The Cape Gooseberry and the Mexican Husk Tomato

MORTON AND RUSSELL: CAPE GOOSEBERRY 261

LITERATURE CITED Seedling Plantings in Hawaii. Hawaii Agric. Expt. Sta. Bui. 79: 1-26. 1938. 1. Pope, W. T. The Macadamia Nut in Hawaii. 10. Howes, F. N. Nuts, Their Production and Hawaii Agric. Exp. Sta. Bui. 59: 1-23. 1929. Everyday Use. 264 pp. London, Faber & Faber. 2. Hamilton, R.A. and Storey, W. B. Macadamia 1953. Nut Varieties for Hawaii Orchards. Hawaii Farm Sci., 11. Cooil, Bruce J. Hawaii Agric. Exp. Sta. Bien 2: (4). 1954. nial Report—1950-52: p. 56. ft. Chell, Edwin and Morrison, F. R. The Cultiva 12. Beaumont, J. H. and Moltzau, R. H. Nursery tion and Exploitation of the Australian Nut. Sydney, Propagation and Topworking of the Macadamia. Ha Tech. Museum Bui. 20: 1935. waii Agric?. Exp. Sta. Cir. 13: 1-28. 1937. 4. Francis, W. D. Australian Rain Forest Trees. 13. Fukunaga. Edward T. Grafting and Topwork 469 pp. Sydneyand London, Angus and Robertson: ing the Macadamia. Univ. of Hawaii Agric. Ext. Cir. 1951 58: 1-8. 1951. 5. Bailey, L. H. Manual of Cultivated Plants. N. Y.f 14. Storey, W. B., Hamilton, R. A. andFukunaga, McMillan. 1949. E. T. The Relationship of Nodal Structures to Train 6. Chandler, Wm. H. Evergreen Orchards. 352 pp.: ing Macadamia Trees. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci. Proc. 61: Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger. 1950. pp. 317-323. 1953. 7. Schroeder, C. A. The Macadamia Nut. Calif. 15. Anonymous. Insect Pests and Diseases of Agric, p. 3: April 1954. Plants. Queensland Agriculture and Pastoral Hand 8. Miller, Carey D. and Louis, Lucille. Nutritive book, pp. 263-267: Brisbane, Gov't. Printer. 1951. Value of Macadamia Nuts. Hawaii Agric. Exp. Sta. 16. Merrill, G. B. A Revision of the Scale-Insects of Progress Notes, No. 17: 1-3. 1940. Florida. State Plant Board of Fla. Bui. 1:pp. 1-143. 9. Ripperton, J. C, Moltzau, R. H. andEdwards, 1953. D. N. Methods of Evaluating the Macadamia Nut for 17. Butcher, F. Gray. Personal communication, Jan. Commercial Use and the Variation Occurring Among 1954.

THE CAPE GOOSEBERRY AND THE MEXICAN HUSK TOMATO

Julia F. Morton gardens, is the Strawberry Tomato or Ground Cherry, Physalis pruinosa L., grown for its Co-Director, Morton Collectanea small yellow fruits used for sauce, pies and University of Miami preserves. Though more popular with former generations than at present, it is still offered Oris S. Russell by seedsmen. A species which bears a superior fruit is the Director of Agriculture Cape Gooseberry, Physalis peruviana L. (P. Nassau, Bahamas edulis Sims), one of the two subjects of this paper. Reportedly native to Peru and Chile, The increasing horticultural importance of this species has been widely introduced into two species of the genus Physalis, the Cape cultivation in tropical and subtropical and Gooseberry (P. peruviana L.) and the Mexi even temperate areas. It is said to succeed can Husk Tomato (P. ixocarpa Brot), as evi wherever tomatoes can be grown. The plant, denced by current literature in the files of the growing to 3 ft. in height, has velvety, some Morton Collectanea of the University of Mi what heart-shaped leaves and yellow, bell- ami, has inspired their recent introduction and shaped flowers. After the flower falls, the trial in South Florida, the Bahamas, Puerto calyx expands, ultimately forming a straw- Rico and Jamaica. The following presenta colored husk much larger than the fruit it en tion is based on a review of the literature re closes. The berry is globose, about 5&" in di ferred to and on the personal observations and ameter, with smooth, orange-yellow skin and experience of the authors. juicy pulp containing numerous very small The genus Physalis, of the family Solana- seeds. When fully ripe, the fruit is sweet but ceae, includes annual and perennial herbs bear with a pleasing, grape-like tang. ing globular fruits each enclosed in a bladder- In Hawaii, where it is called Poha, it is like husk which becomes papery on maturity. extensively grown commercially. In South Of the more than 70 species, only a very few Africa, the jam is a staple commodity and the areof economic importance. Perhaps one of canned whole fruits are exported as "Golden the best known is the Alkekengi, Winter-cherry Berries." In Australia, the Cape Gooseberry or Chinese Lantern-plant, Physalis alkekengi is grown on a large scale in New South Wales, L. (P. franchetii Hort., P. alkekengi var. fran- where the fruit is apparently marketed pri chetii Makino), widely grown in home flower marily in the fresh state after removal of the gardens and by florists for its showy orange- husk. According to reports from New Zea red bladders. Another, familiar in northern land, "the housewife is sometimes embarrassed 262 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1954

