THE SAPOTACEOUS FRUITS 339 



can be inarched and cleft-grafted on Mimusops Kauki, L. 

 Propagated in this manner the tree is dwarfed and bears at an 

 earlier age than when grown on its own roots; it is believed 

 also to be more productive. V. N. Gokhale says that propaga- 

 tion in western India is by seeds and layering. Plants obtained 

 from layers are believed to be more vigorous than those from 

 seed. Eight to ten layers can be made each year from a bearing 

 tree, choosing the branches close to the ground. 



Seedling sapodillas rarely come into bearing until six to eight 

 years of age, even when grown under favorable conditions. 

 They usually fruit heavily, and often produce two crops a 

 year, one being much lighter, however, than the other. Due 

 to this habit, together with the natural variation in season 

 among seedling trees, ripe sapodillas are to be found in the 

 markets of tropical America almost throughout the year. 



Experiments have shown that the fruit can be shipped success- 

 fully and with little care in packing. The skin is thin and 

 delicate and the fully ripe fruit is injured very easily ; but if 

 picked while still hard or "tree ripe," it does not begin to soften 

 for several days. Sapodillas have been shipped from the 

 Florida Keys to New York, packed in tomato-crates which hold 

 six small baskets, each basket carrying six good-sized fruits. 

 For local consumption, or for shipping short distances, the 

 common procedure in Florida is to pull the fruits from the 

 trees and simply throw them into boxes or baskets, in which 

 they are carried to market, the ripe ones being picked out daily. 



The fruit-flies (Trypetidse) are serious pests of the sapodilla 

 in some regions, their larvae infesting the ripe fruit and render- 

 ing it unfit for consumption. Ceratitis capitata, Wied., the 

 Mediterranean fruit-fly, and Anastrepha ludens, Loew., the 

 Mexican fruit-fly, are two of the most troublesome species. 

 The tree is attacked by very few insect or fungous enemies. 



Seedlings differ in productiveness, ripening season, and in 

 size, shape, and character of their fruits. Those which are 



