16 BULLETIN 445, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CITRUS FRUITS OF THE REGION AROUND RIO DE JANEIRO. 



There are a number of districts in the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro 

 where citrus fruits, especially oranges, are grown commercially to 

 supply the markets of the city. The most important are Maxam- 

 bomba, Nictheroy, and the Banca Velha and Porta d'Agua districts 

 near Cascadura. 



Maxambomba, 20 miles from the city on the Central Railway, is 

 the largest and by far the most prosperous of these districts. It is 

 difficult to estimate the approximate acreage in oranges, but there 

 are half a dozen groves varying from 5 to 10 acres in extent in the 

 immediate vicinity of the village and others scattered upon the 

 near-by hills (PI. VII). Most of the groves are better cared for 

 than those seen in the other districts noted above and present a much 

 healthier and more vigorous appearance. 



At Nictheroy most of the orange groves are located in the suburb 

 known as Sao Gongalo, about 4 miles from the center of the city, but 

 easily accessible by means of the electric cars. Here there are 

 numerous small plantations of 1 or 2 acres in extent and a few 

 larger ones. As in the other districts, practically all the groves are 

 located on the hillsides or on sloping ground. 



Banca Velha and Porta d'Agua, in a beautiful valley about 12 

 miles west of Rio de Janeiro, contain numerous small groves and a 

 few several acres in extent. As at Nictheroy, not as much attention 

 is given to the culture of the orchards as at Maxambomba, and the 

 groves do not, as a rule, have a thrifty appearance. 



In all these districts the soil appears to be fertile and well suited 

 to orange culture. In the valleys the sandy loam on the surface is 

 sometimes underlain with a subsoil of reddish clay, while on the hill- 

 sides the loam is frequently badly washed by the rains. At Maxam- 

 bomba the reddish clay is visible, the hillsides being of light clay 

 loam. 



The methods used in propagating and cultivating the trees and in 

 picking and handling the fruit differ in no important respects from 

 those practiced at Bahia. Laranja da terra {Citrus aurantiuon)^ the 

 bitter or sour orange, is generally used as a stock on which to bud 

 and by most growers is considered the best. The orchards are rarely 

 cultivated, but the svirf ace is cleaned of weeds from time to time with 

 a hoe. The trees, which are often stunted in appearance, are planted 

 closer together than at Bahia, 12 by 12 feet being a common distance. 



Of the numerous varieties of the orange known at Rio de Janeiro, 

 only three are cultivated extensively, Selecta, Pera, and Natal, the 

 latter being very similar to Pera if not actually synonymous with it. 

 Many horticulturists at Rio de Janeiro consider Selecta the best 



