8 



BULLETIN 445, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGEICULTUEE. 



cattle. Practically all of the orange groves are located on the hill- 

 tops (fig. 1 and PL IV), frequently extending down the hillsides to 

 the borders of the valleys. As terracing is not practiced, the hillside 

 soil is sometimes bady eroded. 



The surface soil on the hilltops is usually a rather coarse, sandy 

 loam a foot or more in depth, underlain by the heavy, yellowish red 

 clay which is characteristic of the region. On the hillsides, which are 

 subject to erosion by the rains, the surface loam is lacking. The claj'' 



Fig. 1. — Sketch map of the vicinity of Bahia, Brazil, the dotted areas showing the prin- 

 cipal districts where navel oranges are grown. 



soil, though occasionally shallow, frequently extends to a depth of 

 30 feet or more, as shown by numerous railway and road cuts in the 

 region. It commonly rests on granite. 



Before clearing, the land is covered with shrubby vegetation, 

 nicuri palms {Cocos coronata Mart.), mangabeiras {Flancornia 

 speciosa Gomez), and sometimes virgin forest. The presence of the 

 mangabeira is taken as an indication that the land is suitable for 

 orange cultvire. The municipality of Bahia includes about 50,000 

 acres of arable land, of which it is claimed about 35,000 acres are 

 typical citrus soil. 



