WHITMAN AND CHURNEY: RARE COUNCIL 323

anthracnose, or black rot are not likely to meet hundred miles without shelling from the clus requirements for varietal release. ter or deteriorating seriously. 3. Productivity: Selections worthy of con 7. Shelf life: The merchant, eitherin store sideration should be prolific and produce or roadside stand, requires grapes that will regularly. hold up on display with an appetizing appear 4. Quality of fruit, type of cluster, size of ance for a reasonable sales period. berry: These three qualifications are men LITERATURE CITED tioned together because they most affect con 1. Rhodes, Arthur S. Diseases of grapes in Florida. Fla. sumer appeal. Individual choices in fruit Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 178:75-156. 1926. 2. Munson, T. V. Foundations of American grape cul flavors differ, but attractive clusters with ture. T. V. Munson & Son, Denison, Tex. 1909. berries averaging at least eleven-sixteenths 3. Pierce, N. B. The California vine disease. U. S. Dept. Agr., Div. Veg. Path. Bui. 2:1-222. 1892. inch in diameter for seeded grapes are favored. 4. Hewitt, Wm. B., Norman W. Frazier, H. E. Jacob, and J. H. Freitag. Pierce's Disease of grapevines. Calif. Agr. 5. Color and earliness: Blue grapes have Exp. Sta. Cir. 353:1-32. 1942. sales appeal on most markets, and grapes that 5. Stoner, Warren N., L. H. Stover, and G. K. Parris. Field and laboratory investigations indicate grape degenera reach a high soluble solids content early usual tion in Florida is due to Pierce's Disease virus infection. Disease Reptr. 35:341-344. 1951. ly sell at a premium. In the Station's program 6. Crall, J. M. and L H. Stover. The significance of emphasis is being placed on developing dark Pierces Disease in the Decline of Bunch Grapes in Florida. (Abst.) Phytopath. 47:518. 1957. colored selections that are early. However, this does not exclude light colored selections of 7;enne'!^h Uh t merit. Sta cfrS.68!V.12: ^Is^ 9. Stover, L. H. Blue Lake, a bunch grape for Florida 6. Carrying quality: Grapes in Florida home gardens. Fla. Agr. Exp. Sta. Cir. S-120:3-10. 1960. should be transportable for at least a few 10. Williams, W. and A.G. Brown. Breeding new vari eties of fruit trees. Endeavour. XIX. 75-A47A55. 1960.

RARE FRUIT COUNCIL ACTIVITIES 1959-60

William Francis Whitman1 place on ways to protect from cold damage. Melvin Andrews, Fairchild Tropical and Garden employee, related two years ago his Mrs. Otto L. Churney2 thermometer, placed in the open four feet above the ground, registered 22 degrees F. The first meeting of the Rare Fruit Council, from 12:30 a.m. until 6 a.m. His plants suf following the presentation of its 1958-59 paper fered damage in spite of precautions. Near at the Florida State Horticultural Society his location a large field of staked tomatoes annual meeting in Miami, was held Friday were protected with complete success by the evening, November 13, 1959 at the Simpson use of heaters and trucks mounted with power Memorial Garden Center. A one hour 16mm driven air propellers. George Mooty, with the Hawaiian movie was the main event of the Sub-Tropical Experiment Station, reported the evening. Mr. Whitman's film covered in detail Julie mango (Mangifera indica), the Carrie many of the agricultural crops of these Poly mango and the B-17 Barbados cherry (Mai nesian Islands, including sugar cane (Sac- pighia punicifolia) to be more susceptible to charum officinarum), pineapples (Ananas cold than many other varieties of the same comosus), coffee (Coffea arabica), (Colo- . Letters from Dr. L. B. Singh, Director, casia antiquorum), papayas (Carica papaya) Horticultural Research Institute, Saharanpur, and bananas (Musa sp.). The importance of U. P., , Director Chih-Foo Yang, Chia-Yi agriculture to the economy of this new state Agricultural Experiment Station, Chia-Yi, Tai was stressed. At the conclusion of the meet wan, Formosa, D. Serpa, Facultad de Agrono- ing santols (Sandoricum koetjape), wax mia El Limon, Maracay* Venezuela and Barto- jambo (Syzygium javanica), longan (Euphoria lome R. Luardo, Acting Superintendent, longana) and other plants were offered for Davao Experiment Station, Bureau of Plant distribution. Industry, Philippines were read by the Coun At the December meeting a discussion took cil President. Typical of these letters was Dr.

