The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-08-22
The FRUIT SHIPPED
TO PORTLAND
ARRIVED THERE IN GOOD CONDI-
TION-PORTLAND PAPERS DE-
VOTE CONSIDERABLE SPACE.

mas the 1OllOWlnB regarding lue SA-
detrimental shipment of island fruit
made under the direction of j. e. Hig-
gins of the Experiment station:
Fruits from Hawaii particularly the
alligator pear and the papaia, are to
be introduced to the people of Port
land. Both varieties are delicious in
flavor and contain many medicinal
properties.
For this purpose j. +. Higgins. hor-
ticulturist of the Hawaii Agricultural
Experiment Station at Honolulu, ar
rived in the city yesterday with sew
eral tons of the fruits. Today SAM
pies of the pear and papaias will be
served at the regular luncheon to
members of the Commercial club I'm
til the supply is exhausted these prod
ucts of the Hawaiian Islands will be
on sale at the fruit stores of Portland.
These two fruits grow i'm abundance
in the islands. For some reason, prin
cipally because the impression has pre-
vailed that they could not be shipped
to advantage, neither the pear nor the
papaia has had a market in this coun-
try People in the islands have inn
agined that the fruit would not stand
the long journey from Honolulu to the
Coast. This, however, has proven to
be untrue.
1t is this mission that has brought
Mr.. Higgins to Portland. He will in
troduce the fruits among the people
and devise ways and means whereby
the shipments can be made regularly
in the future to all cities near the
shores of the Pacific ocean. The ship
1t ,,rrI,N IL,
rived here in perfect condition, al
though the fruits were picked - days
ago. From Honolulu to San Francis
co the samples were kept in cold stor-
age, but since then they have been
given no special care.
Mr. Higgins is also investigating the
best methods to be used in packing the
pears and papaias. He will determine
whether the fruits will stand the trip
best in cold storage on the decks of
the steamers where they will have the
benefit of the open air. Also whether
rice hulls or crimped strawboard will
furnish the best results for packing.
Papaias, pronounced pa-pai-a, is one
of the greatest fruits in the world for
the human stomach. 1t is rich i'm veg
etable pepsin and aids digestion in a
number Of ways, All parts of the pa
paia tree contain a certain amount of
pepsin. The people of Hawaii have
habit when they get a tough beef
steak of wrapping it in papaia leaves
overnight. The next morning it is
tender as the finest sirloin to be had
in the market. The meat absorbs the
pepsin from the leaves and as a resHt
becomes tender.
There are a number of varieties of
papaia From one kind an extract of
the vegetable pepsin is taken and put
up in tablets and may be had for indi-
gestion in any drugstore In all parts of
the world.
The papaia grows on trees and is as
large as a good-sized cantaloupe. Mark
Twain, who at one time lived i'm Homo
lulu, once said of the papaia that it
looked like the American pumpkin
growing on a tree. Mr.. Clemens, how
ever, was a great admirer of the fruit
and ate it for breakfast every morn
ing during his stay in the islands.
Papaia can best be eaten with lit
tie sugar or straight, or favored with
lemon juice to suit the taste. 1t is an
so be made into a sherbet. One of the
treats at the table during a trip across
the Pacific Ocean is the papaia, which
is served on the Oriental and Austria
liam boats after leaving Honolulu,
where a large supply is always taken
on biard. Papaia trees bear the year
round.
The alligator pear, avocador or palta
pear-it is sometimes known by all
three names-also grows on a tree, but
only during the summer months. Hor-
ticultureists are trying to do away
with the name alligator i'm connection
with the pear, claiming that it is some
what of a drawback, preferring to
have the fruit known as the palta
pear. This pear has a delicious fla
vor and is a healthful food 1t is pre-
eminently a salad fruit, or may be eat
en- with salt and pepper vinegar or
with French salad dressing, The peo-
pie of the islands use the pear a great
deal as a dessert. 1t is particularly
nutritious and has the flavor some
what of a walnut.
Another reason for Mr.. Higgins visit
to the Coast is to investigate the pine
apple trade between the state cities
and the islands where the apple is
grown in great abundance. The Ha-
wdiian pineapple is considered to be
among the finest in the world. The
pineapple exports from Hawaii have
not been just what they should be and
Mr.. Higgins will try to determine, up
on remedy to stimulate the business.
Many canning concerns have factories
at Honolulu or at nearby points and
put up the pineapples which are shipped
all over the world. England, and in
fact all Europe, buys more of these
products each year.
Mr.. Higgins also has several sam
pies of the Brazilian or apple banana
among his collection. This is a small
fruit and the people of the island be-
lieve will appeal to the fancy trade in