330 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1965

The recently described Dawn avocado (6) was The Brook's Late avocado is considered a Feb slow in attaining consumer acceptance, although ruary and March avocado, but during these tests shrivelling and decay were not present through it met consumer acceptance in early January. out the picking period. Even after general con LITERATURE CITED sumer acceptance was met,a few members of the taste panel continued to reject fruit of this 1. Campbell, Carl W. 1958. Report ofthe subtropical fruit variety committee, 1958. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 71: variety. 365-366. 2. Harding, Paul L. 1954. The relation of maturity to The Marcus avocado (frequently called quality in Florida avocados. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 67: Pumpkin) is the largest sized commercial avo 276-280. 3. Hatton, T. T., Jr., Paul L. Harding, W. F. Reeder, cado grown in Florida. Considerable fruit abscis J. N. Yeatman and W. H. Krome. 1963. Fruit weights and corresponding diameters for Florida avocados. U.S.D.A. sion was observed during late September, espe AMS 515, 11 p. cially on trees with a heavy crop. 4. , Paul L. Harding, and W. F. Reeder. 1964. Seasonal changes in Florida avocados. U.S.D.A. Tech. Buccaneer and Tappen avocados of large sizes Bui. 1310. 47 p. 5. ...„ and W. F. Reeder. 1963. Relationship of met consumer acceptance on the beginning pick bloom date to the size and oil content of Booth 8 avocados. Proc. Araer. Soc. Hort. Sci. (Caribbean Region) 7: 106-111. ing date, September 28, and some abscission of 6. Popenoe, John, 1962. Summer avocado varieties. Buccaneer fruit was observed on that date. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 75: 358-359. 7 . 1963. The Ruehle avocado. Fla. Agr. Large Sartini avocados also met consumer Expt. Sta. Circ. S-144. 4 p. 8. Soule, M. J. and Paul L. Harding. 1955. Relation acceptance on the beginning date, October 12, of maturity of Florida avocados to physical characters. Proc. and some fruit abscission was noted on that date. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 68: 303-308. 9. U. S. Agricultural Marketing Service 1962. Marketing Although the Gossman avocado has previously Agreement No. 121 and Order No. 915—Avocados grown in South Florida. (Prior to 1962 this order was identified as been reported to mature in January, February, Marketing Order No. 69, it was renumbered under a general and March (1) it met consumer acceptance this recodification of marketing orders.) season on December 21.

THE GREEN SAPOTE, A NEW FRUIT FOR SOUTH FLORIDA

Wm. F. Whitman1 sapote. The first U.S.D.A. green sapote introduc tion was made in 1913 under the botanical name The green sapote (Calocarpum viride Pittier) of Achradelpha viridis to be followed by five is indigenous to the highlands of Central additional introductions of the same fruit in America where this handsome large tree, with 1914. No record of their trial at the Miami, Flor dark green foliage, reaches a height of about 40 ida U.S.D.A. Stations was found. Further seed feet. It is considered by many to be one of the introductions, which were listed at the Miami best of the Sapotaceous fruits. Appearance-wise U.S.D.A. Stations, were made in 1916, 1929, 1941, it resembles the mamey sapote (C. mammosum) and 1944. These reached a total of 157 seeds, to which it is closely related. Features disting none of which lived to become bearing trees. In uishing the two are the green sapote's smaller 1929 the new name of Calocarpum viride replaced leaf size, its satiny brownish pubescence covering the former botanical name of Archadelpha the midribs and veins of the undersides of the viridis on the station's records. leaves, its slightly wavy leaf appearance, its Green sapote introductions at the Sub-Tropical rougher textured bark of the trunk and its Experiment Station in Homestead, Florida smaller fruit. Young seedling trees, lacking these started in 1934 with a shipment from Honduras. differences which develope with age, can be diffi This was followed by three introductions in 1946 cult for the uninitiated to identify from its near and one each in 1948, 1950, 1956, 1959 and 1962. "look alike twin", the mamey sapote. While all those made prior to 1956 failed to sur1" A search of records for early introductions vive, Ruehle (6) reported "Trees 8 to 10 feet reveals that Reasoner Brothers (Royal Palm tall, growing well at the Sub-Tropical Experi Nurseries) 1887-88 catalogue offered a number ment Station, were killed by flood water in of Sapotaceous fruits including the mamey 1948." From an inspection of the available sapote but no mention is made of the green records it appears the most frequent single cause for a lack of success with green sapoteintroduc l 189 Bal Bay Drive, Bal Harbour, Florida 33154 Affiliation: Rare Fruit Council of South Florida. tions was the failure of the seeds to germinate. WHITMAN: GREEN SAPOTE 331

