MISCELLANEOUS FRUITS 



445 



inch to an inch and a quarter long; age of stock at point of 

 insertion of buds unimportant." Propagation by seeds is 

 easily effected, as with the umkokolo. 



THE WHITE SAPOTE (Fig. 60) 

 (Casimiroa edulis, La Llave) 



In the highlands of 

 Mexico and Central 

 America, where it is 

 believed to be indige- 

 nous, the white sapote 

 ranks among the prin- 

 cipal cultivated fruits. 

 Outside of this region 

 it is not well known, 

 although it has, in re- 

 cent years, attracted 

 attention in California 

 and Florida. 



The Aztecs of ancient 

 Mexico used the term 

 tzapotl to designate soft 

 sweet fruits such as the 

 sapodilla and its allies. 

 The lack of acidity and 

 the heavy sweetness of 

 these fruits makes them 

 less acceptable to pal- 

 ates accustomed to ap- 

 ples and peaches than 

 the mangosteen and certain other tropical fruits. They are, 

 however, liked by many northerners, and natives of tropical 

 regions consider them perfect. 



FIG. 60. The white sapote (Casimiroa edulis) , 

 a common fruit of the Mexican and Central 

 American highlands, is now grown in California 

 and Florida. (X i) 



