40 ON THE CULTURE OF THE MOMBIN, HOBO, &c. AS TABLE FRUIT. 
S. lutea, (Jig. a) — This species is a native of various parts of South America and 
the West Indies ; it forms an upright growing tree (as figured in the wood-cut), and 
in its native localities attains the height of fifty or sixty feet. The natives call it 
Mombin, Hobo, and several other names, most likely from there being different 
varieties, slightly varying from each other ; indeed, one kind in Jamaica is said to 
form a very superior fruit, and is cultivated for this purpose in various parts of the 
island. Large branches broken from the trees easily grow; they are therefore 
planted to form hedges, which, in the course of a few months after they are separated 
from the parent tree, and stuck in, will bear a considerable quantity of good, fine- 
swelled, fruit. This, however, must be partly attributed to the genial climate in 
which they are naturally found. They are also planted in pastures, two or three 
together, to form a shade under which sheep may retreat from the burning rays of the 
sun. The flowers are yellow, small, and produced in large quantities upon terminal 
semi-globose panicles, six to eight inches long. The fruit is yellow, tinged on the 
sunny side with deep orange, and an occasional purple spot, and is about the size of 
a white Bullace-plum and of the same form. The flesh is melting, with an agreeable 
acid, and certainly possesses a delicious flavour. The rind is thin, and when the 
fruit is ripe separates readily from the flesh, leaving the latter quite entire ; it has 
then the appearance of a lump of clear jelly, slightly tinged with golden yellow, and 
exhibiting distinctly the fibrous stone in the centre. When the fruit is full-grown 
the stone occupies nearly one-half of it, and the flesh is somewhat adherent. 
The plant which flowered and fruited at Chatsworth last year, and from which 
our woodcut and description was made, is planted in the border in a cool part of the 
large conservatory, not far from the situation occupied by tender greenhouse plants. 
It is evidently of slow growth, having only attained the height of sixteen or seventeen 
feet during as many years ; it, however, seldom receives any direct sunshine, as 
the large plants of Masa sapientwn and paradisiaca stand betwixt it and the sun, 
and cast their shadows far beyond it ; whether this is a disadvantage or not, we 
can scarcely say ; there is, however, no doubt but it would endure more light, and 
that less heat than it now receives would be sufficient for both the development of 
its foliage and flowers, and the perfecting of its fruit. We are led to this conclusion 
because the plant always shows signs of suffering when subjected to strong heat, and 
is soon covered with insects and filth. 
Our plant began to exhibit its panicles in April, soon after the house had been 
subjected to a growing temperature. The flowers expanded in May, and the fruit 
was well ripened and fit for table by the middle of the following September. The 
blossoms are borne on the wood of the previous year's growth. 
The following few directions will perhaps be a sufficient guide to its successful 
cultivation : — 
Subject the plant to a very moderate stove heat, and if convenient plant it out 
into a prepared border. 
If planted out, the best soil is a light turfy loam ; but if grown in a pot or tub, 
