PRELIMINARY REPORT OF NEEM TREE INTRODUCTION AND CULTIVATION IN CHINA

This is a report on the first trial of neem(.Azadirachta indica A.Juss)introduction and cultivation in China.The results show that the neem trees could be planted successfully in Wanning County of Hainan Province which is a tropical region.The neem seeds were collected from Lom'e,Togo,Africa.The seedlings grew very well in the nursery in Hainan.After three months the seedlings grew up to 40-50 cm high,then they were transplanted to the forest area.The neemtrees grew very fast after transplantation,Their canopy was formed in two years,when they grew to as high as 6.0 m.with a trunk diameter of 9.76 cm.The first flowerbuds appeared and bloomed when the trees were two years old,but the neem fruits matured four monthes later.The mature seeds collected from the trees could germinate and the second generation have also been cultivated successfully.The neem trees also exhibit the capabilities of wind-resistance,drought-tolerance and cold resistance during the two years of cultivation in this place.