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14.

shoots, but many arise cauliflorously on the main trunk and larger
limbs.

The fruit is the largest of all the annonas, ranging in weight
from 500 gms. to 1 or 2 kgs., fruits of 4 kilograms are not uncommon.
The form is elongated cordate or oblong, largest at the stem end, and
often misshapen, especially toward the apex, due to failure of unpollinated carpels to develop. The skin or outer covering is dark green,
with fleshy spine about 1 cm. long from each of the fused carpels.
recurved at the tip. The flesh is white, cottony in texture (which
renders it unpopular for eating out of hand); the abundant juice is
sub-acid, with about 10 to 12% of sugar and 1% or more of acid, making
a pleasingly tart blend, with a distinctive aroma. Guanabanas are much
used for refreshing drinks, sherbets, and ice cream flavoring; they
can be preserved by freezing or may be canned. The famous champola
of Cuba is prepared by putting the flesh through a sieve, then mixing
the juice with milk, sugar, and cracked ice. There seems no reason
why canned or frozen juice could not be exported to northern countries
for use in various ways. As with other annonas, numerous, flattened,
brown seeds are imbedded in the flesh.

The soil best suited to soursops is probably a good loam, but it
has succeeded on sandy clays and light sands, though requiring plenty
of fertilizer on the latter. Good drainage is essential. Unfortunately,
the tree is not very productive, only a few good, large fruits being
mature annually. Hand pollination might
increase fruit setting when the
proper pollinating insects are not active. Considerable variation in
yields of seedlings has been noted, especially in Venezuela, and it
seems likely that selection of heavy bearing trees and their propagation
as varieties would greatly increased production. Propagation by
veener grafting is recommended.