THE CHINESE JUJUBE 6 



ture of western Europe. Since its introduction into the Mediter- 

 ranean region, however, it has become better known, and all the 

 more important dictionaries and works on gardening in Europe 

 contain accounts of it. 



The varieties known and sold in the markets of Europe are seed- 

 lings, the fruits of which are about the size of an olive and would 

 probably never attract much attention in the American markets. 

 European horticulturists appear never to have investigated the possi- 

 bilities of the Chinese jujube. 



A few seedling trees were grown in the United States as early as 

 about 1837, but it was not until the late Frank N. Meyer, agricultural 

 explorer, visited China in 1908 that scions of large-fruited varieties 

 were introduced. Meyer's work resulted in the establishment in 

 California and the Southwest of a number of the best and largest 

 fruited forms of the jujube. 



The fruiting of these varieties in this country, especially in Texas 

 and California, stimulated interest among fruit growers and others, 

 and there has been a gradual increase in the number of plantings 

 made, resulting in a demand for information concerning propagation 

 and utilization. 



CULTURE 



CLIMATE 



The jujube grows vigorously in hot climates and reaches its best 

 development where the weather is dry, the sunshine brilliant, the 

 nights warm, and the summers long and hot. The southwestern 

 section of the United States, with the exception of the elevated por- 

 tions where the summer nights are too cool, and limited areas, such 

 as coastal regions, where the humidity may retard fruit production, 

 is well adapted to jujube culture. The drier sections of some of the 

 Southern States have produced some excellent fruit. The jujube has 

 withstood temperatures of —22° F. without injury, but growth in 

 regions where the summers are cool is very slow, and the number of 

 fruits produced is few or none, as compared with the rapid growth 

 and abundant and regular fruiting secured where the temperature 

 sometimes reaches 120° F. (fig. 2). 



Because of its late flowering, the jujube is free from spring frost 

 injury. In regions where the peach, almond, and apricot bloom in 

 February the jujube does not begin to flower until about May 20, 

 long after danger from frost is over. Those who have lost fruit 

 crops from frost can appreciate the great advantage of a tree that 

 produces a good crop year after year without being injured by late 

 frosts. 



SOIL 



The jujube does well on a variety of soils. It has been observed in 

 California making a vigorous growth and producing an abundance 

 of fruit on heavy poorly drained soil where peaches and other fruits 

 could not maintain themselves. 



It has grown luxuriantly on slightly acid soils, but it does best 

 on slightly alkaline soils. The jujube does better than most other 

 fruits on poor soil, but its best development will be found in sandy 

 loams which are neutral or slightly alkaline and well cultivated. 