by the quantity of berries (Cape Gooseberries) fall so that fruit can be set during the cooler in the garden," and government agencies are weather and harvested in late spring or early active in promoting increased culinary use. summer. No diseases were manifested in In China, India and Malaya, the Cape Goose these trials. The leaves of the plants were berry is commonly grown but on a lesser scale. suddenly riddled by what were apparently flea beetles of the family Chrysomelidae, but In England, it was first reported in 1774. dusting with 5% D.D.T. gave effective con Since that time, it has been grown there in a trol. Specimens of Bahamian-grown fruits small way in home gardens, and, in recent are shown in the accompanying photograph. years, has been canned commercially to a limited extent. Despite this background, early In Jamaica, the initial planting of Cape in 1952, the senior author noted advertise Gooseberries in late January of this year ments of the Stanford Nursery, of Sussex, an (1954) made slow growth until June when de nouncing the "Cape Gooseberry, the wonder velopment accelerated. On August 17th, Mr. ful new fruit, especially developed in Britain J. H. Haughton, Chief Agricultural Officer of by Richard I. Cahn." Concurrently, jars of the Crop Agronomy Division, Department of Cape Gooseberry Jam from England appeared Agriculture, reported by letter that the plants in South Florida markets and the product was had at that time reached 15" in height with found to be attractive and delicious. much lateral growth, and were flowering and setting fruit. White fly attacks on the very With a view to encouraging Cape Goose young plants had been controlled by spraying berry culture in Florida and the West Indies, with Gamelin. Flea beetles on the flowering seeds have been repeatedly purchased from plants were being controlled by regular spray the Stanford Nursery by the senior author and ing with nicotine sulfate. distributed for trial. No success has yet been achieved in growing the species in South Flor The Cape Gooseberry, an annual in temper ida, so far as is known. In the Bahamas, the ate regions and a perennial in the tropics, is first seeds sent to Donald Lawrance in Nassau best treated as an annual even in tropical in the late summer of 1952 produced healthy cultivation. Some growers have kept plants plants and a continuous crop of fruits for in production for as long as four years by cut three months during the following winter. ting back after each harvest, but these plants Additional seeds procured from England and have been found more susceptible to pests and sent to the co-author in Nassau were planted diseases. Seedlings are generally set 1800 to on April 17, 1953. Plants started to blossom 2150 to the acre with yields of approximately in mid-July and from September on continued 3000 lbs. of fruit per acre. The fruits are usu to flower and set fruit, although no fruits re ally picked from the plants by hand, although mained on the plants to maturity until the some giowers prefer to shake the plants and cooler months of winter when a good yield was gather the fallen fruits from the ground in obtained. Seeds were again planted the fol order to obtain those of more uniform matur- lowing November. Thirteen weeks later, the ity. first fruits were ripening, and by mid-May of In addition to being canned whole and as the current year a heavy crop was harvested, jam, the fruit is made into sauce, used in pies, some plants producing more than 300 fruits puddings, chutneys and ice cream, and eaten each. In late June, the plants were still grow fresh in fruit salads and fruit cocktails. The ing and flowering profusely but only a few Cape Gooseberry is a good source of vitamins fruits were being set and these failed to de A and B and is high in phosphorus and iron. velop to maturity. This condition continued It is surprising that it has received so little into September, by which time some of the attention in this country in view of its having more robust plants had reached 57" in been reported on with enthusiasm by the late height with much lateral growth. It is ex Dr. David Fairchild in his well-loved book, pected that, as in the previous year, there "The World Was My Garden." He there will be abundant fruiting during the winter tells of its fruiting "enormously" in the garden months. It would appear that the heat of of his home, "In The Woods," in Maryland, summer is unfavorable for fruit development and of the cook's putting up over a hundred and, therefore, the best time to plant the jars of what he called "Inca Conserve" which Cape Gooseberry in the Bahamas is in the "met with universal favor/* MORTON AND RUSSELL: CAPE GOOSEBERRY 263

