L'91 



Alligator Apple of the West Indies. It has shining, smooth, heart-shaped 

 fruit, which in flavour is vastly inferior to the other kinds, though it is 

 svreetish and not unpleasant, but is strongly narcotic. The wood of this 

 species is very soft and compressible, and is largely used as corks in the 

 West Indies and South America. Anona ckerimolia a Peruvian .species 

 yields the fruit known as the Cherimoyer. It is the hardiest of all the 

 species, grows to the height of twelve to fifteen feet, has cheerful light green 

 foliage, and highly fragrant flowers. The fruit when ripe is purple, with 

 a rough skin, somewhat heart-shaped and has a sweet pleasant flavour. 

 It is necessary that the fruit of any the species should be fully ripe or 

 nearly so when gathered as taken off the trees too soon it lacks the proper 

 flavours. A large proportion of Custard Apples sent from Queensland 

 to the other colonies are gathered before they are sufficiently ripe, and 

 they suffer materially in quality from this cause. Riper fruit, as a matter 

 of course, will require greater care in packing, but it will obtain better 

 prices, and cause many to become partial to Custard Apples who would 

 not otherwise care for them. 



CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION. 



The true Custard Apple, as also the Sweet Sop, Sour Sop and Alligator 

 Apple can only be cultivated in those parts of Australia where the climate 

 is warm and moist. They are specially well adapted for the rich soils 

 to be found in the Northern coast river districts. Shelter from strong 

 winds is also essential to success. 

 The Cherimoyer, being more hardy, 

 can be cultivated successfully in 

 sub-tropical regions, as also in New 

 South Wales, South and West 

 Australia, in rnild localities where the 

 frosts are very slight. All the species 

 require a rich deeply worked soil 

 that can at all times be kept 

 moderately moist, as the trees cannot 

 withstand drought. In making a 

 plantation the trees should be arranged 

 in rows, leaving a space of about 

 twenty feet between them. Care 

 should be taken not to plant too 

 deeply and it will be sufficient if the 

 upper roots are merely an inch or 

 so below the surface. Young trees 



should have their growth regulated from time to time, to get them into 

 shape, but when they reach maturity they require but little pruning. 

 It is a good plan to mulch the surface soil before the hot weather sets 

 in, to conserve the moisture. Propagation is effected by seeds, which 

 should be put in when fresh and covered about an inch deep, and layers 

 which if put down in the autumn or early spring, soon make strong 

 plants. Plants may be obtained from ripened cuttings of the current 

 season's wood, which will strike in sand under a glass 



CUSTARP APPLE. 



1. Sour Sop. 2. Sweet Sop. 



