HOOKINGS GARDEN MANUAL. 



83 



Propagation : Cuttings should be taken early in the 

 autumn, while the leaves are on. Cut off all the buds 

 except three or four at the top ; insert the cuttings 

 about half way in the mould, in rows one foot apart, 

 and train one clear stem a foot high, from which four 

 or five branches may be allowed to radiate at an angle 

 of 40 or 45 degrees. The young wood only is used for 

 this purpose. 



Soil and Site : Any good garden soil, well manured, 

 will suit the currant. The black currant prefers a 

 damp, rich loam, rather shaded. They should be from 

 five to ten feet asunder, and have a southern or eastern 

 aspect if possible. 



THE CUSTARD APPLE — ( Anona Reticulata). 



The custard apple and the cherimoya (Anona 

 Cherimolia) have long been in our gardens, and have 

 borne fruit for many years. Some other varieties have 

 recently been introduced, and are being tested. The 

 former are evergreen shrubs, growing to the height of 

 about fifteen feet, and producing fruit on the previous 

 year's wood. The fruit is about the size of an apple, 

 and consists of a shell enclosing a soft, rich, agreeable 

 pulp resembling custard, in which the seeds are em- 

 bedded. 



Planting : They may be planted from May to 

 August, at fifteen feet apart, aud trees which have been 

 transplanted at the nursery should be procured if pos- 

 sible, as the roots are not naturally fibrous, and there 

 is, consequently, great risk of their failure. Frequent 

 transplanting while young encourages the formation of 

 fibrous roots ; and such plants can be removed to a dis- 

 tance with far greater safety than such as have only a 

 long tap root. 



Soil : The soil should be friable, rich, and well 

 drained. Lime is said to be a good special manure. 



