Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 52.djvu/803

Rh to seeing the bunches in shop windows or in the markets, they are suspended in the direction opposite to that from which they grow. The orange, one of the most important of all fruits, and its allied species, lime, lemon, called there "sour," grape fruit, and shaddock, grow abundantly on the islands. The orange tree is the hardiest member of the citrus family, and is raised farther north than most fruits that grow in the tropics. There is a variety known as the sour orange, some plants of which have become wild, and are known as bitter-sweets. They are very juicy, and have a slight acid flavor. We bought fruit of a greenish color, which did not look ripe, and certainly did not taste as agreeable as the rich golden kind we are accustomed to. It is a mistake to say that oranges are no longer raised from seeds, for that is the customary method of propagation throughout the West Indies. The cultivation of the pineapple is one of the industries of the Bahamas, but they are not grown to any extent on the island of New Providence. The decomposed coral rock of these islands is a favorable soil for their cultivation. They grow singly upon plants which attain an average height of about a foot and a half, and have long, narrow leaves with sharp, serrated edges. Consequently, the men, women, and children working among them are obliged to protect their legs with strong canvas leggings, and their hands with heavy gloves, to which gauntlets are attached. We bought soursops, custard apples, and star apples in the market. Many other fruits that grow on this island were not ripe at the time we were there. They include watermelon, pumpkin, alligator or avocado pear, guava, groundnut or peanut, papaw, seaside grape, cocoa plum, cucumber, rose apple, breadfruit, egg plant, cashew nut, and mammee. Owing to the rapid ripening and decay of these fruits after being picked, it is almost impossible to export them with success. Pineapples, oranges, bananas, and cocoanuts are the principal fruits that are exported; the two latter, with plantains, can be obtained throughout the year. Most of the fruits grow spontaneously, but the breadfruit has been introduced. In 1787 the English Government sent the bark Bounty, commanded by Captain Bligh, to take young trees of the breadfruit from Otaheite to the West India Islands. Owing to the mutiny of the crew, the transfer of the trees was not accomplished till several years later.

One of the first questions we would ask our guide and driver when we saw a new fruit was, "Is it good to eat?" On one occasion, referring to the sailor's apple, he said, "If yer eat it, it'll do yer up"; of another he said, "It'll put yer in yer grave." The seaside grape, sailor's apple, and many other trees and shrubs that grow in barren or exposed places have their leaves standing vertically, so