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small and irregular crops, but the work of propagating and testing varieties at "Finca Mulgoba" was carried on by Mr. Van Herrmann for many years. Slightly later than in Cuba, I believe, plantings of grafted mangos were made in Puerto Rico, and useful work in propagation and cultural practices was done at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Mayagüez by Hess and by Kinman. So now I come back to my original question or a variation thereof: Just what bearing does all this have upon fruit growing in tropical America generally? We owe to workers in Florida, and to a less degree, those of other regions, much of our …

… ies, based upon the selection of superior seedlings which originated locally, and the introduction of grafted mangos from the Old World. It should be remembered, however, that the aboriginal inhabitants of tropical America had improved many of their fruits through seed selection, thus raising the general level of the species to make the product of greater value to man. The pineapple is the best example of improvement through vegetative propagation, which was possible because superior forms were easily grown as suckers. The art of grafting does not seem to have been known to the early Americans. The situation toda …

… op-worked union. Probably this will always be a problem until a method of top-working is devised that brings the graft very close to the ground surface. The preceding discussion of current methods of plant propagation in Florida is primarily a description of progress in the art of plant propagation. Most of the basic fundamentals of this section of plant culture were laid down centuries ago. As time progressed, refinement of the techniques of budding and grafting to approach nearer to 100 per cent success and to continually lower the costs in time and labor of the vegetative propagation of plants have made large …

FRUIT GROWING IN TROPICAL AMERICA Introduction The Climates and Soils of Tropical America. Some notes on the management of tropical lands. Common cultural mistakes. The proper use of drainage and irrigation. 1. The propagation of Fruitbearing plants in the tropics. (Seedage; cuttings; air-layering; graftage) 2. The Citrus Fruits 3. The Banana and Plantain. 4. The Pineapple 5. The Avocado 6. The Mango 7. The Sapodilla and its Relatives 8. The Cherimoya and other Annonas 9. The Lychee and its Relatives 10. The Guava, and other Myrtaceous fruits 11. The Papaya and the Passifloras 12. The Fig, the Kaki or Oriental Pe …

2 based upon the selection of superior seedlings of local origin, and the introduction of grafted varieties of mango from the Old World. It should be remembered, however, that the aboriginal inhabitants of tropical America had improved many of their fruits through seed selection, thus raising the general level of the species to make the product of greater value to man. The pineapple is probably the best example of improvement through vegetative propagation, which was possible because superior forms were easily propagated by suckers. The art of grafting does not seem to have been known - or, at least, practiced, b …

… in that state. Mango trees are injured by a few degrees of frost. They are successfully grown commercially in southern Florida, but have not been wholly successful in California, though numerous trees have fruited in that state. The mango is not particular as to soil, but the finer varieties only produce good crops where there is a well- marked dry season to stimulate fruit production rather than vegetative growth. There is another serious problem in rainy areas: a fungous disease known as anthracnose (Colletotrichum) which destroys the flowers and young fruits and is expensive to control. Propagation is by means …

I have offered to talk about where I think we were fifty years ago; where we have come since then; and where are we going? As regards tropical fruit culture, I believe this brings us right up against the subject of Vegetative Propagation. Everyone knows we don't get very far in fruit culture without this great asset. As far as I have been able to learn, the aboriginal Americans did not know the art of grafting. And if anyone knows I am wrong about this, let him speak up now, or hereafter hold his peace, as they tell you when you are about to get married. They did know the art of grafting, not with the refinements …

Preface The history of fruit growing in tropical America commenced with the second voyage of Columbus. The historian Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo tells us (k526) that the first Spanish colonists brought oranges, grapes and other fruits to Hispaniola, while the great Cprtes, in his fourth letter to the King, asked that no ship be permitted to set sail for Mexico without bringing plants and seeds of those crops to which the Spaniards were accustomed in the Madre Patria but did not find in Mexico. At the same time Oviedo, who was the first chronicler to write at length on the natural history of the American tropics, …

BULLETIN OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. A QUARTERLY RECORD OF PROGRESS IN TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES AND THE COMMERCIAL UTILISATION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE DOMINIONS, COLONIES, AND INDIA. PUBLISHED BY MR. JOHN MURRAY. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 14s. By Post 15s. 4d. Extract from the section "Notices of Recent Literature" in Bulletin, Vol. X.V.III..., No. 4..., 1920 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUB-TROPICAL FRUITS, EXCLUDING THE BANANA, COCONUT, PINEAPPLE, CITRUS FRUITS, OLIVE AND FIG. By Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pp. xvi + 474, Med. 8vo, illustrated. (New York: The Mac …

TROPICAL AMERICAN FRUIT CULTURE I. INTRODUCTION II. CLIMATES AND SOILS OF THE AMERICAN TROPICS III. FUNDAMENTALS OF DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION IV. GRAFTAGE, AND OTHER METHODS OF PROPAGATION V. CULTURAL PRACTICES Spacing and Planting. The Management of Tropical Soils; tillage, mulching, green manures and fertilizers, including the use of major and minor elements. Pruning, with especial reference to common mistakes. THE FRUITS = 200pp 1. The Citrus Fruits 2. The Banana and Plantain 3. The Pineapple 4. The Avocado 5. The Mango and its Relatives 6. The Sapodilla and Its Relatives 7. The Cherimoya and Its Relatives 8. Th …

