20 The Custard Apple in Queensland. 



should be allowed to grow over the hollow centre. No crossing or rubbing 

 of branches should be permitted, and they should be thinned so as to 

 admit a maximum of light and air to as many leaves and branches as 

 possible. This principle in pruning holds good with nearly all trees. 

 With regard to pruning the Mammoth, the statement of James Collins 

 should be noted viz., that they should not be early pruned, as this 

 would cause them to shoot too early. If the trees are pruned early, 

 and especially if they are cut too hard back, many long sappy growths 

 may be produced, and there will be little or no good fruiting wood. Fruit 

 is often borne on the small or medium-sized lateral branches when well 

 ripened. Trees should be furnished with branches to within about 2 ft. 

 from the ground, or at such distance as, even when holding fruit, they 

 will not touch the soil. Branches or leaves touching the soil form a 

 means of access to the trees for insects which live for a certain period in 

 the soil. 



PICKING AND PACKING. 



The fruit should be gathered just after it is full grown, as shown by 

 the lighter colour of skin between the protuberances. It should be 

 handled with care the more carefully the fruit is handled the better 

 appearance it will have when opened up in the market, and the higher 

 will be its value. Some practice will be required by a novice before he 

 becomes sure as to when the fruit is ready for picking. If allowed to 

 ripen on the tree the fruit will not be fit for packing for market. After 

 picking, the fruit should be carefully graded and firmly packed in trays 

 or cases. 



During the first six years the returns from small crops should pay 

 working expenses. In the sixth year and onwards the Custard Apple 

 trees should yield an increasing return, so that in ten or twelve years the 

 initial cost may be entirely paid off. 



SPRAYING, ETC. 



The Custard Apple tree has had a reputation for immunity from 

 pests and diseases, but within recent years a few have been noticed, and 

 it is likely that by bringing them under notice now their spread may be 

 hindered if growers adopt measures of control. In this connection the 

 following practical suggestions may be found helpful. 



The laws of plant sanitation should be carried out as rigidly with 

 Custard Apples as with other orchard fruits : 



1. Implements and materials used in grafting should be perfectly 

 clean and sterilised, and no dirt or foreign matter should be admitted to 

 graft wounds; 



2. Care should be taken, especially when planting young trees, that 

 the bark near the ground line is not bruised or broken ; 



3. All prunings or dead wood should be carried off the ground and 

 burnt ; 



4. No ragged wounds should be left in pruning ; 



