134 
ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE CHERIMOYER, AND 
humid atmosphere, and plenty of moisture at the roots is supplied. Now we have 
ever found that during the season of its most vigorous growth, it thrives the best in 
a heat not exceeding 75° ; if much advance is made on this, the young fruit are sure I 
to fall prematurely, and the crop for that season at least is lost. ! 
The supply of water to the roots during the season of growth and fruiting should ^ 
be liberal, but this must be greatly diminished after the fruit is gathered; as 
during the season of rest very little water is required, and the heat should not in 
winter exceed that given to common greenhouse plants, that is, merely sufficient to 
keep out the frost ; by this means the wood will become hardened, and the leaves l| 
deciduous, which two points are of immense importance in the culture of this plant 
as a fruit-bearer. 
Pruning is unnecessary, and is perhaps in most cases injurious, the bloom being 
formed on the old wood ; with good management flowers will continue to be produced | 
successively during May, June, and July, and the fruiting will be prolonged in the „ 
same proportion. The flowers, although not conspicuous, are very curious, and in 
addition emit a rather pleasant fragrance. 
Artificial fertilisation is indispensable, otherwise no matter how great the show 
of bloom, very few if any fruit will be obtained ; but should a small quantity set, 
they are sure to be deformed, and perhaps not one will arrive at maturity. A i; 
small camel-hair brush is the best instrument with which to effect the operation. ' 
The Sour-Sop (Anona muricata of Linnaeus, 5.), is a native of the West Indies, : 
and various parts of South America. It is almost universally cultivated in the i 
tropics for the sake of its fruit, which though inferior to the Cherimoyer, is highly j 
esteemed by the natives. It contains, however, a very large proportion of acid, and 
on that account is not much relished by Europeans. 
It forms a spreading shrub fifteen or twenty feet high. The leaves are ovate- 
lanceolate, smooth, somewhat shining, and when bruised emit a fragrance resembling 
that of black currants. The peduncles are solitary, and single-flowered. Flowers 
fragrant. Sepals three, connected at the base, cordate, and acute. Petals six, 
concave, thick, cordate, ovate, green outside, yellow within, having a deep purple 
spot at the base of each ; outer petals acute, inner ones small and blunt. Fruit 
fleshy, somewhat less than the Cherimoyer, of a yellow colour, having a thin skin 
covered with scales ; flesh soft, of the consistence of custard. 
To ripen this fruit properly, it should receive a little more heat than is necessary 
for the Cherimoyer, but in other respects it may be treated exactly in the same j 
manner. It was introduced to this country in 1656, but has never yet, that we are « 
aware of, matured fruit in our stoves, although it is a plant of very easy management. 
The Sweet-Sop (Anona squamosa of Linnaeus, c.), is also a native of South 
America, and is extensively cultivated both there, and in the East and West 
Indies. It forms a spreading shrub fifteen or twenty feet high. The leaves are 
oblong, bluntish, smooth, full of pellucid dots, rather glaucous beneath, and fragrant 
when bruised. Peduncles solitary and single-flowered. The flowers are greenish- 
