a real addition to the vegetables of Ceylon. It most 
resembles the vegetable marrow, but is, in my opinion, 
superior in flavour to the best varieties of that vege- 
table." 
In the Report for 188G Dr. Trimen mentions that : — 
" The Chocho of the West Indies {Sechiwm edtdej has 
been widely distributed and has rapidly become com- 
mon iu the country. It is liked both by Europeans 
and by natives, and its easy culture is especially ap- 
preciated by the latter, by whom it is much esteemed 
for curries. I havo noticed it for sale in the Kandy 
market at lc to 2c. the fruit." 
In a letter addressed to Kew, dated 2.'lrd October 
1886, Mr. Nock meutions that : — 
" The Tree Tomato and Ohocho from Jamaica are a_ 
great success here. They are well established in difj 
ferent parts of the island and arc much appreciate , 
both by Europeans and natives. I should be much oblige 
if you will be good enough to use your influence in 
getting for us from Jamaica the white variety of the 
Chocho (what we have is the green one), aud I am 
under the impression that the white variety will grow 
down almost to sea-level, and the green oue here 
begins to feel uncomfortable bolow 2,000, feet." 
ARKACACHA. 
(Arracacia cscidcnta, De Oondolle.) 
The Arracacha is a valuable esculent commou iu 
tho high lands of Venezuela, where it is regularly 
used as an article of food. The plant belongs to tho 
natural order Umbellifeno, aud in appearauce aud 
habit of growth resembles the common parsnip. It 
is called iu Spanish Apw, from its resemblauce to 
the celery, as a substitute for which the bl.iuched 
shoots can be used. The root is a fleshy tuber of 
large size, bearing numerous kuots or tubers ou the 
outside. 
Of these the shoots on the upper surface inclining 
upwards give off leafy growths, marked about the 
base with horizontal rings bearing mflmbrauous sheaths, 
which afterwards wither away. These shoots when 
ripe can be broken away from the parent tuber aud 
form new sets for planting. The other shoots, which 
are givon off below the ground, are generally eight 
to ten in number; the largest measure about ti 
inches long by l.j to 2 inches in diameter. They are 
nearly of the same circumference throughout, taperiug 
otf suddenly and sending out a few fibres at the 
extremity. Their surface is nearly smooth, covered 
with a thin skin, marked across with transverse 
scars, like tho roots of carrots. These underground 
shoots are called hijos (sons), and are the edible portions 
of the root, being more tender and more dohrato in 
flavour than the main root or mad re (mother). 
The stem is 2 to I fret high, often streaked with 
purple. The leaves, rising directly from the root 
with long petioles, are deeply and irregularly 
piutiatitld. They are dark, green and shining above, 
paler beneath. The flowers borne in umbels are 
of two kiuds; those iu the centre are imperfect or 
bear stamens only, aud havo a Hat disk in the centre. 
