The Jennings daily record., 1902-07-28

WHENEVER there IL anythins
M strange and interesting in plant
NH life which we Americans wish to
" know more about We generally
IA experiment with It in some fa-
vored section Of either California or Flor
ida. In these semi-tropical corners ot
Uncle Sans domain nature is always in
a more or less cordial mood and seems to
say, as she beams on the newcomer:
Walk right in, my dear, and make your
self at home! I'm glad to welcome you.
and will make you comfortable ana
thirty, If unlimited sunshine. all the
water you need and warm, fertile soil
| can do it. Try and not get droopy or
homesick. and, bless me! I believe you'll
grow to like us so well that you'll decide
to settle here!' And after a greeting
like that even the tropical plant that re-
fuses to make some kind OF a showing
at least must indeed be either very shy
or extremely unappreciative.
1t was in response to some such well
come as this that the handsome maritz-
gula, newly imported from South Africa;
the roselia. with its musical name and
dainty fruit clusters from the West In
dies; the Japanese crosne with its APP
petizing oyster flavor; and the lettuce
leaVed pe-takaf from the Flowery King
dom, made themselves at home within our
borders.
The melon pawpaw is another basnful
newcomer that needed more or less we'll
LlHeO COaXflS DeIore II OeclQeQ TO settle
down comfortably in the southern dis
tricts of California and the warmer sec
| tions of Florida.
In appearance, its nearest counterpart
among its new neigrbors Is our ordinary
cal1eloupe. the only noticeable difference
being in the more brilliant coloring of the
fresh arrival. The scantily clad natives
who cultivate it in its tropic home make
much of it because of its refreshing
meat" and it will often form the prin-
cipal part of the midday meal in fervid
climes.
The low, palm-like tree. with dark green
spreading leaves upon which the pawf<w
grows forms admirable setting for the
lemon-yellow globes of the fruit Itself.
in taste it resembles plain, everyday ap-
pie sauce.
Our national alment-dyspepsia-ha
one more panacea in the crushed leaves
and fruit of the melon pawpaw, which.
under the name of 'papan'' has been in
troduced with the usual flourish of ad-
vertising trumpets into the worlds phar-
ma acopoeia.
The West Indian rosella seems to pre-
fer Florida as foreign residence, possl-
bly, because it finds itself there IN closer
proximity to the cotton plant Of the
South. which it resembles in bush and
blossom. It's fruit grows. however. in
beautiful red currant clusters.
There has been established in Florida
a rosella canning factory, although the
new fruit is really not canned at ali. the
whole available product being made up
into jelly-a ruby red delicacy, tiru and
piquant to the taste. like currant Jelly.
which makes an aIpetizing and ornamen-
tai adjunct to roast me ats and salads
Our native satisfy or oyster plant does
not taste so muck like oysters, after all.
after one has had a chance to compare
| it with crosne. With this new vegeta-
| BILE fruit is sllilfully manipulated by the
! chef it is delcately suggestive Of choice
| Chesapeake pickings'' which would, in
| itself. naturally commend it % the
! American palate.
| After deciding to stay amid strange en-
| vironment. the crosne grows like a weed
| 1t contains much nouriShment, and. be-
cause of it's fecundity and fine flavor IS
| destined to become a popular American
| table delicacy.
The South African maritzgula looks
like q robust red cherry, although rather
more oblone in shape than the more
| familiar fruit. 1t makes a most dainty
| te-breakfast dish for those who like
fruit as a prelude to the morning meal
| and the Dutch housewife in the marttz-
| gula's native domain is inclined to praise
| it extravagantly for the delicious jam
which adds to her generous stores,
When Americans first discovered this
ruddy fruit it was imported on ice or in
the shape Of preserves. Now, however.
| it is known to be even more cosmopolitan
| in its tastes than either the roseilas or
crosne and will thrive equally we'll in
! California or FLORIDA. FancN IrCie grow
| ers in these states are raising and SELL
| ing It at a price which is likewise fancy
leaving that margin of profit to those
! who have taken the trouble to put II AT
| it's ease in a strange land, which any
| toothsome curio in the fruit world "ouio
| naturally command This new fruit
| grows on thorny. hedge-ltke bush ana
| exacts the very incest care until the hrst
crop has been secured After that IT
seems to recover self-confldence' ana
turns out 10 be even more hardy than the
orange, which reigns as queen of fruits
! in our semi tropical states.
The Chinese vegetable, pe-taki' ls
| found quite frequently on the tables OF
| the American fruit world. and. while
| they would doubtless become very popu-
! lar il we knew them better, they are. az
present, found only on the menu or the
| wealthy epicure. and are almost as rare
as lemons in California frost oeit-
| What to Eat.