162 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



to the equator, it is not strictly tropical as regards its require- 

 ments, being, in fact, a subtropical fruit, and attaining perfec- 

 tion only where the climate is cool and relatively dry. At home 

 it grows on plateaux and in mountain valleys where proximity 

 to the equator is offset by elevation, with the result that the 

 climate is as cool as that of regions hundreds of miles to the 

 north or south. 



Commercial cultivation of the cherimoya has been under- 

 taken in a few places. This fruit has not, however, achieved 

 the commercial prominence which it merits, and which it seems 

 destined some day to receive. 



That it should be unknown in most northern markets, not- 

 withstanding that it grows as readily in many parts of the 

 tropics and sub tropics as the avocado, can only be due to the 

 inferiority of the varieties which have been disseminated, to 

 tardiness in utilizing vegetative means of propagation, and to 

 insufficient attention to the cultural requirements of the tree. 

 The best seedling varieties must be brought to light, they must 

 be propagated by budding or grafting, and a careful study 

 made of pollination, pruning, fertilization of the soil, and other 

 cultural details as yet imperfectly understood. There is no 

 reason why, when this has been done, cherimoya culture should 

 not become an important horticultural industry in many 

 regions. Experience in exporting the fruit from Madeira to 

 London, and from Mexico to the United States, has shown that 

 it can be shipped without difficulty. The demand for it in 

 northern markets, once a regular supply is available, is certain 

 to be keen. 



The cherimoya is a small, erect or somewhat spreading tree, 

 rarely growing to more than 25 feet high ; on poor soils it may 

 not reach more than 15 feet. The young growth is grayish and 

 softly pubescent. The size of the leaves varies in different 

 varieties; in some they are 4 to 6 inches long, in others 10 

 inches. In California a variety (originally from Tenerife, 



