ON THE CULTURE OF THE MAMEY OR MAMMEE APPLE. 
137 
yellow ; the inner one is fine and membranous, yellow, adhering closely to the flesh, 
which is of a firm consistence, bright yelloY\% and has a singular but pleasant taste, and 
emits a delicious fragrance. It is either eaten alone, or cut into slices and eaten with 
wine and sugar; it is also boiled with sugar into a jam, in the same manner as Apricots are. 
The flowers are distilled in Martinique with spirits, and an aromatic drink is procured, 
which is said to be a stomachic, and is called by the natives Eau Creole. A wine is also 
obtained by fermenting the sap ; the seeds are anthelmintic and have been used in medicine. 
The sap of the plant is employed to destroy the chiggers (Pulex penetrans), insects remark- 
ably troublesome to the inhabitants in hot climates. The timber is full of resin and 
being hard and very durable, is esteemed for many domestic purposes. 
Besides the American or Common Mammee Apple, several other species have been 
discovered, some of which probably bear fruit fully equal to the one mentioned, none ho^v- 
ever have hitherto been introduced ; of these may be noticed : — 
The Afeican Mammee-Apple {Mammea Afrtcana). A native of the Mountains of 
Sierra Leone, where it forms a tree 60 feet or more high, with a broad spreading head. 
The leaves are oblong, acuminate, dark-green, blunt, shining, and abounding in a resinous 
yellow gum. Floivers white, solitary, and produced on the old wood. Fruit double the 
size of a large Apple, the outer rind is thick, brown, and of a bitter taste. The flesh is 
firm, melting, of a bright yellow, and in point of flavour quite equal to that of the M, 
americana. The wood of the tree also is very durable and forms good timber. 
The Mexican Mammee Apple [Mammea einargiiiata), is another good fruit-bearing 
kind, growing in the Mountains of Mexico. The tree is less in size than either of the 
preceding, and the first does not exceed the dimensions of a moderately sized apple, but 
has a good flavour, and deserves the attention of cultivators. The floivers are white like 
the last, and the plant wears a similar aspect, and has much the same habit. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE WOODCUT. 
a, Branch of Mammea Americana, showing tlie inflorescence. I c, Monodona Myristica. 
b, Fruit of the same. | d, Portion of the frait to show the disposition of the seeds. 
In cultivating the above species the same general treatment may be given to each ; 
the soil should be light, sandy and rich ; a mixture of two parts light turfy loam, and one 
part sandy peat, with a little rotten manure mixed, if the plants are grown in pots or tubs ; 
but if they are turned out in a prepared border, any light rich turfy loam, rendered open 
by an addition of sand, will answer every purpose. 
VOL. I. — NO V. T 
