MISCELLANEOUS FRUITS 435 



interest because of its high acid and sugar content. It is sup- 

 posed to contain more acid and sugar than any other fruit. 

 The analysis reported by Pratt and Del Rosario shows the 

 green tamarind to contain little sugar, but the sugar increases 

 very greatly on ripening." 



The tree delights in a deep alluvial soil and abundant rain- 

 fall. Lacking the latter, it will make good growth if liberally 

 irrigated. The largest specimens are found in tropical regions 

 where the soil is rich and deep. On the shallow soils of south- 

 eastern Florida the species does not attain to great size. When 

 small it is very susceptible to frost, but when mature it will 

 probably withstand temperatures of 28 or 30 above zero 

 without serious injury. It is usually given little cultural atten- 

 tion, and is not grown as an orchard tree. 



Propagation is commonly by means of seeds. These can be 

 transported without difficulty, since they retain their viability 

 for many months if kept dry. They are best sprouted by 

 planting them \ inch deep in light sandy loam. The young 

 plants are delicate and must be handled carefully to pre- 

 vent damping-off. P. J. Wester has found that the species 

 can be shield-budded in much the same manner as the avocado 

 and mango. He says : " Use petioled, well-matured, brownish 

 or grayish budwood ; cut the buds one inch long ; age of stock 

 at point of insertion of bud unimportant." 



Seedling trees are slow to come into bearing. A mature tree 

 is said to produce, in India, about 350 pounds of fruit a year. 



Little is known of the insect pests which attack the tamarind. 

 H. Maxwell-Lefroy mentions two, Caryoboms gonagra F., and 

 Charaxes fabius Fabr., the latter a large black, yellow-spotted 

 butterfly whose larva feeds on the leaves. Both these insects 

 occur in India. 



Thomas Firminger speaks of three varieties of tamarind which 

 are grown in India, but does not know whether they can be 

 depended on to come true from seed. M. T. Masters, in the 



