Fruits of the Hawaiian IslandsWilder, Gerrit Parmile
Science
Fruits of the Hawaiian Islands
Wilder, Gerrit Parmile
Fruit-culture -- Hawaii
This low-growing shrub is occasionally cultivated in these Islands. It
has opposite obovate leaves, and fragrant white flowers. The round
fruit, which has a sweet, yellow pulp, is larger than the strawberry
guava, and has a more delicate flavor.
[Illustration: PLATE LXII.--_Psidium Cattleyanum._
(var. _lucidum_.)
One half natural size.]
_G. P. W. Collection._ PLATE LXIII
_Psidium molle._
This species was introduced to Hawaii by Mr. A. Jaeger; and a single
specimen of its kind is now growing at the Old Plantation, Honolulu. It
is a low-growing, slender, willow-like tree of straggling growth. The
opposite leaves are small, stiff and rough. The white flowers are
fragrant. The small, round fruit is brownish-green, turning to a pale
yellow when ripe. The white pulp is slightly acid, and contains many
seeds. This guava is rather an inferior fruit.
[Illustration: PLATE LXIII.--_Psidium molle._
One half natural size.]
_G. P. W. Collection._ PLATE LXIV
_Mangifera indica._
MANGO.
The mango, which is a native of South Asia, is extensively cultivated
throughout India, the Islands of the West Indies, and somewhat in
Florida. In Hawaii it has become thoroughly naturalized, and is one of
the most common trees; growing from the sea level up to about 1,000
feet.
A hot, rather dry, climate, with well-drained soil suits it best. It is
an evergreen, shady tree of quick growing habit, sometimes reaching a
height of 70 feet, and having a round, dense top. All parts of the mango
tree have a resinous fragrance, that suggests turpentine. Its thick,
shiny leaves are from 6 to 10 inches in length. The greenish, scented
flowers are borne in large terminal panicles; and these are followed
three or four months later by the fruit, which is large and
kidney-shaped, having a smooth, rather soft, pale-green skin, with tints
of yellow and red. The large seed is nearly as long as the fruit, its
shell is rough and fibrous, and the kernel is shaped like a bean. In the
inferior varieties of mangoes the pulp is full of fibre and tastes
strongly of turpentine. There are numerous varieties of the mango
cultivated in Hawaii; the fruit of which varies much in point of flavor,
juiciness, as well as in the size and shape of the seed.
Within the past ten years improved varieties have been imported; notably
the Alphonse, Cambodiana, Pirie, and many others. These have thrived
well and have borne delicious fruit; from them many grafts have been
made and the finer grades of mangoes have been disseminated. Propagation
is effected by seed, by grafting or inarching, and by budding. The mango
as a rule does not come true to seed; also seedlings take much longer to
fruit than do the grafted trees.
The illustration on the opposite page is that of the so-called common
mango, which was brought to Hawaii from Mexico.
[Illustration: PLATE LXIV.--_Mango._
One third natural size.]
_G. P. W. Collection._ PLATE LXV
_Mangifera indica._
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