JULY 1 TO OCTOBER 31, 1919. 9 



47874 to 47876. 



From Bogota, Colombia. Presentee! by Mr. \V. O. Wolcott. Received July 



9. 1919. 



47874. Annona muricata L. Annonacea?. Soursop. 

 '•The soursop, known in Spanisii-siiojikinir oountries ns Kiianabaiia, 



sometimes sliortened to ffuanaha, is iiiioxcellod for .shorl)eta and refresh- 

 ing drinks. Like other anonas, however, it does not always fruit 

 abundantly when grown from seed, and it will be necessary to establish 

 named varieties, propagated vegetatively, before .sour.sop culture can be- 

 come the basis of an Industry. 



"The fruit is oblong, sometimes 4 or 5 pounds in weight, dark green, 

 and prickly on the surface. The flesh is white and cottony or tougli in 

 teocture. so that it is not good to eat out of hand. I'.ut it has a rieh, 

 aromatic, and perfectly delicious tlavor, and when mixed witli milk it 

 makes one of the best drinks of the Tropics — the champola of Havana 

 restaurants and caf^s. 



" The tree is tropical in its requirements and can be grown in the 

 United States only in the southern part of Florida, api)roxin)ately the 

 area between Palm Beach and Punta Gorda on tlie north to Key West 

 on the south. It is small, rarely attaining more than 20 feet in height, 

 and has thick glossy leaves and large greenish flowers. It may lie men- 

 tioned that the pollination of the anonas has never be«'n studie<l suffi- 

 ciently, and it is probable that their productiveness may be increased by 

 attention to this subject. Mr. P. J. Wester and others have shown that 

 most species are dependent upon cross-pollination, and if the insects 

 which normally effect this are not present something will have to be done 

 to insure its being accomplished." (Wilson Popenoe.) 



47875. Annona squamosa L. Annonaceae. Sugar-apple. 

 " The sugar-apple, usually known in Spanisli-speaking countries as 



anona or andn. This is one of the best of the anonas for strictly tro])ical 

 regions, and it can even be grown where there are light frosts. It is too 

 tender, however, for cultivation in California. In Florida it succeeds as 

 far north as Cape Canaveral, though it is not commonly grown north of 

 Palm Beach. It is more productive than several of the other anonas, 

 especially when grown in a rather dry climate. 



" The sugar-apple is a small tree, sometimes not attaining more than 

 12 or 15 feet in height, and rarely more than 20 feet. Its fruits are the 

 size of apples and suggest pine cones in general ai)|Kjaran(v, wiience the 

 name ' pinha ' which is used in Brazil. When fully ripe the fruit is soft 

 and the carpels separate readily, exposing the snow-white, delicately 

 flavored pulp. Like the cherimoya, the sugar-apple is eaten oiit of hand ; 

 it resembles the cherimoya in flavor, but has less acidity and is not, 

 therefore, quite so delicious. 



" The plant is widely distributed throughout the Tropics. It has 

 become naturalized in parts of India and is highly esteemed in that 

 country as a fruit. The Anglo-Indians call it ' custard-apple,' Imt this 

 name is applied to all anonas without discrimination and leads to confu- 

 sion. The Hindus have named it ' sharifa,' meaning noble, and ' sitaphal,' 

 the fruit of Sita, one of their gods. 



" In short, the sugar-apple is one of the important fruits of the Tropics. 

 It is particularly adapted to drj- regions, but does not withstand more 