The Mexican Husk Tomato trial to the co-author in Nassau, to Dr. Taylor The second species of Physalis which is ad R. Alexander of the University of Miami, Dr. vancing horticulturally is the Mexican Husk R. Bruce Ledin of the University of Florida's Tomato, or Tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa Brot). Subtropical Experiment Station, Prof. Clery This plant, which is an annual, may attain a G. Salazar of the University of Puerto Rico's height of 4 to 5 ft. but is often prostrate. Its College of Agriculture, and the aforesaid Mr. branches and leaves are smooth, not downy, Haughton in Jamaica. The two trials in Flor and the flowers are %!' or more in diameter, ida were at first promising, the plants flower with yellow border and brown-spotted throat. ing and setting fruit satisfactorily. However, The fruit attains 2" or more in diameter and as the fruits began to mature, they were at often bursts its straw-colored, tightly-fitting tacked within the husk by a species of cut husk. When ripe, the skin of the fruit may be worm and only a few mature fruits were har yellow, purple, or, more rarely, reddish or vested. still green, the flesh is pale-yellow, crisp and In Nassau, seeds were planted by the co subacid, and the general character of the fruit author on April 17, 1953. By mid-Septem strongly suggests a small tomato. The species ber, the plants were fruiting heavily, the bet abounds in Mexico and the highlands of Gua ter ones yielding 64 to 82 fruits each. The temala where the fruits are commonly seen in accompanying photograph shows representa the native markets. Until recent years, it had tive specimens of the fruits with and without been sparingly introduced into the United their husks, and also cut open. The plants States and only occasionally found as an es were entirely free from insect attack and there cape, especially in the West. Mr. Sun Jue, was only a slight incidence of leaf spot. The now growing asparagus at Belle Glade, Flor plants reseeded themselves and a vigorous ida, cultivated some 20 acres of Mexican Husk clump of "volunteers" is now growing on the Tomatoes near Los Angeles, California, from site of the 1953 planting. 1930 to about 1939, supplying the fruits to In Puerto Rico, seeds planted by Prof. Sala the Mexican markets. In 1945, the American zar at Mayaguez produced an abundant crop Fruit Grower publicized this species under the in the winter of 1953-4. The following re name "Jamberry" as a new fruit introduced port of his second planting has been recently from Ecuador by scientists at Iowa State Col received: "Seed from the previous crop kept lege. Correspondence was initiated with Dr. well for 6 months without refrigeration, ger I. E. Melhus, Director of the Iowa State Col minating about 80%. Seedlings were ready lege-Guatemala Tropical Research Center and, for the field 21 days after sowing. This crop in 1953, he advised the senior author that the was fertilized at the rate of 2 oz. per plant, College, as a result of 6 years' testing, was side dressing, of 9-8-8 fertilizer. The plants then distributing a strain to which they had were staked and tied twice and grew to a given the name, "Mayan Husk Tomato." In a height of 5 ft. As a result of a heavy rain, recent letter, Dr. Melhus states: "Last year, they bent down at the highest tie (2.5 ft.), 4,000 packets (of seed) were distributed in and the tips touching the ground were found Iowa and adjoining States. Sampling data to to root easily and grow vigorously. No dis 200 people that grew the plant show over eases were observed, despite frequent rains, 60% were successful and liked the fruit." In and no insects attacked the plants. The first test plantings at Ames, the fruit yield averaged fruits were harvested about 18 weeks after 2% lbs. per plant, equal to approximately 9 sowing the seed. Average weight per fruit tons per acre. This strain is now offered also was approximately 1 oz., with individual by the Earl May Seed Company of Shenan- fruits weighing 2 oz. Diameter of the largest doah, Iowa. An apparently independent in fruits was almost 2". Color of the fruit at troduction was made by Glecklers, Seedmen, full maturity (drops) was bamboo yellow." of Metamora, Ohio, and first offered by them as "Jumbo Husk Tomato" in 1952. Seeds se Mr. Haughton, in Jamaica, was less fortu cured by the senior author from Dr. Melhus, nate. In a letter of August 17th, he reported that seeds planted in late January produced also from Glecklers, and from fruits purchased vigorous and precocious plants which flowered in the Mexican markets by George Rosner of when only 4" high. Fruit-setting began in the University of Miami, were distributed for May and a high yield was expected but nearly 264 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1954 all of the fruits were damaged by caterpillars chili peppers. Suggestions for use distributed before reaching maturity. Means of control by Iowa State College include recipes for ling the caterpillar infestation will be sought stewing, frying, baking, cooking with chopped in future plantings. meat, making into soup, salad, marmalade and With the Mexican Husk Tomato, falling of dessert sauce. In culinary trials in Nassau, fruits before ripening is not uncommon, and the fruit was found a most acceptable addition according to Dr. Melhus they may be allowed to soups, to which it seemed to impart a defi to remain on the ground until fully colored. nite chicken flavor. In South Africa and in The above-mentioned Mr. Jue advises that the Queensland, Australia, the Mexican Husk To green-skinned variety grown commercially by mato has fruited prolificacy. According to him was harvested as soon as it burst its husk, Dr. Margaret Menzel, an authority on the and the crop was then kept on hand 2 to 4 genus, the so-called Physalis macrocarpa, or weeks for the husk to dry before the fruit was "Golden Nugget Cape Gooseberry," offered considered acceptable to the consumer. This by seedsmen in Australia, is really a yellow- species, in contrast with the Cape Gooseberry, fruited form of the Mexican Husk Tomato, P. is used more largely as a vegetable than as a dessert fruit. In Mexico, it is commonly made ixocarpa. It has been utilized commercially into a sauce for meats, alone or together with for jam in Australia but the product is there

