THE NAVEL OEANGE OF BAHIA. ' 11 



•were formerly starved, unhealthy, and unproductive are said to have 

 been brought back to a state of health and f ruitf ulness by the use of 

 manure. 



Dairying in connection with orange culture is an interesting fea- 

 ture of the Bahia orange, industry. The milk is sold in the city at a 

 very profitable price, usually 25 cents a quart at retail and 15 cents 

 at wholesale. The manure is used on the orchards and in every case 

 is said to have had a marked effect in increasing the production and 

 health of the trees. 



As a rule, little pruning is practiced. When the trees become old 

 and seriously weakened by the ravages of gum disease they are often 

 renewed by allowing the suckers which start up from the trunk 

 aboA-e the union of the stock and scion to form a new top; in fact, 

 it might be called a new tree. The old trunks are either allowed to 

 rot off or are cut away. Having a large and established root sys- 

 tem, the suckers make rapid growth and often begin to bear fruit 

 within two or three years. 



The orchards usually come into bearing within two or three years 

 after planting. The oldest known trees in Bahia were planted over 

 40 years ago and are still producing good crops of fruit. 



ENEMIES OF THE ORANGE TREE IN BRAZIL. 



In the older orchards many of the trees are affected by gum dis- 

 ease, which seriously impairs their health and eventually kills them 

 or results in their having to be renewed by the production of suckers 

 from below the affected region on the trunk. 



Chlorosis, or mottle-leaf, exists in many of the orchards, but the 

 growers take no cognizance of its existence as a disease. They con- 

 .sider it a constitutional weakness of the tree due to a lack of proper 

 nourishment. 



A parasitic vinelike shrub known as herva de passarinho, a species 

 of Phoradendron, is frequently found on the trees and has to be re- 

 moved. If allowed to remain, it will in time smother the tree. Sev- 

 eral epiphytic plants of the order Bromeliacea3 are also occasionally 

 found on orange trees, but do not, it is believed, cause any appre- 

 ciable injury and are easily removed. The trunks of the trees, espe- 

 cially in the older orchards, are covered with lichens, alga?, and other 

 low foinis of plant life, none of which apparently does any very seri- 

 ous harm. 



Scale insects of several species are prevalent, but seem to be held 

 in check by some natural agency and do not as a general thing 

 appear to produce serious results. Practically the only insect which 

 is an actual menace to the industry and against which combative 

 measures are taken is the saiiva or sauba ant {Atta sp.). 