JPast president, 189 Bal Bay Drive, Bal Harbour 54, Fla. Singh's statement, "I gratefully acknowledge Recording secretary, 7770 S. W. 134th St., Miami 56. the receipt of the reprint of your paper entitled 324 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1960

Canned Malabar chestnuts (PACHIRA MACROCARPA) from Formosa. Photo by Wm. F. Whitman

'Rare Fruit Council Activities', which you ical nut tree, native to Mexico and Central have kindly sent to me. The informations con America, was introduced into the Chia-Yi tained in this paper are going to be of im Agricultural Station in 1931 and has since been mense value to us over here". distributed to farmers. The nuts are thought Dr. John Popenoe, accompanied by Dr. to have commercial possibilities and the tree Carl Campbell, attended our January meet has been found well adapted to Central and ing. Dr. Popenoe has recently joined the staff Southern Taiwan. Plants for distribution at of the Sub-Tropical Experiment Station where the conclusion of the meeting included the he will be engaged in pomology as an assist carob (Ceratonia siliqua), the mammey-apple ant horticulturist. Previously at the University (Mammea americana) and the white sapote of Alabama he had earned on experiments (Casimiroa edulis). with the genus Prumis. Dried canned Malabar A report was made by Mr. Whitman at chestnuts (Pachira macrocarpa) were passed the February meeting on tests run, over a among the membership for sampling and period of time, to determine any pH. level evaluation. These salmonish-brown kernels, changes on a fine hammock sand soil trucked with yellowish-white stripes, had been for into Bal Harbour and spread over the existing warded from the Chia-Yi Agricultural Experi calcareous bay bottom fill to a depth of several ment Station in Formosa by Director Yang, feet for the purpose of growing tropical fruits who had been a Council guest in June, 1956. on an acid medium. In July, 1956 the ham Roasted, these delicious tropical nuts have a mock sand gave a pH. 6.56 reading and in flavor like the peanut, only richer tasting. January, 1960 the pH. ran 6.6. This was of The samples have remained crisp and fresh, at interest because at the time of both tests the the time of writing, after having been canned subsoil water table, commencing at a depth over a year. An objection is the difficulty in of four to five feet, had a salt concentration removing the thin shell or husk which adheres of approximately 2520 p.p.m. The effects of to the seed. This deciduous ornamental trop salt being carried toward the soil surface by WHITMAN AND CHURNEY: RARE FRUIT COUNCIL 325

capillary attraction, the pH. 8 city water used their recent show. Dwight Smith and for irrigation and salt laden air from the ocean Wesley Wilson very ably prepared the fruit two blocks away had presented the question as exhibit for this event. The Council also heard to whether the pH. had been raised appreci a letter from Director Chih Foo Yang giving ably, which it apparently had not. The sam additional information on the Malabar chest ples of soil and ground water were sent to the nut. In this he stated that the fruit of the Soil Testing Laboratory, University of Florida, Pachira macrocarpa is a capsule with five cells Gainesville where the pH. was run. Ray Rich containing about twenty seeds, only ten to ardson stated that small bael fruit (Aegle fifteen of these being fully developed. A tree marmelos) seedlings were undamaged by the may set two hundred to five hundred fruit an recent cold and George Mooty related that nually. The unroasted kernel has almost no heavy frost at the Sub-Tropical Experiment flavor, like that of the raw peanut. Experi Station had killed back their mangosteen ments are being made in removing the shell (Garcinia mangostana) to near ground level from the nut prior to roasting. Mr. Gregory in spite of being watered and surrounded by introduced Louis Daigle, former State Plant smudge pots. Board inspector. The question was put to Mr. In March a letter from the. Upper Keys Daigle concerning the possibility of having Garden Club, Key Largo was read1 expressing restrictions lifted on importing mangosteen appreciation for the Council's participation in fruit from Hawaii. Arrangements had been

LUCUMA HYPOGLAUCA, a new introduction fruiting at the Sub-Tropical Experiment Station. This is the size of an orange with a hard outer shell. Photo by John Noonan. 326 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1960 made for Forester Bryan to ship this fruit Daigle suggested the Council contact the U. from Hilo but he found this impossible under S.D.A. in Beltsville. A discussion on mango- current U.S.D.A. Hawaiian regulations. Mr. steens followed and it was recalled that Dr.