CAPE GOOSEBERRY (Physalis peruviana L.) Grown by Oris S. Russell, Government Experiment Station, Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Minns). MORTON AND RUSSELL: CAPE GOOSEBERRY 265 considered inferior to that made from the to have some value as quick crops for Florida true Cape Gooseberry (P. peruviana). gardens. In Yucatan, the Mexican Husk Tomato is SELECTED REFERENCES reported to be a good source of iron, calcium Bailey, L. H. Manual of Cultivated Plants. The and phosphorus and an excellent source of Macmillan Co., N. Y. Rev. ed. 1949. Bailey, L. H. Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, Vitamin C. It is quite possible that the chem Vol. 3. The Macmillan Co.. N. Y. 1930. ical analyses of "Tomatillos" and "Miltomates" Better Iowa. Iowa State Coll., Ames, Iowa. V. 40, No. 24, Apr. 19, 1954. made by Miinsell, Williams, et al., and pub Burkill, I. H. A Dictionary of the Economic Prod ucts of the Malay Peninsula, Vol. 2. Crown Agents lished in "Composition of Food Plants of Cen for the Colonies, London. 1935. tral America II. Guatemala" (Food Research, Degener, O. Flora Hawaiiensis. Pub'd. by the author, Riverdale, N. Y. 1946. Vol. 15, No. 1, 1950) and attributed to Phys Haughton, J. H. Personal communication. Aug. 17, 1954. alis pubescens L., and Physalis aequata Jacq., Hayes, W. B. Fruit Growing in India, Kitabistan, are applicable rather to P. ixocarpa, for vari Allahabad. 2nd Rev. ed. 1953. Macpherson, N. Cape Gooseberry Recipes. New ous species of Physalis have been subject to Zealand Journal of Agric. Vol. 88, No. 4, Apr. 15, 1954. much confusion in literature and in the trade. Medsger, O. P. Edible Wild Plants. The Macmillan Further tests of both the Cape Gooseberry Co., N. Y. 1939. Melhus, I. E. Personal communication. Jan. 17, and Mexican Husk Tomato will be made in 1951. Melhus, I. E. Personal communication. May 8, Florida. Both species may eventually prove 1953.

