R. M. Teague Nurseries, San Dimas, Cal. 
57 
one of extremely high temperature. Where planted in 
the moist tropical regions it has not proven successful. It 
will stand considerable hardships and is quite drouth- 
resistant when once established, but reaches perfection 
Specimen plant Feijoa choiceana. 
only when it is properly irrigated and cultivated. It will 
thrive on almost any kind of soil excepting where there 
is a surplus of lime, but it seems to do best on a sandy 
loam rich in humus. The plants should be set from fifteen 
to eighteen feet apart and watered liberally while young. 
Plants grown from seeds do not come true to type nor 
are they always self fertile. To insure plants that will 
produce and be of desirable types we graft all of our 
Feijoas from the best fruiting sorts. 
Choiceana. One of the best large fruiting sorts. Fruits 
oblong about three inches in length. Is of excellent 
quality and a good bearer. Ripens in the late Fall. 
Superba. Fruit is nearly round and the plant not quite 
so compact in its growth, otherwise it is similar to the 
Choiceana, 
CHERIMOYA (Anona Cherimolia) 
The Cherimoya, sometimes called the Custard Apple, 
is a native of South America from where it spread north- 
ward into Central America and Mexico. It is not strictly 
a tropical fruit and might be better classed as sub-tropical, 
as it prefers a cool, relatively dry climate and in its native 
habitat it only reaches perfection at (he higher elevations 
back from the coast. In Guatemala and Mexico the 
finest Cherimoyas are to be found at an elevation from 
3,000 to 8,000 feet where the climate is mild and no ex- 
tremes of either heat or cold are experienced. Young 
plants will be hurt by a temperature of 29 to 30 degrees 
above zero, but mature trees will stand a temperature as 
low as 26 or 27 degrees without serious injury. 
The tree is erect but has somewhat of a spreading habit 
and rarely reaches more than twenty-five feet in height. 
The fruit is usually heart shaped but is sometimes irreg- 
ular in form. It also varies in weight from a few ounces 
to as high as five pounds, however, the budded or graf'ed 
varieties are more regular in both shape and weight. The 
surface of the fruit is usually covered with small conical 
protuberances, is light green in color and has a thin skin 
making it necessary to handle the ripe fruit very care- 
fully to prevent bruising. The flesh is white and of a 
melting juicy texture. It has a very delicate sub-acid 
flavor suggestive of pineapple and banana. When ready 
to pick, which is from January to April in California, the 
fruit usually has a yellowish tinge. Under favorable 
conditions the trees begin to bear the third or fourth year. 
Only budded or grafted trees should be planned as 
seedlings do not always come true and very often are light 
bearers. 
The Cherimoya prefers a rich, loamy soil, but seems 
to do fairly well on both ligh" and heavy soils, provided 
climatic conditions are favorable. 
Irrigations during the summer months should be 
applied every two to four weeks according to weather 
conditions. A thorough cultivation should follow after 
each irrigation. 
It is recommended that the trees be kept pruned to 
form a low compact head, as this tends to make them 
longer lived and more precocious. 
THE WHITE SAPOTE (Casimiroa edulis) 
The White Sapote is a native of Mexico and Central 
America and is one of the principal cultivated fruits of 
those regions, being held in very high es':eem by the 
natives. It is sub-tropical in its climatic requirements, 
and in its native home it thrives best in the highlands 
at an elevation of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet and is not 
found where the rainfall is excessive. 
It was first introduced into California in about 1810, 
but until recent years has attracted very little attention. 
This is no doubt due to the fact that all trees planted were 
seedlings, which do not come true to type, some bearing 
small bitter fruit and others being shy bearers, or not 
bearing any fruit whatever. 
The tree is medium sized, erect or spreading in its 
growth, with compound leaves. The fruit is about the 
size of an orange and of a yellowish green color. The 
skin is thin and the yellowish flesh of soft melting texture 
has a peach-like flavor. Ripens in the Fall and early 
Winter. 
Seedling trees do not come into bearing until seven 
or eight years old but budded varieties fruit much earlier. 
It should be grown on well drained soil, sandy loam 
being preferable, but will also do well on heavier clay 
soil, provided the drainage is good. 
It is quite drought resistant but will do much better 
if irrigated about the same as citrus trees. Should not 
be planted where it is too cold for Avocados. 
