THE ANNONACEOUS FRUITS 191 



are irrigated. The best soil seems to be a deep, rich, rather loose 

 loam. 



Although propagated in Mexico and Central America by 

 seed only, the ilama can probably be budded in the same 

 manner as other annonas. By using this method of propagation, 

 it will be possible to perpetuate the best varieties which originate 

 as seedlings. 



The trees come into bearing when three or four years old, 

 and sometimes produce good crops. Productive trees often 

 bear 100 fruits in a single season. There is, however, the same 

 variation in this regard as with other annonas, though less as 

 to the form and size of the fruit. The ripening season is short ; 

 July and August are the principal months. When the fruits 

 are fully mature they crack open. They are commonly left on 

 the tree until they reach this condition but it would be better 

 to pick them a few days earlier. So handled, they require to 

 be kept one to three days after being taken from the tree before 

 they soften and are ready for eating. 



The ilama may be termed the cherimoya of the lowlands. 

 The cherimoya does not succeed in the tropics unless grown 

 at elevations of 4000 to 6000 feet, where the climate is cool. 

 The ilama, on the other hand, belongs to the lowlands, but is 

 strikingly similar in character to a good cherimoya. It is a 

 valuable recruit and one which cannot be too strongly recom- 

 mended for cultivation throughout the tropics. 



MINOR ANNONACEOUS FRUITS 



Pond-apple (Annona glabra, L.). This species is of no 

 value as a fruit, but has been used as a stock for other annonas. 

 It grows wild in south Florida around the shores of Lake Oke- 

 chobee and along the Indian and Caloosahatchee rivers ; occur- 

 ring also in the West Indies, on the mainland of tropical America, 

 on the west coast of Africa, and in the Galapagos Islands. In 



