Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-10-31
Chinese LITCHI
FAST BECOMING
POPULAR fruit
Hard to Propagate But Bulletin
Tells How to Raise II in
Hawaiian Islands

nOTticult0TlSI at Inc u. -. experiment
station, after more than year OF ex-
perimenting. The bulletin deals prili-
cipally with the possibility of its in
PRODUCTION into the Hawaiian Islands,
as it is very delicious fruit when
fresh and is absolutely immune to the
Mediterranean fruit fly when sound.
The first tree was brought here lit
tie over 40 years ago, but due to the
uncertainty of seedlings coming into
bearing and also the difficulty Of
prcpagating ii by any other means
than seedlings there are today only q
few trees on the islands, although the
fresh fruit brings high prices.
he bulletin says in part:
luxuries Grow Common
Many tropical fruits, hitherto I'M
known or neglected outside their ma
tive countries, are now winning at
tention alike in the market of the TEN,
perate zone and among growers, not
only in different parts of the tropics
but just beyond, where some of the
more hardy are being acclimauzed.
Within a generation the banana has
passed from rare luxury TO staple
food product, the pineapple from
little known fruit, furnishing a flavor
ing extract, to highly priced article
of food and similarly the grapefruit
and avocado r.. ..->E
THE litchie is another of these
tropical. or sub-tropical fruits which at
the present time is just beginning u
attract attention as commercial fruit
outside of China, where 1t is regarded
as fit fruit for emperors.
Fresh Litchi Little Known
ITO the people who have lived upon
the shores of the Pacific the 1itchi nut
is more or less familiar Few of those
who dwell east of the Philippines,
however, have seen the fresh fruit.
which, when dried. form the "litchi
nut of commerce. The ripe fruit has
an outer shell-like covering Of a bril-
liant red color, in most varieties re-
sembling cherries. The flesh within
is white and about of the consistency
of a muscat grape and highly priced
as an article of food In Honolulu
the fresh fruit costs from 50 to 20
cents pound The fruit is borne on
clusters on trees OF medium size, with
dark green foliage and usually ma
ture about May or June in Hawaii"
Grows Throughout Orient
The bulletin goes on to say that the
litchi was spoken of in ancient Chi
nese writings. IL is native to South
China, but grows all over the Orient
and extends as far south as Australia
and is also grown in California and
Florida. The first litchie tree was
brought to Hawaii about the year 1873
and it is now growing on the prop
erty of G.. Along. Other trees have
been introduced, but the rate of NOR
tally has been high in transit and inl-
mediately after their arrival, SO that
few trees have become established.
These losses have been due in part to
the long voyage, followed by the
necessary treatment to prevent the in
PRODUCTION of dangerous insects and
diseases. In order to introduce and
establish the choicest varieties it will
be necessary to make special arrange
ments to insure their safe arrival.
Requires Considerable Moisture
The litchi tree when young is sensi-
tive to frost, but will stand consider.
able cold when mature. 1t also re-
quires abundant rainfall unless irri-
CATION is applied, but heavy rains dur
ing the Towering season are injurious.
A deep, moist alluvial soil seems best
adapted for the needs of the litchl,
but it will prosper in a heavy ana
tenacious soil. In either case 1t re-
ouires plenty of fertilizer.
Grows Readily From Seed
Under the head of propagation the
bulletin says: The litchie produces
readily by seed, which is the simplest
method of reproduction. In expert
ments conducted at this station 1t has
been found that some seeds will be-
gin to terminate within three days
after planting, but the seeds are ex-
tremely short-liyed, under ordinary
conditions not retaining their via5illty
more than four or five days, which
makes it very difficult to ship them
any distance. Moist sphagnum moss.
appears to be one of the best mediums
for the preservation of the seeds in
transit. In the experiments the moss
was first saturated with water and
then wrung out as dry as possible
with the hands. A layer of this moss
about an inch thick was spread upon
sheet of heavy wax paper and the
seeds distributed separately upon 1t
and covered with another layer of
equal thickness. The packages were
then rolled, wrapped with layer OF
crimped strawboard anG finally with
heavy manila wrapper and in this
way the package was sent to Florida
without loss of life to the seeds. The
seeds must be sown as soon as they
arrive at their destination" .'.*.
"Air Laying" Best Method
The bulletin then goes on to say
that the seeds do not reproduce the
same variety and are of slow growth.
Hence, from time immemorial, in
China it has been the custom to pro-
pagate the best varieties by air layer
ing. This consists of removing a ring
Of bark of branch, about an inch in
diameter, at a point just below bud
and surrounding the branch with soil
until roots form, after. which the
branch is removed and planted. The
soil is held in place by burlap or a
box. Air-laying is usually commenced