256 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



TABLE V. COMPOSITION OF THE LOQUAT 



Cultivation. 



The climatic requirements of the loquat, except as an orna- 

 mental plant, are distinctly subtropical. It is not successful 

 in the hot tropical lowlands, nor can it be grown for fruiting 

 purposes in regions subject to more than a few degrees of 

 frost. Cool weather during part of the year and a rainfall of 

 15 to 50 inches (with artificial irrigation where the dry season is 

 severe) suit it best. These conditions are found in southern 

 Japan, in parts of southern California, along the shores of the 

 Mediterranean, and in several other regions. It has been noted 

 in Japan that the best loquat situations always lie close to the 

 sea; and in California much finer fruit has been produced 

 near the coast than in the foothill tracts twenty to thirty miles 

 inland. Thus it seems that the mild climate of the seacoast 

 is peculiarly favorable to the development of the fruit. 



While mature trees have withstood temperatures as low as 

 10 above zero without serious injury, the flowers and young 

 fruits may be killed by temperatures only a few degrees below 

 freezing ; hence loquats cannot be produced successfully where 

 heavy frosts may occur at the time of flowering. Condit notes : 

 "Frost coming when the fruit is less than half grown may 

 result in killing the seeds only, while the flesh continues to 

 develop, so that seedless fruits mature. On the other hand, 

 frost may have somewhat the same effect as sunburn, 



