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2.
in the West Indies, 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 today is something like this: Commercial production
of citrus fruits is increasing rapidly. Banana culture has spread
into several new regions, and many more growers are involved than was
the case half a century ago. Pineapple culture preppers in several
countries. Avocados and mangos are beginning to be planted commercially,
The pressing need for diversification is causing horticulturists to devote attention to fruits which have not yet been commercialised on an extensive scale. Home gardens are being enriched by
the planting of little-known "minor" fruits, most of which have no
commercial future, perhaps, but add to the pleasure of the tropical
resident.

All this interest and activity draws attention to many problems.
One of these is the local supply of good nursery stock. Throughout
tropical America, nurseries producing vigorous, well-formed, accurately
labelled plants are few and far between. In past years horticulturists
depended largely upon imported stock. Little material of many fruits
trees was available locally, and there was, to make things worse, a
lack of confidence on the part of buyers.

This situation is changing, and one of the major purposes of
this book is to assist nurserymen regarding the best methods of
propagation, the choice of varieties of each fruit, and the exercise