Hurricane Donna damaged many trees at the Sub-Tropical Experiment Station, including this large yellow mombin (SPONDIAS LUTEA). Photo by Wm. F. Whitman WHITMAN AND CHURNEY: RARE FRUIT COUNCIL 327

David Fairchild had sought compatible root- hoping to locate one which would induce a stock from among the numerous Garcinias, more rapid growth under less favorable con-

Partially completed pineapple (ANANAS COMOSUS) sketch by Ota Williams. The variety is Red Spanish. Photo bv Don Duffy. 328 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1960

ditions. Garcinia tinctoria was tried but prov in a similar manner to that of the breadfruit ed to be no better than the mangosteen's own (Artocarpus altilis). Fred Stone reported graft root system. This tree must have shade when ing lychees (Litchi chinensis) successfully by young. As it grows larger it becomes more sun using dormant wood with lateral buds and tolerant and usually will take full sunlight af covering the graft with a small skirt of plastic ter reaching about fourteen feet in height. The after the union had been bound. Laymond tree is grown from seed and the first six inches Hardy stated that Brewster lychee seedlings of growth usually are the most difficult. Harold frequently tend to be chlorotic and suggested Winters, while at the Federal Experiment the Bengal lychee as a more vigorous root- Station, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, found a re stock. The success in Hawaii of inducing ly lationship between the weight of mangosteen chee fruiting by girdling limbs with a 1/16 seeds to and preliminary rate of - inch diameter pruning saw was referred to. growth. In May new officers were elected to the A three foot potted durian tree (Diirio zi- Rare Fruit Council, Dr. John Popenoe of the bethinus) was brought to the April meeting Sub-Tropical Experiment Station taking over for display. This had been grown from seed as the incoming president. At this time the forwarded by Dr. McDaniels to the Sub-Trop definition, aims and objectives of our organi ical Experiment Station during his visit to zation were laid down as follows; Thailand in 1959. This tree, distinguished by a with a silvery-white underside, is sus Definition: The "Rare Fruit Council of South ceptible to both cold and root damage. In Florida" is a group devoted primarily to the Formosa it has been found to sprout from the study and advancement of the lesser-known roots when killed back to ground level by cold, tropical and subtropical fruits which have not

Longan tree (EUPHORIA longana) at Bankolc Noi Fruit Station, Thailand. Woven bamboo baskets are used for protecting fruits from bats and birds. Photo by Pairoj Pholprasio. WHITMAN AND CHURNEY: RARE FRUIT COUNCIL 329

yet achieved economic importance or are not Aims and Objectives: To be an active organ- cultivated on a large commercial scale in this ization dedicated to promoting the progress of country. tropical pomology in South Florida.

Pl,PlSani? wd'a iMSJ£ PARARISIACA)' a favorite banana in the Far East. This stalk was grown on Elliott Key, Florida, rnoro cy wm. r. Whitman. 330 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1960

To introduce, propagate and distribute, on a free exchange basis, new species, improved varieties and clones of fruit plants from the tropical and near tropical areas of the world. (Local & International Plant Exchange). To educate the public with the merits of tropical fruits and thereby encourage and ex tend their cultivation and consumption. To collect and disseminate cultural require ments, including propagating techniques, root- stock trials and degree of intolerance to cold. To bring into bearing tropical and subtropi cal fruit trees that previously have not fruited in South Florida. To encourage fruit plant breeding and to be on the alert for mutations and chance seed lings of merit. How large to make a planting hole? These were dug twelve feet wide in an alkaline area to be refilled with a To cooperate with any horticultural organi suitable soil for acid loving fruit trees. Photo by Wm. F. zation, institution or government bureau, Whitman. foreign or domestic, whose field of activity either completely or partially embraces tropi (Melicocca bijuga), soursops, and the Rheedia cal pomology. (Rheedia sp.) in Puerto Rico might be select To contribute for publication an annual ed for use in South Florida. Mr. Whitman told paper or report, in edited form, to record the of spending the month of May in Nassau, horticultural high lights of each meeting. where fruits new to the Bahamas are being introduced and tried. At the Bahamas Govern ment Experiment Station mangosteens, nut The speaker for the evening was Dr. Taylor meg (Myristica fragrans) and lychee trees Alexander, Chairman of the Department of were observed. These young, non-bearing trees Tropical Botany, University of Miami. His which had been obtained through the efforts subject "photoperiodism", or the effect of light of Oris S. Russell, appeared to be making on plants was both extremely interesting and good growth. Edward M. Treglown, Bahamas informative. contractor, has extensive acreage in fruits on A highlight of the June 10th meeting was Farrington Road, near Oaks' Field, Nassau. a report by incoming Council President Dr. His mature size trees included five species John Popenoe, on his recent trip to San Juan, of Annonas, lychee, longan, jaboticaba (Myr- Puerto Rico where he attended an annual meet ciaria cauliflora), mamey sapote (Calocar- ing of the Carribbean Section of the American pufn mammosum) and many others. Another Society for Horticultural Science. At the Ex fruit tree hobbyist is Captain Wallace Ogilvie periment Station at Rio Piedras, there were of Village Road, Nassau. He has received fifty or sixty young, non-bearing mangosteens from Florida many of our best fruit clones and and an equal number of rambutans (Nephel- is currently contacting the Philippines and ium lappaceum) with male bloom. The Ma other tropical areas for additional pomological lay-apple (Syzygium malaccensis) were bear material. A recent publication "Some Fruits ing heavily, breadfruit and breadnut (Artocar- and Nuts for the Tropics" was passed around pus altilis) were numerous. indica for member's inspection. This U.S.D.A. Mis lined the avenues of the campus. Also seen cellaneous Publication No. 801 was written were durian trees, bearing jackfruit (Artocar- by Wm. C. Kennard and Harold F. Winters pus heterophyllus) and the paradise-nut tree from observations obtained while on the staff (Lect/this elliptica). Fruits of the mamey- of the Federal Experiment Station, Mayaguez, apple are attacked by fruit bats. In the food Puerto Rico. Fruits offered for sampling were technology pilot plant, nectar of the soursop grumichama (Eugenia dombeyi), rose-apples (Annona muricata), acerola and guava (Psid- (Syzygium jambos), Brewster lychees, red ium guajava) were being canned. Dr. Popenoe Cattley guava (Psidium cattleyanum), pitomba suggested that superior clones of Spanish limes (Eugenia luschnathiana), white sapote and WHITMAN AND CHURNEY: RARE FRUIT COUNCIL 331

