Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-09
MEXICO SHOWS
POSSIBILITIES TO
FRUIT GROWERS
VERA CRUZ ATTRACTS MANY
AMERICANS
GENERAL CONDITIONS BETTER
THAN NORTH SLOPE
Many Products That Grow In Tropical
Profuson Are Unknown to
Communities In United
States

Attention of fruit growers is being
attracted to the possibilities of fruit
raising in Southern Mexico. This in
dustry has been increasing rapidly in
this district, fostered by the Mexican
government, and hundreds of Ameri-
cans are pouring into the state of Vera
Cruz, intending to engage in the rails
ing of tropical fruits.
In the state of Vera Cruz, from the
coast up to an altitude of $500 feet
above sea level conditions for fruit
culture prevail which are better than
any to be found in any region farther
north on the Pacific slope of this repub
lie; but these facts seem to have been
entirely overlooked by investors, and
no serious attempt has yet been made
to develop it's fruit industry While in
the northeastern part of the republic in
many places it is necessary to irrigate
the lands, and the orchards are annu
ally exposed to danger from frosts, the
southerly region, along the line of the
Ferrocarril Vera Cruz al Istmo has
abundant rainfall and is free from cold
sufficient to injure the fruit trees in
digenous to this part, or those which
have so long grown in Mexico as to be
considered as almost native to the soil.
The Importance of these two facts can
scarcely be overestimated in the con-
SluGIdllOl Ol lIull CulluiG.
The Chrlmoya
Among the native fruits are num-
ber which grow in profusion, which will
easily stand shipping, and which are
almost unknown to the outside world,
while their delicious flavor would in
sure them a ready market at remuner-
ative prices, as they come in when
fruits are not abundant in other To-
calities.
The chirimoya Anona Humboltiana,
a variety of the custard apple, may be
found growing wild in a widely ex-
tended section of the Gulf slope. This
fruit in an uncultivated state is small
and much inferior to that grown under
favorable conditions. In all the towns
and villages of the state of Vera Cruz.
and at an altitude of from 2500 to 1000
feet, it is grown in small orchards and
attains quite a large size. Specimens
from four to five inches in diameter
are not uncommon the flavor of which
Is most delicious when well ripened. In
this state the flesh is of a soft custard
consistency, with a pronounced vanilla
flavor. Cut when matured but not yet
ripe, 1t will stand in sending this fruit
by rail or water route to American
northern cities. The Ferrocarril Vera
Cruz al Istmo runs through that part
of the country best adapted to raising
this fruit, and the steamer lines from
Vera Cruz provide rapid transportation
to Gulf ports and other ports on the
Atlantic coast. With scientific cultiVa-
tion there seems to be no limit to the
degree of perfection to which this fruit
may be brought; even with the care
less methods now pursued in this vicin-
ity the fruit is of good size and readily
brings from to American cents,
and as much as cents each. The tree
grows to a height of about twenty feet
under favorable conditions, and will
bear as many as 100 fruits. Proper
cultivation will increase both the size
of the tree and the size and quantity
of fruits to the tree. It's cultivation
offers an interesting and profitable
study to the cultivator.
The Guava and Zapote
The guayaba or guava, Psydium sp.,
which is native to this section, offers
great possibilities to the cultivator of
tropical fruits The guayaba is found
nearly everywhere throughout the
tropical region, but as yet little or
nothing has been done to perfect the
fruit by cultivation. In all parts OF
the Gulf slope it fiourishes, growing IN
dense thickets in many places. Natur-
ally, the fruit in it's wild state is rath-
er small and inferior in other respects
but when the tree is given far
chance, even without cultivation, 1t at
tains height of from fifteen to eigh-
teen feet, and the fruit will be from
two to three inches in diameter It's
flavor is well known through the fam
Gus guava jelly. There are several va
rieties of this fruit the most common
being the red apple-shaped and the
yellow pear-shaped. The former is US
ually rather small, but is of an exceed
ingly fine flavor. 1t is heavy bearer
and under favorable conditions single
tree will produce several bushels of
fruit. The yellow pear-shaped fruit is
very much larger and is also heavy
bearer. Both varieties ordinarily nave
blossoms and fruit in every stage OF
development at the same time-in fact
the trees are seldom without ripe fruit
With only the most primitive cultiva-
ton and by simply keeping under con-
troll the rampant tropical vegetation so
that the sunlight can reach the ground,
the bearing capacity of the tree is in,
creased manifold and the size ana
quantity of the fruit are also greatly
inoproved This is another case where
opportunity offers a wide and interest
ing field for eXperimenters'
The zapote, Achras sp., of which
there are several varieties, among
which the zapote Nancy and zapote
chico are the most preferred, is a frult
of delicate flavor, and grows in protus-
ion throughout this tropical region.
The trees however, are of slow growth
and for this reason do not furnish such
an advantageous field for investment
as do the chirimoya and the guayaba.
The trees begin to bear in four to i've
wears. and are very enduring, so that
they offer a permanent income to the
cultivator.
The Pineapple
The pineapple is cultivated to a con-
siderable extent in the region border
ing on the gulf. near Vera cruz, and
with satisfactory results. 1t grows to
a good size and is of fine favor. 1t
seems to flourish at any altitude under
1000 feet above sea level, and comes
into bearing in one year. There are
two varieties grown in this section
the common variety, which was found
at an early period in the history of
Mexico and is most extensively grown,
and a larger variety called the
CAYENNE, which is not so widely dis
tributed, but is of much greater merit.
The former, although small, is solid
and compact pine, and stands shipment
well. The latter variety is entirely free
from spnes and the flesh is much moro
tender and juicy. 1t grows to large
size Specimens from twelve to four
teen inches in length and eighteen
inches in circumference are found here.
The larger ones command as much as
rs cents (American) each. and the de-
mand is far ahead of the supply.
The "pine" flourshes in all kinds of