on the one plant. The fruit ranges in size from 2
lb. to some 6 lb. in weight, and when ripe it is of a greenish-yellow or
sometimes orange colour. The flesh is yellow, and when quite ripe it is
moderately juicy, and of a flavour that it not always appreciated at
first, but which one soon becomes very partial to. It more nearly
resembles the flavour of a rock melon than that of any other fruit, and
the seeds, which are found clustered in the centre of the fruit, have a
flavour that closely resembles that of seeds of the nasturtium. Both the
seeds and the fruit contain an active principle called papain, which is
really a vegetable pepsin, that has the effect of greatly assisting in
the assimilation of all food with which it is eaten, hence it is a
valuable remedy in the case of dyspepsia, and persons who take the fruit
regularly are never subject to this exceedingly troublesome disease. The
fruit can be used both as a vegetable and as a fruit, the former in its
green state, when it is boiled and served with melted butter, resembles
a vegetable marrow or squash, but is superior to either of these
vegetables. As a fruit it is either used by itself, or in conjunction
with other fruits it forms the basis of a fruit salad. It is largely
used in the North, and its cultivation is steadily spreading South, as
its valuable properties are becoming better known. Its cultivation is
very simple. The seeds are either planted where the tree is to remain,
or are raised in a bed and transplanted to their permanent position in
the orchard when strong enough to stand shifting, care being taken to
select a dull moist day. The young plants are protected from the sun for
a few days till they have become established, after which all that is
necessary is to keep down weeds and to work the soil round them,
taking care not to injure the roots. A good mulch of decomposed
vegetable matter round the plants is an advantage, but they are usually
so easily grown that little extra care is given to them. The papaw bears
male and female flowers, which may be on the same trees, but are usually
on different trees, so that it is usual to speak of male and female
trees. This is, however, a mistake, as according to Bailey the plant is
polygamous--that is to say, male, female, or hermaphrodite flowers may
be found on the same or on distinct plants. The male flowers are usually
on long scantily-branched auxiliary panicles, whereas the female flowers
are mostly in