FRUIT CULTURE 189 



Propagation. The Grape-vine is readily piopagated by cuttings, which 

 should he inserted slanting-wise in the soil, with only about two 

 buds above the surface, and the earth well pressed upon them. 



Pinning ami Thinning. 'The usual pruning is carried out after the 

 crop is over, all lateral shoots being pruned back once a year to 

 within two or three buds of the main stem, and any unnecessary 

 growth removed. In order to obtain fruit of the best quality, the 

 berries should be thinned out by means of a pair of fine scissors 

 and the bunches also reduced in number. 



Mil it it ring. The plant requires liberal treatment. A mixture of loamy 

 soil and decomposed cattle manure suits it well. In Jafina, fish 

 manure is considered the best fertiliser, though the Natives have 

 also a strong belief in the value of salt as a manure for vines. As 

 stimulants, artificial manures give excellent results. 



]'tirictics. All the numerous varieties of the Grape-vine cultivated are 

 considered to belong to Vitis vinifera. There are, however, nu- 

 merous species of Vitis, many of them indigenous to Ceylon ; but 

 none of the latter can be considered to produce edible fruit, except 

 perhaps V. indica. The Black Hainbro, with dark purplish fruit 

 and Muscat of Alexandria, with pale-green berries, are grown in 

 the northern part of Ceylon. In addition to these the following 

 varieties are said to give good results in Jamaica, viz ; Bar- 

 barossa, Muscat Hamburg, and Gross Colinau. 



Yield. In Jaffna. Ceylon, two crops a year are obtained, the principal 

 one in March, and the second in September. The fruit takes three 

 to four months to ripen, from the time of flowering, the vines 

 (which grow to a large size) each producing an annual crop of 

 from 100 to 300 Ib. or more; this is sold at prices varying from 

 30 to 50 cents (=6d. to Sd.) per Ib. 



Zizyphus jujuba ( Rhamnaceae). Jujube; "Masan" S. ; 

 44 Ilantai " T. A small, thorny, spreading tree, native of 

 Ceylon, India, and Malaya. The fruit, which is borne in great 

 profusion and is in season about October, is of the size of a large 

 cherry, smooth and shiny, yellowish in colour, with a kernel 

 in the centre ; it is rather acid in flavour, and in India is said to 

 " afford a very nice dish when cooked with sugar." In Ceylon, 

 however, the fruit is usually eaten only by children. The tree 

 thrives up to about 3,000 ft., and is propagated by seed. 



Z. vulgaris. A small thorny tree, native of Syria and Levant, 

 said to be 4i commonly grown about Calcutta and in most parts of 

 India." The round fruit has a thin, pale-green smooth rind ; the 

 fleshy substance between the kernel and the rind is of a pleasant 

 flavour, crisp and refreshing, not unlike a juicy apple, but it has 

 little to recommend it as a fruit. Propagated by seed. Suited to 

 low elevations onlv. 



