Vi Brummett, age 11, of Bessemer, Ala., for her question:

HOW DOES THE PAPAYA GROW?

Papaya is a fruit grown in tropical countries. It is usually eaten raw as a breakfast food although it is also eaten in salads, pies and sherbets. The papaya grows on a giant plant which looks like a small palm.

Because papaya grows readily from seed, it spread at an early date from its original home in Central American to most hot countries.

The fruit of the papaya is round to oblong in shape and may weigh as much as 12 pounds. It varies from yellow to dark orange in color. Many black seeds the size of peas are attached to the walls of the cavity. The fruit is mildly sweet with a slight musky tang.

In addition to the papayas value as a fruit, it is the source of the drug papain. This drug is an enzyme, similar to pepsin, that helps to digest food. It is used as a remedy for dyspepsia and similar ailments. Papain is also used as a tenderizer for tough meats'before they are cooked. Some people confuse the papaya with the pawpaw of the Southeastern United States. These are two separate fruits.