HYBRID BETWEEN CHERIMOYA AND SUGAR-APPLE 



In this interesting hybrid, which was the result of polHnating the stigmas of the cherimoya 

 with pollen of the sugar-apple, one can see several characters of each parent. The leaves 

 are broad, resembling those of the cherimoya, but smooth like those of the sugar-apple. 

 The protuberances are more distinct than in the cherimoya, but less deeply incised than 

 in the sugar-apple, while the seeds are somewhat distinct from those of either species, 

 larger than those of the sugar-apple and darker colored than those of the cherimoya. 

 The flavor is about midway between the two species. The tree fruits more freely in 

 Florida than the cherimoya, and seems much better adapted to strictly tropical conditions. 

 This represents one of the first efforts along a line of plant breeding which holds great 

 promise for all tropical countries. (Fig. 15.) 



of each kind have been found to succeed 

 better than others, but no systematic 

 effort has been made to determine which 

 are the most desirable ones from all 

 points of view, nor to develop new ones 

 in those cases where none of the intro- 

 duced varieties is satisfactory. 



Maize, or Indian corn, is another crop 

 that presents great opportunities for 

 selection and improvement. During 

 the early years of the Estacion Experi- 



mental Agronomica a great ntimber of 

 varieties from all parts of the United 

 States and Mexico were tested, but 

 none proved to be well adapted to 

 Cuban conditions. The common vari- 

 ety cultivated in the island was origi- 

 nally of a yellow flint type ; the ears are 

 unusually heavily protected with husks 

 which completely close at the tip, and 

 the husks, leaves and stalks are abun- 

 dantly covered with a thick white 



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