776 
failure of the sapote to thrive in Florida need not exclude 
the green sapote, and a trial planting will be in order. 
We shall send some seeds by mail and keep others with us; 
They are like those of the true sapote, but smaller and 
in some varieties much shorter, for the fruits of the green 
sapote run through the same series of varietal forms -as 
those of the sapodilla. The quality of the flesh is dis- 
tinctly superior to that of the true sapote, and much more 
likely to please the American palate. Anybody who likes 
papayas or Japanese persimmons might be expected to think 
favorably of the green sapote, for it comes distinctly into 
the same class of sweetish smooth-textured pulpy fruits. 
There is no astringency or unpleasant aftertaste whatever, 
so that one of the curing difficulties of the persimmon 
would be encountered. On the outside the fruits are a 
pleasing yellowish green color, more or less russeted at 
either end. The flesh inside is yellow, but with a reddish 
or brownish tinge, not as yellow as some of the Japanese 
persimmons, nor as dark as others. 
"At present we are busy with the pacaya palms which are 
grown here in great abundance, so that any amount of seed 
could be obtained. Some of the palms have fbur, five, or 
even six pacayas, as the edible male inflorescences are 
called, so that we did not over-estimate the amount of the 
fruit that might be produced in a successful planting. I 
feel confident that the palms would grow very well under 
hot house conditions such as Goar and Reasoner have, and 
would suggest that a planting be made on that basis at 
Miami, with the idea of leaving some of the palms to grow 
to maturity. They attain a height of 12 to 15 feet but 
fruit much younger, probably In the third or fourth year. 
"I might add that the roxtul or whatever It is to be 
called should have a chance in California * as well as in 
Florida. Its climatic requirements should be much the same 
as those of the avocado. It is a much less tropical 
species than that of the true sapote." 