… world. Mango trees are injured by a few degrees of frost. They are successfully grown commercially in southern Florida, but they have not been wholly successful in California, though occasional trees have fruited in that state. The mango is not particular as to soil, but the finer varieties only produce fruit abundantly where there is a well marked dry season to stimulate production of fruit rather than continued vegetative growth. There is another serious problem in rainy areas: a fungous disease known as anthracnose (Colletotrichum) which destroys the flowers and young fruits and is expensive to control. Propa …

320 CEIBA VOL. 4 containers. The method is also used when top-working older avocado trees that have been topped to force sprouts of suitable tissue and diameter for grafting. The regular side-veneer is used with a scion two to three inches long, terminating in a healthy swelling terminal bud. It has been found that holding the scion in place and covering it completely with a strip of 0.0035-inch vinyl film, leaving the tip of the terminal bud exposed, allows the graft to remain moist and at the same time leaves an opening for the springing bud to emerge without unwrapping as quickly as in most grafting operations …

California and Florida, but has been grown successfully in Hawaii. For best results the mangosteen needs a rich deep soil and a moist strictly tropical climate, but it has been grown successfully under less ideal conditions, though not where temperatures often go below about 40 degrees F. Propagation is by seeds, which do not long retain their viability. Grafting has not proved very successful nor does it seem to be required, since the embryos which give rise to young plants are not derived from fertilized ovules; they develop from tissues surrounding the ovary, hence are of vegetative origin and produce trees wh …

… The time has passed when trop- ical American horticulturists who propose to develop commercial mango orchards will plant seedling trees; They show too much variation in productiveness, size and quality of fruit; unless they are polyembryonic seedlings and even these are much slower to come into bearing than grafted trees. Presumably because of the variation which characterises the monoembryonic mangos when grown from seed, Indian horticulturists have for centuries re- sorted to vegetative propagation methods to perpetuate superior trees which originate as chance seedlings. Just when the art of grafting was devel …

planting the seed. Some years ago shield budding of avocados was usual, but the stock has to be 6 or 8 months old and buds do not develop as rapidly as where tip grafts are used. Budded or grafted avocado plants never are shipped bare rooted and, so far as I know, their leaves are never entirely removed for shipment, although where shipment involves a long period, it certainly would be desirable to reduce the leaf surface materially. "Mango seedlings are ready for budding or grafting in about 10 to 12 months from planting the seed. Well-matured terminal shoots are preferred as scions much as with avocados, althou …

9 or even "Fruits for Tropical America" because, to keep down the size, we are not going too strongly on the historical and cultural sides. You are carrying the heaviest part of the load, because (1) you write easily and well, (2) you have more time for the job than I have, unfortunately, and (3) I have no assistance at all, on the typing and copying end. I hope you do not mind. And I believe we can and should try to finish the job by Christmas. Incidentally, Lee Adams offered to give us a fine painting of one fruit, as a frontispiece. If Bill Haines can take it. Maybe I would have to chip in a few dollars for a …

REPRINTED FROM THE PHILIPPINE Agricultural Review Vol. IV NOVEMBER, 1911 No. 11 THE PROPAGATION OF THE AVOCADO. By P. J. WESTER, Horticulturist. (The Philippine Agricultural Review) The fact that the avocado (Persea gratissima) will thrive and fruit in the Philippines is now being established beyond doubt, as trees introduced in 1903 by the Bureau of Agriculture are this year bearing their second crop. A short exposition of the experience gained in the propagation of this fruit by the writer during seven years' study of tropical fruits in south Florida may, therefore, be of timely interest. The method described h …

NOVEMBER, 1911. Subtropical Fruits A Department of Tropical and Subtropical Horticulture BY F. W. POPEONE NOTES ON THE PROPAgATION AND CULTURE OF PLANTS AND TREES COMING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS DEPARTMENT WILL BE WELCOMED, AND INQUIRIES ARE INVITED. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF TROPICAL FRUITS Very few of the tropical fruits have ever been given any systematic attention with a view to the production of superior varieties by selection or by breeding. Practically the only exception is the case of the mango, which has been under careful cultivation for many years, and by the marching process choice seedlings ha …

INTRODUCTION The Climates and Soils of Tropical America. Some notes on the management of tropical lands. Common cultural mistakes. The proper use of drainage and irrigation. Fertilizers and their use. The propagation of Fruitbearing plants in the tropics: Seedage, cuttings; air-layers or marcottage; graftage. THE FRUITS 1. The Citrus fruits - oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes, some of the more useful hybrids. 2. The Banana and Plantain. The basic principles which the small grower needs to know. This is a very complexssubject and no attempt is made to enter into the highly technical problems of the great comme …

PREFACE The history of fruit growing in tropical America commenced with the second voyage of Columbus. Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo tells us (1526) that the first Spanish colonists brought oranges, grapes and other fruits to Hispaniola, while the great Cortés, in his fourth letter to the King, begs that no ship be allowed to sail for Mexico without bringing plants and seeds of those crops to which the Spaniards were accustomed in the Maire Patria but did not find in Mexico. At the same time Oviedo, who was the first chronicler to write at length on the natural history of the American tropics, described many of the …