FRUITS OF THE MYRTLE FAMILY 301 



countries, but has not yet become established in any of 

 them. 



The uses of the jaboticaba are several. As a fresh fruit it is 

 as popular in southern Brazil as the grape is in the eastern 

 United States. A wine can be made from it, and also an ex- 

 cellent jelly. 



While the tree is said to succeed on any soil, it prefers one 

 that is rich and deep. Its growth is slow, six to eight years 

 being required for it to come into bearing. In Brazilian orchards 

 this tree is nearly always planted too closely; the distance 

 apart should be 30 feet at least. Though rarely grown in those 

 parts of Brazil which are subject to severe frosts, the jaboticaba 

 has shown in the United States that it resists comparatively 

 low temperatures. At Miami, Florida, it has passed success- 

 fully through a freeze of 26 above zero. So far as can be judged 

 from the limited experience which has been gained, the soils of 

 southern Florida are not well adapted to it. Those of southern 

 California are more suitable, but the climate has proved to be 

 too cold in all but the most protected spots in that state. The 

 jaboticaba appears to demand for full success a deep rich soil 

 and a moist, equable, rather cool climate with temperatures 

 preferably never below the freezing-point. 



Little attention is given in Brazil to the culture of this tree. 

 Father Tavares says that the fazendeiros (planters) of Sao 

 Paulo, who irrigate their trees at times when there is a scarcity of 

 rain, succeed in having ripe jaboticabas throughout the year. 

 Without irrigation, fruit is produced usually during the warmest 

 months of the year. When heavily laden with fruit, the tree 

 is a curious sight. Not only is the trunk covered with clusters 

 of glistening jaboticabas, but the fruiting extends to the limbs 

 and out to the tips of the smallest branches. 



Propagation is usually by seed. It is said, however, that 

 young plants can be inarched successfully : if so, choice varieties 

 could well be propagated in this manner. Other methods of 



