VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS. 367 
(Lucuma mammosa ) somewhat resembles the aguacate in 
the size and position of the edible pulp; but the outside 
is rough and brown, and the salmon-colored interior is 
insipid and inferior. 
Among the first rank of fruits may be placed the 
mango (Mangifera indica), although the West Indian is 
far inferior to the East Indian representative. As a mere 
shade-tree the mango is beautiful; but the rich juicy, 
golden-meated fruit, slightly tinged with a flavor of 
turpentine in the poorer sorts, is a never-to-be-forgotten 
delight. The unripe fruit is good baked or made into a 
sauce, when it much resembles apples in taste. The slip¬ 
pery, juicy meat, and the strong fibres which attach this 
to the large flat stone, make it anything but an easy task 
for the novice to eat this fruit; he should have plenty of 
water and napkins within reach. When the tree does 
not bear well, root-pruning may be resorted to, although 
the natives usually hack the stem. I have planted seeds 
of the sour mango sent from Hawaii, and they have 
grown rapidly and promise well. The mango may be 
grafted as easily, it is said, as the cherry or apple. 
The icaco (Clirysobalanus icaco), or coco-plum, grows 
near the shore, and makes an excellent preserve; so 
does the manzanilla, a small crah-apple. 
In the interior, a tree very commonly used for fences is 
the jocote (Spondias purpurea ?). This bears a plum-like 
fruit all over the smaller branches, which is either yellow 
or red when ripe, and very juicy. The stone closely 
resembles a medium-sized peanut. The juice when fer¬ 
mented makes a very popular drink ( Chicha ). To prop¬ 
agate the tree it is only necessary to plant a branch or 
cutting, which may be several inches in diameter, and it 