MEXICAN HUSK TOMATO (Physalis ixocarpa Brot.) Grown by Oris S. Russell, Government Experiment Station, Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Minns). 266 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1954

Melhus, I. E. Personal communication. Aug. 21, Nassau Daily Tribune. "Cape Gooseberry Intro duced Here," Feb. 14, 1953. Melhus, I. E. Personal communication. Oct. 11, Neal. M. C. In Gardens of Hawaii. Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Spec. Pub. 40. 2nd Ptg. 1949. Melhus, I. E., and Smith, F. O. The Mayan Husk Queensland Agric. Journal. "The Cape Gooseberry," Tomato: A Tropical Fruit Comes to Iowa. Reprint V. 76, Pt. 5, May, 1953, pp. 288-90. from Iowa Farm Science, V. 7, No. 11, May. 1953. Salazar, C. G. Personal communication. Jan. 25, Menzel, M. Y. The Cytotaxonomy and Genetics of Salazar, C. G. Personal communication. July 15, Physalis Reprint from Proc. of the Amer. Philosoph 1954. ical Soc, Vol. 95, No. 2. 1951. Skipwith, R. G. The Commercial Culture of Cape Micklem, T., Cape Gooseberry Culture in the West Gooseberries. Bui. 1255, Ministry of Agric. and Lands, ern Cape Province. Reprint No. 52 from Farming m Southern Rhodesia. Reprint from Rhodesia Agric. South Africa, August, 1949. Journal, Vol. XLI, No. 1, Jan.-Feb. 1944. pp. 20-22. Miller, C. D., and Bazore, K. Fruits of Hawaii. Souza-Novelo, N. Plantas Alimenticias y Plantas Bui. 96. Univ. of Hawaii Agric. Exp. Sta., Honolulu. de Condimento que viven en Yucatan, Instituto Tec- nico Agricola Henequenero, Merida, Yucatan. 1950. 1945.

HORTICULTURAL PORTRAITS BY PHOTOGRAPHY

John C. Noonan The two things which probably result more often in unsatisfactory photographs are light Sub-Tropical Experiment Station and conflicting background. Both are essen tial parts of a color photograph. The camera Homestead being a machine is not capable of adjusting it Photography is a profession which, until re self for intensities of light or disregarding the cently, had been practiced by relatively few background such as is the case with the hu people. Simplification of the mechanics of man eye. photography by faster image registration of Both types of film register colors and film and smaller, handier cameras has opened shades—the difference is, black and white the field to practically everyone. Many peo film registers them in shades of grey while ple still believe that photography is not for color film registers nearly exact colors. Regis them. However, in gardening these same peo tration of color by shades of grey in black and ple can remember the Latin names of their white film often results in the subject being plants, can tell when the plants need fertiliz registered in the same or similar shades of grey ing and spraying, possibly even know what as that of the background. The photograph materials will injure certain plants and not produced is often not up to the expectations others. of the photographer. Mr. Roberts emphasizes It is probably true this knowledge was not the use of light filters to remedy the similar inborn but acquired through trial and error registration of colors on black and white film. and by diligent study. Little study is neces Registration of color by color film is in col sary to learn to operate a camera and expo ors as nearly correct as is possible. The film is sure meter. The directions for operations of tested for color correctness by the registration each is written in such a manner as to be of color exposed under the daylight condi understandable to the average person. The tions of Washington, D. C. It has been no equipment available is variable and individual ticed by a number of color photographers op preferences vary. In 1951, Mr. Pasco Roberts erating in Florida especially in southern Flor gave a paper before this society presenting ida, that photographs taken in full sunlight some of the equipment for use in photograph were overexposed. Trial and error of several ing flowers and plants. commercial color photographers found the av Color and black and white film are avail erage color photographer could use a Skylight able for most cameras. Most people interested filter without previous experience in the use in taking photographs of their gardens are us of filters. The results obtained indicate that ing color film. The resulting photograph is the filter gives a truer color rendition under usually more pleasing to them than black and Florida light conditions than is obtained with white photographs even though the colors may out its use. The proper rendition of the col be off-shade, the photograph covering too ors registered by color film is very dependent large an area or the background blending with upon the intensity of the light reflected from the subject. the subject. Use of an exposure meter is al-