82 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Aug. 1, 1899. 
A buahy tree origically introduced from Tropical 
America ; height aoout 30 ft. Its well-known fruit 
conaiata of two distinct part?, viz., (1) the swollen 
pear-shaped sta ked (cashew-apple), which, being 
juicy and astringently acid, is used in preserves and 
made into a wine ; and i2) the kidney-shaped brown 
nut at the extremity. The edible kernel (seed) of the 
latter is of an agreeable nutty taste, especially when 
roasted; it is in demand in Europe for confectionary 
and flavouring purposes. The crusted shell is acrid 
add poisonous. All parts of the fruit of various uses 
in medicines. Season, April and May. The tree 
yields a gum said ti> be obnoxious to insects, which is 
recommended for bookbinding. The juice obtained 
from incisions of the bark forms an indelible ink. 
Thrives beat in the low-country up to 1,500 ft. Adapt- 
ed for moderately dry districts. Prop, by seed, layer- 
ing, and onttinga. 
Price: Plants 20 cents each ; seeds 35 cents per 100. 
Amnas sativa. — Pineapple; Annasi, S. ; Anaashi- 
pallam. T. 
Generally supposed to be the most delicious fruit 
in the world. Tbe leaves afford a fine and durable 
fibre of commercial importance. Will thrive from 
sea-level to medium altitudes in moist and dry 
districts. Rich loamy soil, leaf ni iuld and well-rotted 
manure; well-drained and sunny situation. Plant 
about 2 ft. apart, in row 3 ft. from each other. Prop, 
by suckers and " crowns " (fruit shoots). 
Kew pine" (Smooth Cayenne). — The best variety 
for general cultivation, being a robust gtower usually 
bearing in the low-country in six months from time 
of planting suckers. Fruit giows to a large size, 
sometimes weighing over 20 lb. (exceeding the record 
for other countries) ; is very juicy and of a delicious 
flavour. Leaves not spiny. 
Price: Suckers Re. 1'50 per dozen. 
" Mauritius." — Fruit moderately large, yellow, and 
well-flavoured. Leaves not apiny. 
Price: Suckers Re 120 per dozen. 
" Gal-annaai," — Similar to the latter in appearance 
and flavour. 
Price : Suckers Re. 1'20 per dozen. 
Anona nuiricata. — Soursop. Katu-anoda, <S'. ;Seetha, 
T. 
A low fast-growing tree with fragrant laurel-like 
leaves, introduced from the West Indiea. Fruit large 
(2 to 3h lb.), green more or less oblong often kidney- 
shaped, coveied with soft green pickles. It ranks 
among the best dessert fruits of the Tropics, the soft 
white luscious pulp being agreeable and refreshing, 
with a strawberry flavour. A grateful cooliug drink is 
also made from it. Season, June to > ctober. Low- 
country and up to 3,500 ft. Deep loamy soil. Prop, 
by seeds and layering. Sow aeeda in prepared nursery 
beds. 
Price : Plants 20 cents each ; aeeds .50 cents per 100. 
Anona reticulata. — Bullock's heart ; Anoda, S. ; 
Ramsita, T. 
A small bushy tree of Tropical America and West 
Indies. The name " bullock's heart" signifies the 
shape and size of the fruit, v^hich is edible, the custard 
like granular pulp being of a rather agreeable flavour. 
Seasons, March to April and October to November. 
The leaves and young twigs are said to be used for 
tanning. Altitude and soil same as for latter species. 
Prop, by seeds sown in pots or open ground, or by 
cuttings planted in rainy weather. 
Price: Seedling plants 25 cents each. 
Averrlioa BiUmhi. — Cucumber tree; Blimbiug ; 
Biline, S. ; Bilim-kai, T. 
A fine-foliaged dwarfish tree, long cultivated in the 
Eastern Tropics for fruits. Fruits about 3 in. long, 
resembling small cucumbers in form, proiluced iu 
clusters on the trunk, are valued for making pickles, 
preserves, jam, tarts, and cooliug drinks; they are 
also opeciaily estseo'ed as an ingredient in curries. 
