8 
a less degree by a slower growth and the setting of less fruit. Fruit 
produced at high altitudes or that maturing during very cool weather 
is frequently inferior in flavor. Reference will be made later to the 
tendency of cold weather to produce a fruiting condition in the male 
tree. 
In regard to rainfall and moisture requirements, the plant is able to 
adapt itself to a wide range of conditions, and when established suffers 
much less from a shortage of water than the orange or the avocado, 
but makes beneficial use of large amounts if supplied. Yet withal, 
it is one of the most insistent plants in matters of drainage. In 
water-logged soils the papaya makes a spindling growth and drops 
its lower leaves prematurely while the remaining foliage becomes 
yellow, the whole plant indicating an unhealthy condition. 
There are few, if any, soils in which the papaya will not grow if aera- 
tion and drainage are adequately supplied. Most of the plantings at 
this station are upon soils regarded as unsuitable for other fruit trees, 
and upon which the avocado is a failure. It is true that these soils 
are fairly well supplied with potash, being black sand or volcanic ash 
in the early stages of disintegration. They are very porous, per- 
mitting a perfect drainage and aeration. Rich soils give correspond- 
ingly better and more permanent results if they permit of the free 
passage of water and the entrance of air. 
PROPAGATION. 
The papaya is usually propagated by seeds. Very little systematic 
effort has been made to establish varieties that can be depended upon 
to reproduce their characters, as has been done with so many culti- 
vated plants. This matter is more fully discussed in the second part 
of this bulletin, but it may be here stated that judicious selection is 
as promising of results as with other plants, and, therefore, seeds from 
good trees only should be planted. This station has been breeding 
papayas for a short time and while seed can not yet be regarded as 
wholly dependable to produce the variety some seed is available in 
small quantities to those who have suitable facilities for its growth. 
The seed is taken from the fruit, washed to remove the outer 
gelatinous coat, and dried. It may then be stored in glass bottles if 
it is not desired to plant it at once, and it will retain its viability for 
several years if not attacked by insects. It is best to plant the seed 
in a well-drained, porous soil in flats or boxes, covering them about 
a half inch deep. In from 2 to 6 weeks the seedlings should appear, 
germination being hastened by heat. In the open in cool weather 
the time will not be less than a month, but in a warm greenhouse it 
may be shortened to 2 weeks. In about a month after germination 
the seedlings should be large enough to be transferred to pots in which 
they should remain for another month before being placed in the 
