435 



trees of a bushly compact nature. In the case of larger fruit trees of 

 a less compact nature e. g. the Durian, the same amount of pruning is 

 not necessary after the tree has passed the younger stages. The best 

 time to prune most kinds of tropical fruit trees is just after a period of 

 vegetative growth and before the flowers begin to develop. Then ex- 

 tra vigor is thrown into the flower buds and the result is a greater 

 number of healthy flowers, and the resulting product — fruits. 



It is of the greatest importance that fruit trees should be subject- 

 ed to a thorough system of pruning from their earliest days. This 

 produces well proportioned plants, increases their floriferousness and 

 improves the quantity and quality of their fruits. Young fruit trees 

 while in the nursery beds should be frequently transplanted. This in- 

 duces the development of a healthy fibrous root system, an item of 

 great importance in fruit culture. 



Another great point in successful agriculture is the judicious use 

 of manures. The practical agriculturist aims at producing luscious 

 and edible fruit in which either the pericarp or receptacle is to become 

 succulent and sweet and it is always beneficial to accelerate the full 

 development of the succulent tissues, their tenderness, lusciousness 

 and sweetness by artificial means. This is effected by means of 

 manures and in tropical countries where trees have no distinct resting 

 period a certain amount of care must be exercised in jtheir appli- 

 cation. 



In the case of trees which have reached the fruiting stage manure 

 may be applied at various times during the year with success. Assum- 

 ing that the soil is poor in nutritive salts applications of quick acting 

 manures just before the period of growth commences will be beneficial. 

 Top dressings of farm yard manures are also helpful at this period. 

 Phosphatic manures induce the development of flower buds therefore 

 the time to apply these is just before the appearance of the flowers. 

 In the case of trees that make their growth and flower almost at the 

 same time it is impossible to pursue this treatment but periodical 

 applications of good farm yard manure will be sufficient to produce 

 a marked improvement in the quantity and quality of the crop. 



Another and perhaps the most important means of improving our 

 fruits is by selection. In forming new orchards plants of none but the 

 very best selected stock should be used. These plants should be raised 

 from seed saved from strains possessing superior and desirable qualities, 

 varying according to the nature of each particular kind, but readily 

 recognised after a little study. 



In other words young plants should be raised from trees known 

 to produce fruit of the best quality. As a general rule it is not desira- 

 ble to raise young stock of fruit trees from seed as the progeny very 

 seldom comes true, generally reverting to something inferior and nearer 

 the original type. 



The best methods of propagating selected stock are by means of 

 budding, grafting, inarching, layering and by cuttings. Plants raised 

 by one or other of these methods are either equal to or an advance on 

 the parent tree. 



A few of the qualities desirable in a good fruit are (a) size, (b) 

 flavour, (c) thickness and succulency of the mesocarp (flesh) (d) 



