The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-02-26

gest the idea OF extraordinary vigor of
growth which is carried out consistent
ly by the great green globes of its fruit.
In the older trees the beauty of SYM
metry is lost. but there remains an air
of sturdy self assertion which, seems to
excuse their grotesque ugliness.
Another tree doubtless imported by
the aborigincs is the ohia. or mountain
apple, Eugenia Malaccensis, occasionally
seen in Honolulu, but not happy where
there is SO little rain. A noble tree it
is under favorable conditions, with its
large, oval, deep green, shining leaves,
and the scarlet tassels of its numerous
blossoms but it is when the fruit is
ripe that the tree is in its glory, great
clusters of the deep red luscious look
ing apples" clinging about its branches
and larger limbs everywhere. Juicy and
refreshing the fruit is, although rather
insipid.
Conspicuous by the paleness Of its sill
very foliage among the shade trees near
the city, as well as in the valleys OF the
interior, is the Kukui, or candlenut tree
Aleurites Aloluccana. The fruit looks
something like the black walnut, but is
larger and frequently contains two nuts
These are as large as an English walnut
with shell nearly as hard as that OF a
hickory nut, from which are carved Ell
fective ornaments, black as jet, and
capable of receiving high polish The
oily kernels were formerly strung on
bamboo splints by the natives for torch
es, whence to this day, lamp is an
ipu kukui.
Another native plant, abundant in the
mountains, you will often see planted
for hedges-a Dracaena (more properly
Cordyline)-but with green, not red or
varicgated, foliage. The natives call it
ii, and find many uses for it. The roots
which are three to six inches thick and
several feet long are roasted or steamed
in underground ovens, sugar being pro-
duced abundantly in the process. In
this condition it is eaten, or rather chew
ed and the Juice sucked from it, but the
principal use made OF it by the natives is
TO produce okolehao, kind OF moon
sinners whiskey. The leaves take the
place of wrapping paper in the fish
market. Haoles (white people, make
bungle OF putting up packages with it,
but the native Hawaiian is very dex-
trous in its use, and the initiative China
man succeeds equally we'll
Banana trees you see everywhere, but
not generally planted for ornament The
trade wind blows too constantly to al
low them to keep a whole leaf more than
a day or two. unless under shelter OF
house. The stranger is surprised at their
variety. as different one from another as
the varieties of pear or apple Some
grow on small trees not more than
six feet high, Others run up fifteen, TWEEN
ty and even twenty-five feet The rapid
ity OF growth is something amazing.
Cut off the trunk OF half grown plant
you find that it is made up simply of
the sheaths of leaf stalks, the center oc-
cupied by the coming leaf which imme-
diately begins to push forward SO that
III few minutes it projects noticeably,
and in half a day it will have grown
out several inches.
The fruit of the different varieties
varies greatly in size, shape color and
flavor; the fruit clusters in some vari-
cites are very large, in others always
small. OF the thousands of blossoms
produced from each bud" only a few.
nifty or less to two hundred of the first,
are followed by fruit; seed is never
developed.
One variety has the fruit cluster erect
OF pendant. Some are good to sat
and spoiled by cooking, 9TH
ers are unpalatable unless cooked, when
they are delicious.
You would not distinguish a plant of
Manila hemp from banana tree" but
he fruit OF the former is inSipid, and |
illed with perfectly developed seeds.
Your guide will point out 10 you as
he travellers palm a plant which your
'otaniSt'S eye will recognize as banana
ather than a palm. Unlike the banana !
is branching perennial plant and I'M !
ike banana, its great banners of leaves ,
re so tough in texture that they are
nj little split 10 pieces by the wind The
lower clusters are lateral, not terminal,
nd the bracts are persistent, SO that
he fruit is concealed from view. You
md, however, that it resembles a banana
n shape, although only three or four
ncheS long, But the part OF the fruit
'hlch III the banana is the edible pulp
tough and horny, and your curiosity
D know what is inside subsidies after
on have tried your jackkniic on it
,hile. You will make a mistake, though,
you throw the refractory thing away.
axe 1t home and let it lie day in the
I'M and you Will find that your curiosi-
was justified. The tough fruit Yields
the persuasion OF the sun, and splits
ITO three valves, which separate and