vi- 332 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1965

Wilson Popenoe (3) in his Manual of Tropical bell (2) reports "Young green sapote trees have and Subtropical Fruits published in 1920, re had higher mortality at this station (Sub-Tropi ported on page 344 "This species (the green cal Experiment Station) than young mamey sapote) has been planted recently in California sapote trees. There is reason to think that they and in Florida. It is more likely to succeed in the are perhaps less cold hardy than mamey sapote". latter state than the sapote (mamey sapote), Observations by the writer would tend to con since it is somewhat more frost-resistant. It is firm Campbell's statement. In the other direction, doubtful, however, whether it will survive temperature-wise, the question raised "Is Florida temperatures below 27 or 28 degrees above zero." too much like Guatemala's hot lowlands during Again on page 343 he states "It is most abun the summer months?". While this is undoubtedly dant in Northern Guatemala (the Alta Verapaz), a factor to be reckoned with, it has not, in cer where it grows usually at elevations of 4000 to tain instances, prevented the green sapote from 6000 feet. Unlike its relative the sapote, it does bearing under South Florida's climatic conditions. not thrive in the hot lowlands. The lower limit What was believed to be the first instance of of its cultivation is approximately 3000 feet, the the green sapote fruiting in Florida was reported upper between 6000 and 7000 feet". by Whitman and Biebel (7) at the 1962 Annual From Popenoe's remarks it would appear that Meeting of the Florida State Horticultural So the green sapote would be more cold tolerant ciety. This related that in November 1954 Dr. than the related mamey sapote. However Camp Wilson Popenoe, then Director of the Escuela

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Florida grown green sapote (Calocarpum viride). Photo by Wm. F. Whitman. WHITMAN: GREEN SAPOTE 333

Agricola Panamericana at Tegucigalpa, Hon ing "I suspect that is the first time anyone has duras, sent the writer scionwood of this fruit made this graft". Of the trees so grafted one at which was grafted on seedling stocks of the the Brooks-Tower Nursery in Homestead bore mamey sapote. In a letter dated December 4, several fruit in the late fall of 1961. 1954 Dr. Popenoe (4) wrote from Honduras stat During the autumn and winter of 1964-65

Green sapote (Calocarpum viride) grafted on mamey sapote (c. mammosum) rootstock. Photo by Wm. F. Whitman. 334 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1965

Green sapote (Calocarpum viride) scionwood as prepared one or more months prior to removal for grafting. Photo by Wm. F. Whitman. WHITMAN: GREEN SAPOTE ass

another green sapote, which came into bearing seeds. Fruit picked in advance of ripening on the for the first time, put on a performance that tree can produce off flavors. In commenting on would tend to indicate these trees are capable this fruit Wilson Popenoe (5) wrote, "It is really of producing relatively good crops under South superior in flavor to the common sapote (C. Florida conditions. The balance of this report is mammosum), perhaps more like the sapodilla based upon a preliminary observation of this (Achras zapota). Since it seems like a cross be tree and others growing in Dade County, Florida. tween these two, as far as flavor is concerned, it The green sapote can be propagated from is known in Guatemala as "injerto"—a hybrid. seed, by grafting either on itself or the related When grown on the mamey sapote as a root- mamey sapote and probably also by marcotting. stock the green sapote makes a slightly larger Whether or not it will graft onto other Sapota- diameter trunk above the graft union. An uni ceous fruits is believed untried at present. As the dentified disease has been known to attack the seeds remain viable for only a short time after graft union area causing extensive die-back removal from the fruit they should be planted as above the graft. In one case what was suspected quickly as possible. Removing the hard shell that to be a fungus disease nearly girdled the graft surrounds the seed,, prior to planting, aide union. Bordeax-mixture made to a paste consist germination. In grafting success has been ob ency with spray oil added as a sticker was ap tained using a side graft. Scionwood of roughly plied after removing the diseased tissue, which 1/2" in diameter, girdled one or more months resulted in a complete recovery. The green sapote prior to grafting has given good results. This is is also subject to attack by the Cuban May done by cutting through the cambium layer and Beetle (Phyllophaga bruneri Chapin) which eats removing a ring of bark about 1/2" in diameter the leaves. approximately 6" from the end of the selected branch. In addition to this all leaves except the Green sapote trees grafted on mamey sapote terminal three or four are cut off. After the probably have identical fertilizer requirements to girdled branch swells and the dormant buds in the mamey sapote. Trees so grafted can maintain crease in size it is ready for grafting. It can then satisfactory vigor on rich hammock sand soils be removed and cut up into shorter piece lengths with little or no fertilizer after reaching bearing to make a number of grafts. size. On the rocky Redlands soils of South Dade slow decline may set in if an adequate fertilizer The green sapote, when grafted onto small schedule is not maintained. A former source of seedling mamey sapote, can be expected to reach green sapote trees has been the Brooks-Tower a height of approximately 14 feet or more within Nursery of Homestead, which propagated these ten years and be ready to bear, assuming good for several years on mamey sapote rootstocks. cultural conditions. It is believed the same would Seedling green sapote trees, grown from locally hold true for the green sapote on its own root- produced seeds, have been offered at the annual stock, but as yet no known instance of this fruit plant sale of the Rare Fruit Council of South ing as such in Florida has been reported. The Florida. first crop to be produced by young trees coming into bearing can run close to 75 or more fruit. It is suggested that the green sapote could However this is usually preceded by one or more be more widely grown in the warmer areas of annual flowerings that fail to set any fruit that South Florida as an attractive dooryard fruit holds on to maturity. The small white flowers are tree, especially since it is winter bearing at a born in profusion along the younger branches time when other tropical fruits tend to be scarce. during late winter or early spring and cross For those fortunate enough to already have a ma pollination from other trees is not required for ture mamey sapote tree, graftwood of the green fruit setting. sapote may be added by top working a part of the In Florida the green sapote fruits from tree. By so doing the one tree can produce both December through March, with the main crop these Sapotaceous fruits and the time taken for coming in late January. The "top-shaped" fruit the green sapote to come into bearing greatly averages 2 1/2" in diameter by 3" long with a shortened. The introduction of improved varie thin brownish-green skin. The sweet reddish- ties, with fruit up to 5" long (1), could even brown flesh, with a pleasant almond-like flavor further the desirability of this already worth contains one or two hard, large shiny dark brown while tree. 336 Florida state horticultural society,

