FRUITS OF THE MYRTLE FAMILY 295 



variably praised it, while others who have been less fortunate 

 and have chanced to try improperly ripened ones or those of an 

 inferior variety, have considered that the feijoa does not 

 merit the praise which has been bestowed on it. An analysis 

 of the ripe fruit made at the University of California shows it 

 to contain : Water 84.88 per cent, ash 0.56, protein 0.82, fat 

 0.24, carbohydrates 4.24 (invert sugar 2.66, sucrose 1.58), and 

 crude fiber 3.35. 



The feijoa is hardier than many other subtropical fruits. 

 It has withstood with little injury temperatures as low as 15 

 above zero. It delights in a dry climate but one free from 

 extremely high temperatures. As was mentioned above, it 

 has not proved successful in moist tropical regions. It is so 

 drought-resistant that it has been grown successfully at Santa 

 Barbara, California, with no artificial irrigation; yet it must 

 be irrigated as liberally as the citrus fruits if the best results 

 are to be obtained. In the extremely hot desert valleys of 

 California, such as the Coachella, it has not been fully success- 

 ful. Edouard Andre pointed out that the native home of the 

 feijoa is the region of Cocos australis; it is probable, therefore, 

 that the climate to which the plant is naturally adapted is a 

 mild one, free from extremes of temperature, and having a 

 yearly rainfall of 30 to 40 inches. 



A sandy loam, rich in humus, is considered to be the ideal 

 soil for the feijoa. In California it has been grown success- 

 fully on adobe, red clay, and sandy loam. French horticultur- 

 ists consider that the plant will not tolerate much lime. It is 

 not known whether its failure to produce good fruit in Florida 

 is due solely to unfavorable climatic conditions, or whether 

 the light sandy soils, often containing much lime, are partly 

 responsible. 



The plants should be spaced 15 to 18 feet apart if they are 

 not to crowd one another when mature. While young they 

 should be watered liberally, and it is desirable to keep a heavy 



