Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-03-27
A Remarkable Tree, Vsith FrUiIt Like
Cucumbers and Leaves Like soap.

At the semi-monthly meeting of the
Mrryland Academy of Sciences, at Balti-
more, last Monday evening, DR.. J. G. Nor
ris read very interesting paper, written
by Mr.. Otto Lugger, of the Academy, on
that curiosity of the tropics, the melon
| tree fcariea papaya), which is a native of
South America, and was seen and exam
ined by Mr.. Lugger during his late tour
through British Guiana. This tree is of
very quick growth, as in six months it
will grow high enough to furnish the
broad shade of an umbrella to a man six
feet high. In the fourth year height of
twenty feet has been attained; when af-
ter short maturity the tree dies. The
leaf resembles that of the F'ricinus'' plant
Cor wonder tree), being seven-fingered in
shape. From its rapid growth, shade
giving and quick decay some have drawn
close simile between this tree and the
melon tree of the Prophet Jonas. As it
grows higher, the lower leaves drop of,
only their scales remaining; thus making
the trunk resemble the skin of a snake.
I When it reaches the height of man the
: tree produces at all seasons amid its flow
+ ers both green and ripe fruit, which then
+ becomes yellow, and seems to belong tC
4 the cucumber family. The fruit surrounds
: the base of the tree crown, as do the nut:
Il of cocoa palm. Each fruit attains s
Y weight of some fifteen pounds, is melor
" shaped, and marked as melons are, witt
i longitudinal colored stripes. The tret
,r being pithy, is unable to bear the weigh
IS of a man, and boy has to climb to gath
% er the fruit. The unripe fruit is slice,
n and picked, the ripe eaten with sugar o
a. salt and pepper. The seeds are egg shaped
lv strongly favored and used as a spice. Th
e tree is eagerly sought and planted in a
n. suitable climates from South America t
bo Mexico and the West India Islands, an
ra its culture has spread over Egypt an
nd other portions of Africa. 1t grows will
RS out any particular care in the neighbo
of hood of dwellings, and produces ripe fru
bo before it is year old. It's leaves furnis
oy an excellent substitute for soap, and thl
,fs proves great blessing to the natives
for tropical climates, who so much need
oh use. They haYe another use-that
81 rendering tender and eatable, tough al
ted stringy meat of any kind which is wra
oil ped in them for a short time. This N
+o Lugger himself verified by experime
,oo whilstin British Guiana.
rod DR.. Wittmack, of Berlin, as well
re- Messrs. Holder and Roy, were led to
ma vestigate this matter and report to t
ods same effect, and the additional fact, IL
Of the milky juice of the melon tree &C
ors tains ferment similar in its effects to
,nd ''pepsin" in the stomach of some anims
rba which acts in so marked degree uI
last substances containing nitrogen, and, l
INC S'pepsin,' - will change milk into 'bonl
ira, clabber,'' or as the Scotch orthograpl
of would write it, ''baugh-naugh-c1au
cioI bGugh." There is related species
.ver melon tree (the carica digitata) VIII
Oo grows in Panama, and which is very
enc fensive on account of its unpleasant o6
but this objection does not apply to
melon tree above described, and of VIII
thepe is a small one six feet high, in
ief- conservatory at Patterson Park.