28 The Custard Apple in Queensland. 



of the Redland Bay Hotel. The remains of one, consisting of a few 

 fresh branches, are still to be seen there. Mr. James Collins states that 

 they produced good fruit and that he obtained seeds from the better 

 one and he has now growing in his orchard the progeny of that old tree. 

 Plate 22 shows a fruit from one of these trees. A fruit from another 

 old tree growing in the orchard of Mr. William Moore, of Redland Bay, 

 was obtained and is described on the list (No. 17). This tree had borne 

 some fair-sized fruits, but the flavour was poor. The age of the above- 

 mentioned old trees is estimated at over fifty years. The following notes 

 re old trees and introductions were given by Mr. J. F. Bailey, Director of 

 Brisbane Botanic Gardens, in 1910. 



"Anona tnuricata and A. cherimolia. Growing in Captain 

 Wickham's garden in 1856 and at Brisbane Botanic Gardens in 1861. 

 The lastmentioned fruited at the Gardens for the first time in 1867. 



"..-1. reticulata. Growing at Bowen Park in 1866. Thirty-four 

 Custard Apples were distributed from the Brisbane Botanic Gardens in 

 1862, but the species are not recorded. Five hundred and fifty-seven 

 bushels of Custard Apples were produced from 13 acres in 1908. 



" Anona- squamosa. Plants were sent to M. C. O'Connell, Port 

 Curtis, and to a gardener in Brisbane in 1854 from the Sydney Botanic 

 Gardens. Growing in Captain Wickham's garden at Xewstead in 1856 

 and in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens in 1861." 



There is a record in the report of the Acclimatisation Society for 

 1885 of Anona pahistris (Syn. A. ylabra L.) the alligator apple, having 

 fruited in the society 's gardens in that year. The Custard Apple appears 

 to have been little noticed in Queensland until the late Mr. L. G. Corrie 

 brought into prominence a very fine variety (Pink's Mammoth) found 

 in a private garden near Brisbane. The years 1879 to 1885 hold the 

 most important period in the history of the Custard Apple in Queens- 

 land. About the former date, Mr. James Pink, who was then manager 

 for the Acclimatisation Society, heard "Custard Apples as big as loaves" 

 spoken of by Mr. W. Pagan as having been seen in South America. 



Mr. Pink sent to the Director of the Botanic Gardens (G. S. Jenman, 

 F.L.S.), British Guiana, for seeds. He ultimately obtained a few, from 

 which he raised four plants. One of these plants was given to Mr. G. D. 

 Katterns, of Bowen Hills, and the others were lost. Mr. Katterns took 

 care of the tree and it grew well. Its first fruit was sent to Mr. Pink, 

 who was then at the Botanic Gardens, and he obtained scions and sent 

 some to Mr. James Collins, of Redland Bay. 



Meanwhile the late Mr. Leslie G. Corrie had been taking much 

 interest in the introduction of Custard Apples as well as other desirable 

 fruits. He had been making inquiries throughout the State for first-class 

 varieties, and in the course of these inquiries he discovered Katterns' 

 Custard Apple. Having tasted it, he at once realised the superb qualities 

 of the fruit, and obtained scions, which he had grafted on to trees 



