290 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



liqueur is sometimes prepared from the fruit, and also sirups 

 and wines which are considered by the Brazilians to have 

 medicinal value. 



Alice R. Thompson, who has analyzed the fruit in Hawaii, 

 finds that it contains : Total solids 9.30 per cent, ash 0.34, acids 

 1.44, protein 1.01, total sugars 6.06, fat 0.66, and fiber 0.34. 



In Brazil the plant is commonly used to form hedges, for 

 which purpose it is admirably adapted since it withstands 

 heavy pruning, and is evergreen, with foliage of rich green 

 color. Plants in hedgerows, however, produce little fruit 

 compared with those which are allowed to develop naturally. 

 The foliage is often used for decorative purposes, in the same 

 manner as holly is employed in northern countries. 



The pitanga thrives in both the tropical and subtropical 

 zones, its culture extending as far north as southern California 

 and central Florida in this hemisphere, and the Mediterranean 

 region in Europe. Mature plants withstand temperatures of 

 27 or 28 above zero without serious injury. They are more 

 at home and fruit more profusely in a warm moist climate 

 such as that of southern Florida than in a semi-arid region. 

 On the dry plains of northern India, on the Algerian littoral, 

 and in southern California, the complaint is made that they 

 do not bear well, although in Florida and in the moist tropical 

 regions they are heavily productive. It is not known, however, 

 just what is the limiting factor. 



Father Tavares states that the plant prefers a light sandy 

 soil. It grows very well in southern Florida on shallow sand 

 overlying soft limestone, and equally well in California on 

 sandy loam. At Bahia, Brazil, it is commonly found on stiff 

 clay. It can thus be seen that it is very adaptable in regard 

 to soil and apparently does not object to a large amount of 

 lime, as is indicated by its growth in Florida. 



Unless trained, the plants usually assume a bushy compact 

 form, branching close to the ground. They may be planted 



