41 



ium fjuajara, P. molle, P. guineense, P. friedricliftthaUanum , and P. 

 catih yatnim. Theso species are represented b}' minieroiis varieties, 

 all of which succeed well h(>re except the cattleyaniinis, which are 

 subject to the shrinking: or nnnnniy disease referred to above. 



MouNTAix PLUM {Rheed'ui edul'is). — This is a slow-growing tree 

 related to the mangosteen. One jilant in the orchard is making 

 satisfactory, although slow, growth. 



Tamarind {Tamari)ulu.s indica).—Jioth. a sweet and an acid variet}^ 

 are found semi-wild in most parts of the island. Two-year-old trees 

 in the orchard are now 7 feet high with a spread of 7 feet. It is not 

 improbable that a market could be created in the United States for 

 this fruit, and if so Porto Rico would be able to supply any reasonable 

 demand. The tree succeeds well on th(^ very driest portions of the 

 island as well as where it is very wet, although it does not produce so 

 much fruit in the latter localities. 



Cacao (Theohroma cacao). — This is not produced in commercial 

 quantities on the island, although a few trees are often grown for home 

 use. Nine varieties from Trinidad, together with two commonly 

 grown h(»re, were i)lanted in June, 1908, in a thickly forested valley. 

 The natural growth has been cut out from time to time and cuttings 

 of Erythrina micropteryx and Gliricidia maculata have been planted. 

 The first named is far superior to the other; two-year-old trees from 

 cuttings are now 15 feet high and well branched. The cacao is grow- 

 ing well, the trees being 5 to 10 feet high according to location. This 

 method of planting is very successfid and serves to illustrate the dif- 

 ference between this and the rubber reported upon (p. 34) . In this 

 case the natural growth was left and the soil is kept moist and in good 

 condition, while in the valley where the rubber was planted the natural^ 

 growth had been cleared off and the soil was in very poor condition 

 for tree growth. 



It may be mentioned that where the cacao is well shaded it is very 

 healthy, while if the larger proportion of shade is suddenly removed 

 the leaves die off and the tree is checked in growth. 



Voa-vanga (Vangueria edulis). — Seeds were obtained in Trinidad 

 and seedlings planted in the orchard in March, 1903. Th^se trees are 

 now 7 feet high with a spread of 8 feet. The fruit is reported as being 

 worthy of cultivation, but ours have not yet fruited. 



Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia). — This is not cultivated commerically 

 in Porto Rico. A few plants have been reported from various places, 

 but the writer has never had the opportunity to inspect them. In 

 corresponding with persons who desire to plant vanilla the advice 

 has always been given to be careful in importing cuttings, so as to 

 avoid the introduction of the vanilla disease of some of the other West 

 Indian islands. 