LITERATURE AND PERSONS CITED Guatemala. The Garden Journal, Vol. 15, No. 2, pages 44-46, Mar, /Apr. 1. Barrett, O. W. 1928. The Tropical Crops. The Mac- 6. Ruehle, G. D. 1958. Miscellaneous Tropical and Sub millan Co., New York. tropical Florida Fruits. Bulletin 156A. Agricultural Ex 2. Campbell, C. W. 1965. Sub-Tropical Experiment tension Service, Gainesville, Florida. Station. Unpublished correspondence. 7. Whitman and Biebel. 1962. Rare Fruit Council Ac 3. Popenoe, W. 1920. Manual of Tropical and Sub tivities 1961-62. Fla. State Hort. Society, Vol. 75. tropical Fruits. The Macmillan Co., New York. 4. Popenoe, W. 1954. Unpublished correspondence. 5. Popenoe, W. 1965. Interesting Indigenous Fruits of

THE JACKFRUIT (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.):* ITS CULTURE, VARIETIES AND UTILIZATION

Julia F. Morton appearance in Florida, presumably imported by the Reasoner nursery from Ceylon (30). The The jackfruit (also known as jack or jak) is United States Department of Agriculture's an excellent example of a food prized in some Report on the Conditions of Tropical and Semi- areas of the world and allowed to go to waste in tropical Fruits in the United States in 1887 others. Where it is truly superfluous in the pres states: "There are but few specimens in the ence of an abundance of popular fruits, as in State. Mr. Bidwell, at Orlando, has a healthy South Florida, its neglect is reasonable; but in young tree, which was killed back to the ground, other warm regions, wherever there is a need for however, by the freeze of 1886" (54). There are nutriment or variety in the diet, knowledge of its today less than a dozen bearing jackfruit trees in preparation and products can enlarge its accept South Florida and these are valued mainly as ability and economic value. As a source of fine curiosities. Many seeds have been planted over timber alsSf the tree deserves consideration by the years but few seedlings have survived, foresters in Tropical America. 0. W. Barrett though the jackfruit is hardier than its close wrote in 1928; "The jaks ... are such large and relative, the breadfruit. interesting fruits and the trees so well-behaved that it is difficult to explain the general lack of knowledge concerning them" (3). Description No one knows the jackfruit's place of origin The tree is handsome and stately, 30 to 70 ft. but it is believed indigenous to the rainforests of tall (6Q)f with glossy, somewhat leathery (40) the Western Ghats (36). It is cultivated at ele leaves to 9 in. long (19), oval on mature wood, vations below 4,500 ft. throughout India, Burma, sometimes oblong or deeply lobed on young shoots Ceylon, Malaya, southern China and the East (46). All parts contain a sticky, white latex. Indies and to a limited extent in Queensland, Short, stout flowering twigs emerge from the Australia, and Mauritius. In Africa, it is often trunk and large branches, or even from the soil- planted in Kenya, Uganda and former Zanzibar covered base of very old trees. The tree is mono but is unsuccessful in Nyasaland. Though ecious: tiny male fllowers are borne in oblong planted in Hawaii prior to 1888 (26), it is still clusters 2 to 4 in. in length; the female flower rare there and in other Pacific islands (46) as it clusters are elliptic or rounded (40). Largest of is in most of tropical America and the West all tree-borne fruits, the jackfruit may be 8 in. Indies. It was introduced into northern Brazil (43) to 3 ft. long (46) and 6 in. to 20 in. wide in the mid-seventeenth century and is more popu (19) and the weight ranges from 10 to 40 lbs. or lar there and in Surinam than elsewhere in the more. Some are reported to attain as much as 100 New World. In 1782, plants from a captured or 110 lbs. (16) but Singh et al. gives 60 lbs. as French ship destined for Martinique were taken the maximum (64). Naik says "an individual to Jamaica (36) where the tree is now common, fruit weighing even up to 80 lbs. is not unknown" and about 100 years later the jackfruit made its (45). The "rind" or exterior of the compound or aggregate fruit is green (53) or yellow when *Syns.: A. integrifolius, A. integrifola, A. integer, A. integra, of various authors (36). ripe* (19) and composed of numerous hard, cone- lDirector, Morton Collectanea, University of Miami, Coral like points attached to a thick and rubbery, pale- Gables, Fla.