39 



will keep for a long time. The fresh fruit either with or without the 

 seed capsule will keep for at least two weeks and may be shipped to 

 the States in well-ventilated crates. It is firmly believed that this 

 fruit will be of considerable value when introduced in the United 

 States. The rich red color and acidity should make it a popular 

 article for soda-water fountains. It would also be well adapted for 

 mixing with other jelly fruits for color and acidity, where artificial 

 preparations are forbidden or undesirable. The stems are rei)orted 

 to contain a fiber equal to jute. This has not been tested here, but 

 it is well worth considering at the present price of fiber. This plant 

 succeeds best when not transplanted, and it is therefore better to 

 lay off rows 5 by 5 feet and drop a few seeds in each check. The 

 seeds germinate cpiickly, but the first few months the plants do not 

 grow very rapidly. After the plants are well develoi)ed all but one 

 in each hill should be removed, and the soil should be kept clean until 

 the growth makes cidtivation impracticable. 



Barbados ciiekky {MaJpighia glahm).— Thin tree grows readily 

 here and fruits at an early age. Two-year-old trees in the orchard 

 are 5 feet high with a s])read of 5 feet and bore fruit this year. The 

 fruit is very good for jellies and desserts. 



Mamme apple (Mammea americana). -^This grows readily all over 

 the island. Two-year-old trees in the orchard are 4^ feet high and 

 well branched, from v.hich it will be seen that it is not of rapid growth 

 the first years. The fruit is eaten in jam by the natives and to some 

 extent by foreigners. The tree is a prolific bearer, and if the fruit 

 could be utilized commercially it would be of some importance to the 

 island. 



Spanish lime or Ginep (Melicocoa hijuga). — This grows readily 

 here, although not very fast. The fruit is eaten, but it will probably 

 never be of importance commercially. 



Cerimax i2Ionstera deliciosa). — This aroid bearing a delicious fruit 

 is not found in Porto Rico, but a few cuttings were recently distributed 

 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and those received by this 

 station are growing well. The plant succeeds best in a rather moist, 

 half-shady situation, planted close to the trunk of a tree, or belter, an 

 old stump. These conditions can, of course, be found nearly any- 

 where in Porto Rico, and the plant is well worth extensive cultivation. 



Banana {Musa sp.).— The botanical collection at the station com- 

 prises seventy varieties. The best of these are being planted in order 

 to test them horticulturally. 

 ' Mulberry {Morus « /6a). —The- three varieties, English, French, 

 and Chinese, have been planted in the orchard a few months only, but 

 the trees have made a growth of 7 to 9 feet in height and 4 to 6 feet in 

 spread, the French being the more vigorous. One variety obtained 

 on the island has been growing in the orchard for more than a year. 



