The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-11-01
A NEGLECTED FRUIT.
1t Belongs to the Orange Family and
Is Only Appreciated Here.

Il have been asked more than once
lately whether there is no fruit yet I'M
known to most English palates which
might be introduced into this country
ard form a pleasant article of food.
AS there seems to be some general in
terest in the subject, your readers may
perhaps like to hear of some fruits
which have come under my notice.
The pumelow Of India, one of the
giant members Of the orange tribe. is
well known to people who have lived IN
the East Some very large specimens
have been known to attain circum-
ference Of more than two feet, and to
weigh from fifteen to twenty pounds.
Generally pumelows are not held in
high esteem in India and Ceylon, ex-
cept by those who have lived long there,
and know how to select the best sorts
by their size and color. The best Bonn
bay pumelows are said to be exception
ally good. They have pink pulp of
a juicy character, are sweet in flavor,
with slight, but agreeably bitter
taste
The first pumelows were brought to
the West Indies by Captain Shaddock
about 100 years ago. Since that time
the fruit has always been known in
that part of the world as the Shaddock,
In compliment to the person who intro
duced 1t. Owing to circumstances of
soil and climate, and to the raising of
plants almost exclusively by seed,
many varieties have sprung up that
have become recognized by distinct
names
"Of the larger fruits the pumelow or
Shaddock proper, there are two we'll
marked forms; the first is the apple
shaped Shaddock, usually with whit
ish or pale pink pulp. The other is a
pear-shaped fruit, with a pink and
sometimes deep crimson pulp. Both
of these are large fruits, weighing from
three TO six pounds; they have the
characteristic pale yellow skin, and in
side there Is white pithy layer more
or less thick; then comes the pulp with
the vesicles or juice bags very promi-
nent; indeed, the latter are so distinct
that they can be easily separated one
from another The bitter flavor is
very marked in the inferior sorts; in
some instances it becomes quite acrid.
The best sorts have a sweetish flavor
and only slight taste of bitter.
"Of the smaller fruits, to which Mac
fadyen has given the name of Paradise
fruits, there are in the West Indies two
well-marked forms. The apple-shaped
fruits are known as forbidden fruit,
while the pear-shaped sorts are known
as Barbados grape fruit. Both these
are very attractive looking fruits; they
h 10 OBJ tlxy
thin, are soft and silky to the touch,
while the pulp is sweet and refreshing
The slightly bitter flavor is regarded
as giving them tonic properties of great
value in dyspepsia and allied ailments
During the last fifteen years the
Paradise fruits, generally known as
grape fruit, have been in great demand
in the United States. They have been
very strongly recommended by the
medical faculty, and in consequence
their use has become an important
feature in the diet of a large number
OF American people. The consumption
of them has increased by leaps and
bounds. and every year for the past
few years 1t has more than doubled
A few days ago, says Garden and For
| est" two barrels Of small-sized grape
fruit realized the extraordinary price OF
Is each in New York, and seven bar
rels of similar fruit were sold in Phil
| adelphia for IS los. each.
Such fruit would retail at more thar
81 apiece. This 10 probably the highest
price ever paid for specimens Of the
| orange tribe. It shows very clearly
how keen Is the demand for grape fruit
ana what importance Is attached to Il
as a refreshing and heaHthful adjunct
to the food supply Of the United States
At one time there was better market
for grape fruit-or rather forbidden
fruit, as it was called-in the United
Kingdom than in America. But the
tables are now turned. America, es-
pecially since the destructive frosts ir
Florida, has now absorbed almost the
whole supply from the West Indies.
Sooner or later, however, English
people will realize the special merits OF
the grape fruit, and a demand will
arise for it, to the possible advantage
of those West India Islands which are
in position to supply it. 1t would be
well, therefore, for the people in thai
part Of the world to establish small
| orchards of grape fruit trees of the best
quality and to be prepared to ship the
fruit In such condition that they may
get the best price for lit. This would be
one way of alleviating to some extent
| the depression under which they are
now suffering, owing to the unremuner-
alive character Of the sugar industry
-