and the skin toughens somewhat. They are frequently found hanging on the trees as late as Christmas when their pulp is of the most delicious quality and as fine as Jersey butter. In central Indiana, the pawpaw commences to ripen about the first of September and the bulk of the crop is ripe by the last of September or first of October and lasts until early winter. Before maturity the pawpaw is green but changes to a yellow as it ripens and later turns to a dark brown. When fully matured the flesh of most pawpaws is yellow and has something of the appearance of custard; but occasionally white meated varieties are found. The pawpaw contains from five to eight seeds which are rather conconical in form, flatish, about one inch in length, with a smooth surface and of a brown or chestnut color. Most people have an idea that it requires frost to ripen the pawpaw but it is a mistake. Frequently the greater part of the pawpaws is gone before there is any frost. They ripen the same as peaches. A common sized pawpaw weighs about a half pound but occasionally some will weigh three-fourths and sometimes a pound which is the largest size. Pawpaws that grow in clusters are generally smaller in size.

The reason that the pawpaw is not generally found in the market is on account of its perishable nature. The fruit does not bear handling like the banana. They may be kept sometimes if picked a little firm but are better in quality if allowed to hang on the tree until they drop to the ground. One of the characteristics of the pawpaw is that it always bears, yet there is an