SUMMARY. 
197 
Uses. — No other plant in the world provides us with so many 
useful things. From it we get : 
(1) Wood for building, and other uses. It is called potTupine wood. 
(2) Leaves for thatching, and for baskets and mats. 
(3) Fruit for food and drink. 
(4) Oil for making soap and candles, and for use in lamps. 
(5) 6b^r for ropes, mats, and brushes. 
THE BREAD-FEUIT (p. 142). 
The Tree- — The tree grows to a large size, and has long, wide, 
and smooth leaves of bright green colour. It bears two kinds of 
flowers, but only one kind gives the fruit. Its wood is soft, with a 
milky, sticky sap, which may be used as a cement. It yields fruit 
for several months of the year. 
The Fruit- — The fruit is very large, with a thick, fleshy stalk 
and a rough, green rind. At first the inner part of the fruit is 
white and mealy, something like pith ; in ripening it turns juicy. 
The fruit should be gathered while mealy, and baked before it turns 
soft. 
THREE COMMON FRUITS (p. 144). 
1- Gua.va.. — The chief kinds are the white, the red, and the 
mountain guava. The ivhite guava is a low tree, with simple leaves 
and white flowers, and a fruit rather larger than a hen^s egg. Its 
fruit has a thick, yellowish rind, and a pinkish pulp holding several 
seeds. Guava jelly is made from it. 
2. Sta.r Apple- — This tree has slender, spreading branches, 
with pretty leaves that are dark-green above and a golden colour 
beneath. Its fruit is filled with a jelly-like pulp, which holds a 
number of black seeds. 
3- Ca.shew. — A handsome tree, whose wood is red and rather 
hard. The nut grows on a thick, fleshy stalk, which is very nice 
for eating when ripe. The shell of the nut has a thick black oil 
which will blister the skin. The ripe kernels are eaten after being 
roasted. 
GINGER.— I. (p. 147). 
The Plant. — The leaves of the plant are long, pointed, and 
sheathed. Leafy shoots three or four feet high, bear spikes of small 
yellow and purple flowers. The undergi'oimd stem is strangely 
