TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS IN CALIFORNIA. 334 



The White Sapote [Casimiroa ediilis La Llave). 



This was the first tropical fruit planted in Cahfornia, having been 

 introduced by the early Mexican settlers (fig. 138). It has never 

 become very popular, and is not commonly cultivated, the greatest 

 drawback being that seedhng trees require nine or ten years to come 

 into bearing, and are even then very uncertain as to the size and quaHty 

 of fruit they will produce. Attempts at asexual propagation are now 

 being made, in order to perpetuate choice varieties originated as 

 chance seedlings. So far only seedlings have fruited, and it is not 

 known that any of their fruit has ever been placed on the market. 



The Feijoa, or Pineapple Guava (Feijoa Sellowiana Berg). 



Although recently introduced, the Feijoa (fig. 134) is already widely 

 planted and is becoming more popular every year. Its hardiness 

 permits it to be grown almost anywhere in Cahfornia, although it 

 does not seem to thrive in the extremely hot interior valleys. 



Most of the plants now growing in the State have been propagated 

 from seed, but to perpetuate choice forms it is necessary to resort to 

 vegetative propagation. Cuttings are not difficult to root, and grafting 

 is successful ; layering is the easiest method, but is too slow ever to 

 be popular. 



Three named varieties have been established, of which the best is 

 probably the ' Andre,' the plants grown here having been propagated 

 from the specimen in the garden of the late Edouard Andre, at Golfe- 

 Juan, on the Riviera. 



The Rose Apple [Eugenia Jambos Linn.). 



This species has proved to be quite hardy in southern Cahfornia, 

 but is planted more for its ornamental value than for its fruit. There 

 is much difference among the plants, some producing larger, more 

 highly coloured and highly perfumed fruits than others, perhaps due in 

 some measure, but not entirely, to the care bestowed upon them. 



E. unifiora Linn. (E. Michelii Lam.), another member of the genus 

 of economic value, is not up to the present time a success as a fruiting 

 plant. Although it is apparently at home in this climate, the plants 

 produce too sparingly to be of any value. The same appears to be 

 true of E. Jambolana Lam. 



The Jujube [Zizyphus sativa Gaertn.). 



For the interior arid valleys the Jujube is proving of value, and, 

 through the introduction of the choice Asiatic forms recently secured 

 by the Department of Agriculture, it seems likely to become of real 

 importance. Practically all those which have been grown up to the 

 present time are inferior seedlings. 



The Passion Fruit [Passiftora edulis Sims). 

 The abundance of better fruits with which Californians are supplied 

 has prevented the passion fruit from becoming popular. It is hardy, 

 and not infrequently seen in gardens, but the fruit is rarely used. 



