164 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
handsome evergreen tree of large size in a 
few years and although the fruits were 
once likened to a ball of string dipped in 
turpentine and molasses, the tree has been 
hybridized and grafted until the best va¬ 
rieties have a very small seed, an immense 
amount of pulp entirely free from string 
and the turpentine flavor so reduced that 
it is just enough apparent to give the pulp 
a different flavor from all other fruits. 
The green fruit makes as fine a pie as the 
apple and when this is stewed it does not 
taste unlike apple-sauce. The green fruit 
also makes a very palatable pickle or 
jelly. 
A fine graft may cost $6 to $8 a tree, 
but it is better to have one perfect speci¬ 
men than a half dozen inferior ones. 
Melicocca bijuga, the Spanish Lime or 
Ginep Tree has a handsome appearance 
and its plum-like fruit with a grape flav¬ 
or is generally liked. It is a tree that will 
stand several degrees of frost. 
Monstera deliciosa comprises several 
species of clambering plants with thick 
stems that put out aerial roots that cling 
to the bark of trees as they climb up¬ 
ward. The enormously large leaves are 
cut out in irregular fashion quite unlike 
the average leaf and this gives it a very 
striking appearance that is always com¬ 
mented on by those who are strangers to 
it. The variety “acuminata” is called the 
Shingle Plant in warm countries where its 
great leaves reach their fullest size. 
These lap over each other as do shingles, 
and hence the name. The fruit grows 6 
or 8 inches long and has a faint yellow 
color when ripe. The skin seems to be 
made up of hexagonal plates and these 
easily drop off at a touch when the fruit 
is ripe. The rich pulp resembles a com¬ 
bination of the Pineapple and Banana in 
flavor. 
If the plant is desired for its fruit, it 
is well to keep it cut back in spreading 
fashion. If it is desired for its ornamen¬ 
tal appearance, the leaves take on more 
grotesque shapes, the greater the length 
of the stems. 
Moringa, which is the Horse Radish 
Tree, has a seed that may be eaten when 
it is first formed, having an odd, pungent 
flavor. The tree itself with light green 
leaves that resemble the Maidenhair Fern 
in shape is very handsome and although 
the white flowers are not especially strik¬ 
ing, yet the tree always has a few on it 
at all times of the year. 
The Morus or Mulberry Tree is decid¬ 
uous, but in the springtime it bears enor¬ 
mous quantities of large berries that re¬ 
semble the blackberry. The “Stubbs” is 
the best variety if one wishes but a single 
tree and if an early variety is desired, the 
“Merritt’ has this quality. Mulberries 
may be eaten uncooked, or made into pies 
and they make a fine wine and vinegar. 
They are specially good trees for the 
poultry yard as they make a.fine summer 
shade and the fruit that drops is greatly 
relished by poultry, and pigs as well 
Nephelium is the Litchi Nut which is a 
great favorite with the Chinese. The pulp 
surrounding the nut has an aromatic, 
pleasing flavor and the seed has a kernel 
that is delicious. One often finds this nut 
served on trans-Paclfic steamers. It 
makes a handsome tree but does not seem 
to grow readily in conditions that are 
much different from its native habitat in 
China. 
