284 



Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 



The great central plateau of Mexico mav be taken as an example of climatic 

 conditions best suited to this fruit, since it is there found in perfection, and has 

 been cultivated from the remotest antiquity. Comparatively high tempera- 

 tures accompanied by a very low degree of humidity are the rule during the dry 

 season^ the winters being cool and the annual precipitation not great — a climate 

 very similar on the whole to that of Southern California. And indeed it is not 

 necessary to search elsewhere to determine the requirements of this fruit, since 

 forty years' successful cultivation in this state has proved them to be fulfilled here 

 to a very satisfactory degree. Two factors which seem to be particularly important 

 are freedom from excessive humidity or precipitation, and cool (but not frosty) 

 weather at the time of ripening. 



Figure 124. Trunk of Cherimoya tree shown in Figure 123, almost a foot and a 



half in diameter. 



Prof. Foex. in "Algunas Anonaceas Frutales de Mexico" (Bulletin Xo. 9 of 

 the Estacion xVgricola Central. Oaxaca)^ says: "Of the Anonas grown in Mexico 

 the Cherimoya is the most resistant to cold, and suffers most from excessive heat. 



* * When grown in a region of moderate temperatures it is considered the 

 best of all the Anonas; grown in a hot climate it is not superior to Anona 

 squamosa." 



The hardiness of the tree has been so thoroughly tested in this state as to 

 leave no room for dispute, and it can be relied upon to succeed in locations suited 

 to citrus fruits, with the same amount of protection. The same provision must 

 be made as with the citrus fruits, however, that some localities will produce finer 

 fruit than others. And it must be recognized and remembered that varieties Intro- 



