16 The Custard Apple in Queensland. 



made in several ways. One recipe consists of melting together, over a 

 slow fire, equal parts of beeswax, resin, and tallow till dissolved and 

 thoroughly mixed, when it is ready to apply, and another good wax 

 is made as follows. Take of 



Beeswax . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ib. 



Tallow J lb. 



Resin 1 lb. 



Turpentine . . . . . . . . 2 oz. 



"Melt the resin and tallow over a slow fire; then add the wax, and 

 when melted mix well together. Then add the turpentine and stir well, 

 when it is ready for use. 



" Graf ting- wax may be applied hot with a brush to the graft when 

 tied in position, care being taken to cover the wound carefully so as to 

 exclude the air. A simple and convenient way of using the wax in 

 the case of nursery stocks is to dip a sheet of thin calico into the 

 boiling wax and, when cold, tear the waxed calico into narrow strips 

 of suitable length. The graft being placed in position, the waxed tie is 

 wound round it so as to completely cover the union; the heat of the 

 hand being sufficient to soften the wax, so that it sticks well and is 

 airtight, 



"The principle of every method of grafting, whereby the scion or 

 graft is made to unite with the stock, is the bringing together of the 

 cambium layer of each, as this cambium layer is the growing or wood- 

 producing portion of the stock and scion; and when the two layers are 

 brought together and kept together without air, they each throw out new 

 cells which join together and form one layer of wood. " (A. H. BENSON.) 



V. Cultivation. 



CLIMATE. 



The Custard Apple (A. cherimolia) is native of the mountains of 

 tropical America up to 4,000 ft., where the climate at that altitude 

 would be subtropical, very much the same as that of the Redlands area 

 of Southern Queensland. This is probably the reason why the Island 

 and Mammoth varieties have done so well in this district (see Mr. 

 Collins 's notes, page 7). 



Rainfall records from the native habitats of these species are not 

 available, but it is evident that a rainfall of 40 to 50 in. per annum, the 

 mean of the Redlands area of Queensland, is suitable. Years in which 

 the mean has been exceeded or wherein the fall has been greatest about 

 the time of fruit-setting, have proved the most prolific in the Redlands, 

 and when drought conditions have accompanied this period, or have 

 prevailed throughout the season, a resultant diminution of crops has 

 been noted. Irrigation at the flowering and fruit-setting period would 

 be beneficial in a drv season. 