The flowers aro simetimes made into preserves Low 
m^ium altitudes. Rich, friable, and well-drained 
loil decayed ma'uure, leaf-muuld, &o. Prop, by seeds 
layering. Seeds small, sow in pots, pans, or boxes 
under cover. 
Price: Plants 25 cents each. 
Averrhoa Caranibola. — Karambola-tree ; Kamaranga, 
S. ; Tamarata, T. 
A tree similar to the latter, but more ornamented 
in habits, being also in cultivation in the East for a 
long period. Fiuit oblong, 3 to 5 in. long, semi trans- 
parent, amber-coloured, and produced on the branches 
its five peculiar wings or iidges give it a handsome 
appearance. The pulp is acid and very juicy, bnt, 
though used in some similar ways, is not so highly 
valued for culinary purpose as the fruit of its ally 
already described. The juice of the fiuit removes 
stains from linen, and is good for burnishing brass, 
&c. It is alto said to be used as a mordant io dyeing. 
Adapted for same elevations, soil, and method of 
propagation as the last described species. 
/Vic<: Plants 25 cents each; seeds 25 cents per packet. 
Canarinvi conimune. — Java almond ; Rata-kekuna, iS. 
Myrrh family. A large handsome Malayan tree 
with generally a remarkable buttressed trunk, culti- 
vated for the sake of its plum-like fruits produced 
in abundance from April to December. The hard 
three-cornered kernel contains an edible substance 
similar in flavour to sweet almonds ; it yields by 
expression an oil used for burning in lamps and for 
cooking purposes. A desirable tree for planting in 
avenues, <fec. Hot and moist districts up to about 
1,500 ft. elevation. Deep and fairly well-drained soil. 
Plants are raised readily from see Sow seeds in 
nursery beds, and keep wet and shade?!. 
Price : Plants 20 cents each ; seeds 50 cents per 100. 
Carican Papaya. — Papaw ; Tree-melon; Pepol, /S. ■ 
Pappali, T. 
Passion-fruit family. A familiar fast-growing, small, 
branchless tree, with a crown of large palmate leaves, 
indigenous to Central America and West Indies. 
Fruit greenish-yellow when ripe; globular or oblong, 
10 to 15 in. long; centre hollow, flesh lemon to 
orange colour ; seeds attached to walls of central 
cavity, plentiful, few, or none, according to variety. 
A most refreshing and wholesome dessert fruit. It 
may be made into jam and sauce; unripe, it may 
be pickled, or boiled and used as a vegetable. The 
milky juice of the unripe fruit curdles milk like 
rennet ; it is in commercial demand for its peptic 
properties. The leaves are used for wrapping round 
fresh meat to render it tender. The tree is of short 
vitality, deteriorating at the age of five to six years, 
but bears fruit continuously from the time it is a 
f<-w months old. Prop, by seeds, which germinate 
readily. Sow thinly in nursery beds. Low and me- 
dium elevations. Rich loose soil, dec lyed manure, 
vegetable mould, &c. 
"Madagascar."— A large oblong fruit with many 
seeds. 
"Pasha." — Fruit large, globular; seeds few, some- 
times none. 
'' Lanka." — Fruit small, round, very milky. 
Price; 20 cents per plant; seeds 25 cents per 
packet . 
Chrysodalantis Icaco. — Coco-plum; Spanish necta- 
rine- A small spreading shrubby tree of the Apple 
family, native of Tropical America. Its fruit is of 
the size and appeirance of a rather round plum, with 
a purplish tender rind ; it is eaten as dessert, the 
white pulp adhering to the kernel being of an agree- 
able taste; it is said to be also largely made into 
conserves in Cuba, where it thus forms an article 
of export. Will succeed in low-country and up to 
2,001 ft. in light sandy loam. Prop, by seed or 
cuttings. 
Price .* Seedlings plants 30 cents each. 
Chrysophylhim Caiiiifo. — Star-apple ; Rata-lawulu, S. : 
Seemaipala-pallam, 7\ 
A fairly large West Indian tree with handsome 
foliage and habit of growth ; leaves dark green above, 
copper-coloured undernea'h. Tbe dark brown fruit 
is round iu shape, about 5 in. in (lircumferenoe, 
usually 2-seeded, very milky when unripe; the white 
iuntir portion of the pulp is edible, it being com- 
