710 
Supplement to the Tropical AgriculturisV^ [April 1, 1902. 
to nine inches for drainage, and over this a few 
inches deep of small twigs or half-rotted leaves, 
to prevent the fine soil from getting between the 
stones and choking the drainage. The hole may 
be filled up with the following compost : One- 
third ordinary garden soil, one-third half-rntled 
cattle or stable manure (cattle manure preferred 
for hot, sandy soils, and stable manure for cold, 
clayey soils), and the remaining third may be 
formed of leaf-mould, saud, woodashe?, lime, and 
the sweepings of the poultry-yard. When the 
hole has only been taken out eighteen inches deep, 
it will be necessary to raise the soil about eighteen 
inches above ground ; indeed in every case, except 
in very dry districts, it is best to raise it. The 
whole fruit, which is sent out in a germinated 
state, must be planted about three inches deep in 
the centre of the hole. It begins to grow at once, 
and in a week or ten days it will have made a 
good start. It is a creeper, and each plant will 
require a space of about twenty feet square. 
In the Kew Bulletin for May and June, 1896, 
there are some remarks about this plant, which 
though no doubt refers to the green variety which 
was sent to them from the Ceylon garden some 
years ago is quite applicable to the white one. 
It is there shown that the cho-sho has been taken 
up by the natives of India by whom it is regarded 
as one of the most wholesome ofjoods. " Cho-cho 
is now quite established as a popular vegetable in 
Bangalore and the adjacent villages. The fruit 
has also been widely distributed to other towns 
in the province. It is largely used iu the central 
jail where the fruit is carefully grown and con- 
sidered to be one of the most wholesome food for 
prisoners. It is not generally known, however, 
that the large fleshy root of the plant, sometimes 
weighing nearly twenty lbs., can be cooked and 
eaten like a yam." The cho-cho is also largely grown 
in England under glass to supply Covent Garden 
market. The large flat seeds if carefully cooked 
are regarded as a great delicacy. Starch is also 
prepared from the roots at Jamaica. 
Here we have a plant eminently suited to the 
people of this country, a perennial requiring very 
little culture, whose roots, fruit and seeds give 
a plentiful supply of good wholesome food, and I 
trust it will be more largely cultivated in Ceylon 
in the future. 
Of its lasting qualities I may mention that the 
original plant introduced into this garden from 
Jamaica in January, 1885, and from which I believe 
all the plants in the East— perhaps millions — are 
descended, is now in perfect health and bearing 
as regularly and heavily after twelve years* as it 
has ever done. 
The fruit can be sent to table in a large variety 
of ways, from a very good pickle of the young 
fruits to an acknowledged delicacy from the seeds. 
I am led to make the above remarks because of 
the absurd rumour which has been spread among 
the natives of this country, viz., that the plant 
contains poison, and also that a continual use of 
the fruit produces rheumatism. With regard to 
the latter I may say that thousands of families 
feed on this in Jamaica all through the season, anj 
during my 7| years' residence there I never heard 
of any one being in the slightest degree affected 
by them in any way, but beneficially. Mysilf and 
family have eaten them whenever we could get 
them for the last 23 years, * and we have always 
found them thoroughly wholesome. 
As to their containing poison this is a great 
mistake, and I think the following may account 
for the spread of the rumour : — The late Dr. Trimeu 
in his administration report for 1894 gives two 
paragraphs on the same page, one about " Nux 
Vomica" and one on theCho-Cho, and he also adds 
two footnotes. The one referring to " Nux 
Vomica " states : " The pulp in which the seeds are 
immersed contains a small proportion of strychnine 
so small that it is said that this pulp is enten by 
birds. Dr. Ondaatjie has, however, settled by ex- 
periment on dogs, cats, and pigeons that it is fatally 
poisonous in sufficient quantity." I think it 
possible that some one may have read this foot- 
note as referring to the cho-cho and possibly told 
some coolie about it. I cannot account for it in 
any other way. 
Considering the value of this plant for food. I 
may be permitted to respectfully suggest that as a 
means of encouraging its cultivation, that a small 
pamphlet describing its value and useful qualities 
may be printed in Sinhalese and Tamil and dis- 
tributed among the headmen of at least all up- 
country districts. 
The following are a few of the ways iu which 
the fruit can be served : — 
1. The young fruit when about an inch in 
diameter makes a very good pickle either alone or 
mixed with other pickles. 
2. When two-thirds grown they can be sliced 
in the same way as cucumber and eaten as a 
salad. 
3. The half ripe fruit can be sliced and fried 
in butter, after the manner of brinjals (garden 
egg) or half boiled and cut up for salad lika 
beetroot. 
4. The matured fruit make a nice dish whe*^ 
stuffed with forced meat like a vegetable marrow. 
5. Plain boiled like a vegetable marrow and 
used up either plain or with white sauce. 
6. Made into a variety of curries as pump- 
kins, cucumber, etc. 
7- When boiled and used with lime juce, 
cloves, etc., makes a capital imitation apple sauce. 
8. Mixed with lime juce and sugar it supplies 
an ingredient for tarts. 
9. A preserve can be made from it after the 
manner of vegetable marrow. 
10. The dish which is considered a delicacy 
in England is made from the seeds which are taken 
out from the fruit, after being boiled, and fried in 
butter. 
11. Eoots boiled resemble yams. 
12. Roots can also be roasted or baked like 
yams. 
W. NOCK, 
Superintendent, Hakgala Gardens. 
February, 1896. 
* Now seventeen years old. — 27-3-02. 
■* Now 28 years.— 27-3-02. 
