326 



The Journal of Heredity 



FRUITS OF MYRCIARIA JABOTICABA 



These are distinguished from M. cauliflora by the presence of a slender stem, 

 and are usually somewhat smaller in size. The color is a glossy purplish 

 maroon. JabDticabas are usually eaten out of hand, as grapes are in the 

 United States. Natural size. (Fig. 16.) 



come into bcarinj^. In Brazilian orch- 

 ards the trees arc nearly always ]jlantcd 

 too close together, which jjrevents their 

 attainin}^ the large proportions they 

 would otherwise reach. Frequently not 

 more than 15 feet is allowed between the 

 trees, whereas they should have at least 

 30. As previously stated, the jaboti- 

 caba withstands little frost, although it 

 is without douVjt hardier than many of 

 the strictly trojMcal fruits, and ada])ted 

 to cooler regions. In California some 

 plants introduced about 10 years ago by 

 Dr. F. Franccschi at Santa Barbara 

 have made rather slow growth, and 

 although at times slightly injured by the 

 frost, give promise of being eventually 

 successful in favored locations. Young 

 trees in the U. S. Plant Introduction 



(jarden at Miami, Florida, are doing 

 well, and while it is yet too early to make 

 any definite statement, they seem likely 

 to prove adapted to this region. 



In Brazil propagation seems to be 

 exclusively by seed, although the fore- 

 man of one of the principal nurseries in 

 Rio de Janeiro stated that he had 

 successfully inarched young trees and 

 considered this a desirable way to 

 l)er]X'ttiate choice varieties. Certain it 

 is that some vegetative means of pro- 

 pagation must be used if improved 

 varieties arc to be established and 

 l)er])etuated. The hard wood and thin 

 bark will doubtless make budding 

 difficult, but some form of grafting 

 should prove entirely feasible. 



