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Pomona College Journal of Economic Botan.- 



in western Paraguay, in southern Brazil, and in some parts of the Territorio de 

 Misiones, Argentina. The eonmion name is 'guayaho.' The fruit is used for the 

 manufacture of 'dulces' (i. e., jams, jellies, etc.) and is mixed with those of the 

 Psidium (guava). * * * Cultivation for improvement of the fruits is very lim- 

 ited." 



Methods of Propagation 



By Seed: While tliere are several methods by which the I-'eijoa may be 

 propagated, the majority of plants, both in Europe and California, have been 

 grown from seed. Propagation is readily effected by this means, in fact it has 

 been found in France that when the fruits whicli fell to the ground were allowed 

 to lie until spring, a large number of volunteer seedlings would spring up. 



It is well to emphasize the ])oint that when best results are desired, it is abso- 

 lutely necessary to use great care in the selection of seed. Much disappointment 

 has resulted in the past from the planting of seeds from inferior fruits. Plants 

 for seed should be seh-cted with a view to desirability in every character, not 

 only in the size and (juality of the fruit, but in precocity of bearing, and product- 

 iveness as well. Propagate from those plants which possess all these characters in 

 as great a degree as possible. It is not a matter of jjlanting seeds from an ex- 

 tremely large and fine fruit, which may have come from a plant whose bearing 

 habits were very poor, as the seedlings would be very likely to perpetuate this un- 

 desirable characteristic. 



The seeds are but sligiitly larger than those of the fig, and for this reason, 

 although they germinate readily, they should be planted with care and given the 

 best of attention. 



For starting the seeds a good medium has been found to be a mixture of two- 

 thirds clean sand, and one-third redwood sawdust. Both these materials are easily 

 obtained. This provides a practically sterile mixture in which there is little dan- 

 ger from the fungus known as "damping-off." The sawdust should be kept wet 

 and allowed to rot for two or three months before it is used. 



The seeds should be sown in flats three or four inches in dejith, and covered 

 with the mixture of sawdust and sand to a depth of not over one-fourth of an inch. 

 They may be planted quite thickly, if they are promptly pricked off after germi- 

 nating. 



It is best to j)lant the seeds as soon as possible after their removal from the 

 fruit. If kept dry, however, they will retain their powers of germination for sev- 

 eral weeks at least, probably longer, but it has not yet been determined just how 

 long they may be kept and still give a good rate of germination. 



If the seeds are started under glass, germination will take place in twenty to 

 twenty-five days. If no artificial heat is provided, a somewhat longer period will 

 be required, but not over four or five weeks at most. 



Waterings should be frequent, but not copious. As soon as the plants have 

 made their second leaves they may be pricked off into flats, or potted into two- 

 inch pots, preferably the latter. When they have attained a height of three or 

 four inches in the twos, they should be shifted into threes, where they can be 



