38 



Otaiieite apple {Eugenia malaccensis). — Two-year-old trees in the 

 orchard are now 10 feet high with a spread of 6 feet. 



Coca or Cocaixe plant (ErytJiroxylum coca). — Plants have been 

 tried repeatedly in the orchard, })ut they always bloom and bear fruit 

 when a few inches high, after which they die. One bush 6 feet high, 

 the usual size of the plant, has been observed in a yard in the city 

 of Mayaguez, indicating that it can be grown here under favorable 

 conditions. 



Fig {Ficns carica). — ^lany varieties have been tried at the station, 

 but all have failed. Xo fig tree has yet been observed in Porto Rico 

 to indicate that figs can be grown successfullv. Experiments are 

 under way to graft onto F. oppositifoUa and F. glomerata, which, if 

 successfid, will make a more vigorous plant. A leaf disease occurring 

 uniformly on all the fig trees observed here can probably be kept in 

 check with Bordeaux mixture. 



Mangosteex {Garcinia mangostana). — This fruit, considered by 

 many to be the most delicious in the world, is now being experimented 

 with at this station. The tree is of very slow growth while young 

 and the plants at the station are small yet. G. indica, an allied 

 species to the G. mangostana, is growing in the orchard. Seeds were 

 obtained in Trinidad, and the seedlings planted March, 1903. Present 

 height, 4 feet; spread, 3 feet. 



Genipap or Jagua {Genipa americana) . — This grows wild in most 

 parts of the island. The fruit is eaten by the natives, but not com- 

 monly by foreigners. It is of no commercial value. 



RosELLE {Hibiscus saMariffa). — This plant, which is often called 

 Jamaica sorrel, is becoming prominent as a jelly plant (PI. VI, 

 fig. 2). It can be successfully grown in all classes of soil, although a 

 sandy loam is preferable. Two plats about one-eighth of an acre 

 each were planted at this station in March. These plants began to 

 ripen fruit in September and continued fruiting until December. 

 One plat, on low ground which was flooded several times throughout 

 the season, did not produce much fruit. Plants on well-drained 

 soil produced 4 pounds of fruit per plant, averaging 2 pounds of calyx, 

 the useful part. Plants observed at Pueblo Viejo, in sandy loam, 

 ■ were estimated to yield double that amount. To prepare the fruit 

 the calyx should be separated from the seed capsules. The latter 

 may be fed to hogs and goats. The seeds are also good poultr}^ feed. 

 The calyx can be made into jelly in the usual way, like cranberries, 

 which the jelly resembles very much. It can also be boiled with an 

 equal amount of water, squeezed through a colander, and filled into 

 bottles, which may then be sterilized in hot water and corked for 

 future use. Sugar and yeast may also be added to this, when it is 

 said to make a very good substitute for root beer. The calyx can 

 also be air-dried or dried in a fruit evaporator, in which condition it 



