260 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



August 17, 1912, 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



THE BUDDING OP THE SOURSOP AND 



RELATED PLANTS. 



A method for the vegetative propagation uf the 

 soursop {Anoni mitricata), and related plants of which 

 the bt.-t known are the sugar- apple (A. squamosa), 

 the cusrard-apple {A. reticulata), and the cherimoyer 

 {A. Cherivioli.a), is thus described in the Pldlippi'ne 

 Agricultural Review for June 1912. 



GEXEEAL REMAKKS. Experiments in budding the cul" 

 tivated anonas on the mamon [pond-apple — Anona glaljra] 

 ■were started by the writer in August 1904, when a few 

 cherimoyer buds were inserted on mamon stock. The work 

 was successful and the following year the custard-apple and 

 soursop were also successfully budded on the same stock, and 

 ■ various methods of grafting and budding were experimented 

 with extensively. 



The following species have been successfully budded: 

 On the mamon, the cherimoyer, the custard apple, the 

 soursop, andthebiriba [Eo/linia orlhopetala]; on the custard- 

 apple, the cherimoyer and soursop; and on the sugar apple, 

 the cherimoyer. As new species are introduced into cul- 

 tivation the list of species of Anoua and RoUinia that can 

 be budded reciprocally will no doubt be greatly extended. 



GROWING THE STOCK PLANTS. The Seed should be 

 washed and all pulp removed, which is most conveniently 

 done in a coarse-meshed sieve that allows the water and 

 pulp to pass through freely. After drying, store the seed 

 in a cool, dry place and plant as soon as convenient. 



Sow the seed thinly in a flat or shallow box, well 

 drained by the use of coal ashes, potsherds, or broken rocks, 

 or in a seed bed, and cover them with not more than 1 2 mm. 

 [i-inch] of soil. The germinating medium should contain 

 but little, if any, cla}', a light soil, rich in humus, being 

 preferable. After germination the plants should be kept 

 rather dry until transplanted. Remove the young plants 

 from the seed bed and set them out in a bed or fran:e as 

 soon as from two to four true leaves have appeared, by 

 using a pointed stick or dibber, .netting the plants 13 cm. 

 [5 inches] apart each way. At the s;ime time cut off' the 

 tap root to encourage a better lateral root system. With 

 proper care the young plants make a rapid growth and in 

 a few weeks are ready to be transplanted to the nursery. 



Perform this work preferably on a cloudy day or late 

 in the afternoon after first having pruned off about 

 two-thirds of the foliage and the tender growth, and 

 after having pruned the tap root to within 12 to 15 cm. 

 [.5 to (i inches] in length. Unless rains render this 

 unnecessar_y, always water the plants thoroughly before and 

 after transplanting. 



BUDDING. The results obtained in the experiments con- 

 ducted by the writer in south Florida indicate that in the 

 nursery the method of shield budding is preferable to any other 

 method of propagation, the success with which this method 

 was attended in experimental work covering several hundred 

 plants having been all that could be desired. 



The plants may be budded at any time of the year 

 provided the sap is flowing freely, but under ordinary condi- 

 tions it is well to perform the budding as early in the spring 

 as possible in order to give the buds the benefit of the entire 

 season's growth. The last year's growth after the leaves 

 have been shed is the best bud wood material, though older 

 wood may be utilized if scions are scarce. The bark of the 

 anonas is thick and the callusing rapid, and in order to 

 enable the buds to sprout and to prevent them from being 

 smothered by the callus, the buds should, therefore, be cut 

 large with an ample wood shield The soft wood of the 

 anonas renders this eisy of accomplishment. On account of 

 the thickness of the bark it is well — not to say necessary — 

 to make a sloping cut in the bark below the horizontal cut 

 in order to facilitate the insertion of the bud without injury. 

 While other material such as raffia and cotton twine may be 

 used, waxed tape, covering up the entire wound, is the most 

 preferable for tying. After ten or twelve days the buds 

 should be examined, and if a union has been formed, the 

 buds should be unwrapped to below the leaf bud and the 

 stock lopped. All adventitious sprouts should be removed 

 with a sharp knife every ten days to assist in the prompt 

 forcing out of the buds before they are caliused over. If 

 the budded plants are well cared for they will be ready for 

 planting in the orchard uight months after the insertion of 

 the bud. 



C0MPAR.\TI\'E VALUE OF DIFFERENT .^PECIES AS STOCKS. 



The value of the different s-.ecies of anonaoeous plants as stocks 

 depends largely upon their adaptability to the land and the 

 climatic conditions in which they are grown, and this must 

 be worked otit locally. The longevity of the trees of a species 



