THE ANNONACEOUS FRUITS 171 



In Guatemala the most productive trees are usually those 

 which have been cut back heavily. It is possible that fruitful- 

 ness can be increased by severe pruning. The matter deserves 

 careful investigation. The tree being semi-deciduous, pruning 

 should be done after the leaves have dropped and before the 

 new foliage makes its appearance. 



Propagation. 



In many regions seed-propagation is the only method which 

 has been used with this plant. In the United States, in Madeira, 

 in Algeria, and in the Philippines, cherimoyas have been grafted 

 and budded successfully; one or the other of these methods 

 should be employed to perpetuate choice varieties. 



If kept dry the seeds will retain their viability several years. 

 Given warm weather or planted under glass, they will germinate 

 in a few weeks. Under glass they may be sown at any time of 

 the year ; if in open ground, they should be planted only in the 

 warm season. Seeds should be sown in flats of light porous 

 soil containing an abundance of humus, and should be covered 

 to a depth of not more than f inch. When the young plants 

 are three or four inches high, they may be transferred into three- 

 inch pots. Good drainage must be provided, and they should 

 not be watered too copiously. When eight inches high they 

 may be shifted into larger pots, or set out in the open ground. 

 In the latter case, they must have careful attention, and, pref- 

 erably, shade, until they have become well established. 



For stock-plants on which to bud or graft the cherimoya, 

 several species of Annona have been employed. A. reticulata, 

 A. glabra, and A. squamosa are all recommended by P. J. 

 Wester. In Florida A. squamom has proved to be a good stock 

 when a dwarf tree is desired ; A. glabra tends to outgrow the 

 cion. In California, seedling cherimoyas as stock-plants 

 have given the best results. 



Shield-budding has worked very satisfactorily in the United 