wax jambu, a fruit which makes a handsome destroyed. Mr. Whitman, who made these ob table decoration. servations, related the duBell plum (Flacourtia Mrs. Frances C. Young, botanist from the cataphracta), while blown over, was putting Redland Fruit and Spice Park, addressed the on new growth and apparently not severely Council in July. In this interesting discourse hurt in spite of being partially covered by sea uncommon uses for tropical fruits were brought water during the storm. Key limes (Citrus aur- to light. One of these little known facts is antifolio) and an off-season fruiting mulberry that the green carambola (Averrhoa caram- (Morus nigra) likewise appeared to have with boh) makes a good polish for brass and cop stood the effects of the wind and salt water. per. As the meeting was about to break up A comprehensive discussion on marcotting Peg Gorman, an active member, came strug followed. George Mooty claimed improved re gling in the door with a large carton of assort sults were obtained by using thin plastic cov ed plants that we all thought would be some ering and by girdling branches several days wonderful new distribution. "No, not so", she prior to completing the mossing. He further said. "This is what happens when one collects stated a skirt shaped newspaper covering, seeds at the Council meetings. Please help me tied at the top and open at the bottom, pro identify these things". tects the plastic from splitting due to weather In August Mrs. Lucita Wait introduced the ing as well as discouraging birds from peck speaker of the evening, Dr. Tuala Tamalelagi, ing holes through it. He suggested that a newcomer to Florida. Bom of Samoan par branches which hung down, so that the moss ents and raised in Fiji, he has been in the ing was the highest point on the limb, were United States since 1944 and is engaged with to be avoided as such marcots usually failed experiments to increase the cold tolerance of to put out roots. Aluminum foil was used for subtropical and tropical fruit trees by means fruit trees that air-layered quickly, others of chemical treatment. Zapote bianco (Lu- usually do better with plastic wrapping. Dr. cuma hypoglauca), sl new fruit grown at the Biebel claimed to be able to make two hun Sub-Tropical Experiment Station was offered dred aluminum covered marcots an hour un for sampling by Dr. Popenoe. This fruit, which der ideal conditions. Mr. Whitman reported is indigenous to Yucatan and El Salvador, making one hundred Cattley guava air-layers makes a medium sized tree with large with no takes. He further stated that, provid and small and the tree appears at ing the girdled cambium layer is prevented home in South Florida's calcareous soil. The from uniting, a marcotted branch will eventual pulp, a thin layer surrounding rather large ly either put out roots or die. A grumichama seeds, is acidulous, with an agreeable flavor. tree at the U.S.D.A. Plant Introduction Sta Other fruits on display were longans, mamey tion, Chapman Field, took two years to root, sapote, Ice Cream banana (Musa paradisiaca), the mossing being replaced four or five times! jaboticaba, antidesma (Antidesma bunias), and Large limbs of certain hard to air-layer fruits, the Indonesian "seedless" guava (Psidium such as the Spanish lime, met with success guajava). while smaller branches failed. In October Dr. Popenoe reported that the Mrs. Roy Williams displayed new prelimi recent hurricane Donna uprooted many large nary fruit sketches. These showed outstanding mature trees at the Sub-Tropical Experiment talent and the Council is fortunate in having Station. Cut back and righted, they currently among its members such a competent artist. do not provide much frost protection for From the Sub-Tropical Experiment Station smaller trees beneath their thinned out can potted fruit plants were offered for distribu opy. Large trees planted out originally in blast tion. These were San Ramon coffee, a clone ed holes were found more difficult to set up originating in El Salvador, C.A., the elephant again than those that had been started in apple (Dillenia indica) and the grumichama. scarified areas. The unusually heavy rainfall Since the last annual report fruit plant ship at the Station for the month of September ments have been received from Dr. L. B. Singh totaled approximately twenty-five inches. On in. India, Roem Purnariksha and Anchern Plantation Key, seventy-five miles south of Chompoophot in Thailand, Eugene E. Cruz Miami, L. B. duBell's extensive fruit plant in the Philippines, W. R. Lindsay in the Canal ings were thought to be 50 per cent or more Zone, as well as from both John Stermer and 332 FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1960

