/an, I, 1898.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
449 
durian fruit is somewhat oval, tund about the 
size of a large coconut. So the danger of walking 
under durian trees when laden with fruit can be 
readily appreciated. Fortunately, however, the 
fruits usually fall at night, .seldom during the 
day. The edible portion is the cream-coloured 
fleshy pulp in which the seeds, which are about 
the size of nutmeg seeds, are embedded. The 
very mention of this pulp is enough to bring 
water to tlie mouth of durian epicures ! The 
flavour is certaiulj^ all its own and apparently 
defies adequate description. A combination of 
cream -cheese, Slrerry wine, and onion sauce, and 
other similar incongruities, seems to convey the 
most general conception of it. Various notions 
exist as to 
WflE.V THE FRUIT IS BEST FOR EATING. 
Some say it should be left on tire tree till ripe 
enough to dio}( or until it opens naturally (dehisce*). 
Very often, however, many of the fruits fall before 
reaching tliis stage either on account of their 
weight, wind, or heavy rain. But in many 
opinions this does not in the least detract from 
ihe quality of the fruit— provided the fall is not 
too early, of course — for it can be kept from a 
week to ten days to ripen. 
For a novice to know whether a durian is fit for 
eating, it is only necessary to press the foot on 
it : if ripe, it opens at the growing end, show- 
ing five separate divisions. Those who are better 
accustomed to it, however, are guided more by the 
intensity of the odour which it emits, and of 
course, by the yellow tint the fruit assumes when 
ripe. Like almost all tropical fruits, the durian 
can also be used in the unripe state in a variety of 
ways as a vegetable : not even tlie seeds need 
be wasced, if not required for sowing. The con- 
ventional way of eating a durian is to retire to 
the bathroom or godown, with only nature’s 
knife and fork (the fingers) to deal with it. 
But those who stand on scruples of etiquette may 
(ind the following recipe more to their taste ; — 
E.xtract the pulp from the fruit and leave it 
standing (in the back verandah) for a few hours, 
so that the offensive scent may escape ; then 
place, in a basin, and )iour on it some fresh 
milk or cream ; .add a table spoonfull of sugar, 
or more if needed ; beat well together to the 
consistency of thick cream ; if the odour is still 
objectionable, add a few drops of rose-water; 
whisk the whole well, taking out any strands 
of fibre there may be, and serve the ambrosia. 
Unfortunately the durian does not readily re- 
commend itself as a regular table fruit, for reasons 
already indicated. But the chief consideration 
for the present is 
WILU DURIAN CULTIVATION IN CEYLON PAY? 
The following facts justify a reply decidedly in 
the affirmative. Judging from what oneseesin the 
markets of Colombo, Kandy, and Galle, the pro- 
duction of durian fruit in Ceylon is practically 
nil. In July and August, a few fruits are irre- 
gularly brought there and readily disposed of 
at prices varying from .50 cents to R2 each, 
Euro))eans often paying more than this when an 
opportunity of buying offers. Probably the largest 
and best fruits never find a place in the local 
markets, being sold to regular customers and given 
as presents to friends. A few trees on one favoured 
estate a few miles from Kandy supply all the fruit 
that reach the market of that town. More or 
less in consequence of this, many of the wealthier 
* Debisce=to get Dpen as the pods of plants. 
Malays, we are told, leave Ceylon for their 
native country annually when the durian season 
there is approaching. From tlie prices men- 
tioned, and tlie fact that even the ordinary 
Malay, Chetty, and Moorman — or for the matter 
of that all well-to-do inhabitants of the tropics, 
for the Sinhalese, Tamils, and Bengalees, have ex- 
hibited an indomitable desire for the fruit — is 
“ fit ” for anything between 50 and 200 durians in 
one season, it is evident that large quantities of 
the fruit could be profitably disposed of every 
year, in Ceylon. Unfortunately however the 
tree does not come into bearing until at least 14 
or 15 years after planting. Nevertheless it war- 
rants at any rate, a share of the patience that 
tropical planters are wont jierforce to exercise, 
not unfrequentl.y. It may therefore be placed on 
a par with the coco-palm ; and the planter of 
durians in tlie island may feel assured his pro- 
perty will yearly increase in value. When in 
bearing each tree will mature from 50 to 300 
fruits. Planted at 30 feet apart, an acre 
would contain about 50 trees, which at the 
low average of 100 per tree would give 
5,000 fruits ; the.se if sold at 50 cents each (now 
the minimum rate) would give the appreciable 
return of K2,500 per acre. This forms a con- 
trast with the best reconl returns from tea or 
coffee, especially ■when it is understood that 
hardly any outlay is necessary on the cultivation 
of the durian tree, and that it can be grown from 
sea-level to 1,500 feet altitude in the huu'iid Central 
and Southern districts of Ceylon. Of course, 50 
cents per fruit is not a rate to base an orchard 
or estate estimate on ; but put it at 10 cents 
each and where else can we look for a gross 
return of R500 per acre ? We have 
AN ADVANTAGE OVER OUR INDIAN NEIGHBOUR.g, 
for despite many meritoiious trials at Calcutta, 
Madras, &c., tliey are not yet able to revel in their 
own durians. The variablene.s.s of that climate is 
quite unsuited to the plant, and even in the 
southei n parts of India the durian can only be grown 
as a m.atier of curiosity.' Consequently with the 
latest improvements in the system of cold storage, 
the development of an export trade in durians 
with India and other countries seems eminently 
feasible. The durian, though a fruit-tree, does not 
on that account lack in being 
AN EXCEEDINGLY ORNAMENTAL AND GRACEFUL 
TREE. 
It is the tallest fruit-tree in the woi ld, reaching 
a height of 90 feet or more, is evergreen and 
always symmetrical in shape and well-proportioned 
in growth, so that it cannot readily be surpassed 
as an avenue tree. As a wind-belt and shade- 
trbe for lowcountry estates, it would also no 
doubt prove a valuable acquisition, for the older 
trees afford good fuel, and the trunks being 
remarkably straight and of large girths would, 
if required, make excellent planks, etc. As to 
cultivation, the tree thrives in deep marly loam. 
It might be described as a deep feeder, there 
being no tendency to develop buttressed roots 
aboveground, as might be expected from its size. 
When planting, unless the ground has been 
deeply tilled already, it is best to dig holes four or 
five feet deep by live feet \fide, which should be 
filled in with such soil as mentioned above. 
Once the plants reach a height of nine or ten feet, 
which they do in three years in a favourable 
situation, practically no care is needed beyond 
keeping down undergrowths and protection from 
cattle, which are often fond of the young twigs 
and leaves. The fruits set independently of any 