Forester Albert Duval in Hawaii. A series of Council would like to take this opportunity to pictures on the longan and durian were for express its sincere appreciation to these people, warded by former Consul visitor Pairoj Phol- as well as to the many others in tropical areas, prasid, from Bangkok, Thailand. Of particular who have given of their time and efforts. interest was a shot of a longan tree with woven Through their cooperation many worthwhile bamboo baskets over the fruiting panicles to fruit plants have been introduced into South offer protection from birds and fruit bats. The Florida.

PRELIMINARY COMPARISON OF WRAPPING MATERIALS

IN GRAFTING PECANS

T. E. Pope and S. E. McFadden, Jr. of cloth or strips of rubber; many plant propa gators still use them. A wax mixture that hard Florida Agricultural Experiment Station ens on cooling is usually added to these ma terials either before wrapping, or applied after Gainesville the wrap is in place. This wax coating pro The ready availability of polyethylene and duces a better moisture seal. Objectionable vinyl plastic films provides the plant propa features of these conventional wraps include: gator with materials that approach the ideal (1) added labor of wax coating; (2) drying for grafting operations. The moisture retention out of scions when insufficiently covered; (3) and water exclusion properties of the plastic restriction of gas exchange when too heavily films, coupled with the adequate pore space coated that results in a physiological break to allow some gas exchange, make them super down in vital tsisues and later invasion by ior to older graft wrapping materials. Films pathogenic micro-organisms. of two to four mil thickness are generally suf In this locality, pecan clones are propagated ficiently strong, pliable and elastic to anchor by graftage on one to three year old seedling scions while furnishing a cover for graft wound understocks in nursery rows. Grafting of dor areas that promotes callus formation. mant stock begins in January and extends into March. A whip and tongue graft is made just Nelson (5, 6) used vinyl plastic wrapping above soil level and wrapped with waxed in grafting mangos, guavas and lychees and ob twine. The currently used method includes a tained more satisfactory results than when practice of covering the graft union with a other materials were used. According to Bry- mound of sandy topsoil, leaving only the top den (1), plastic film was superior to raffia most part of the six-inch scion exposed. This and other tying materials for budding citrus, apricots, cherries and pecans. Black polyethy mound of soil is removed after union is esta blished. Local growers consider the soil cover lene film was found to be superior to trans parent as a cover in patch-budding walnut and a necessary addition to the wax-coated wrap, to insure optimal survival of scions of all vari pecan (2). Good results were reported (3) in eties. Wraps are cut at the time the soil mound chip budding stem cuttings of roses where buds were covered with clear polyethylene is removed to prevent girdling injury. film which prevented excessive wetting of the Materials and Methods wound area under mist. Current preference for Two experiments were initiated, March 8 vinyl film in budding roses (4), both contain to 10, 1960, to compare the effects of a flexible er-grown stock and misted stem cuttings, is plastic film with other wrapping materials on based on ease of handling in forming a spiral the survival of whip and tongue grafts using wrap with the strip of film. 'Curtis' and 'Stuart' scions on stocks of two- Before flexible films became available, year old seedlings from 'Stuart' pecans. A com choice of graft wrapping materials was limited parison of soil mounding effects on survival of grafts wrapped with the plastic film was in to processed natural fibers such as raffia, or to manufactured materials such as twine, tapes cluded. Experiment 1 - This experiment, using Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series, 'Curtis' scions, compared the effects of two No. 1164.