THE NAVEL ORANGE OF BAHIA. 17 



orange in Brazil. Though not seedless, like the navel orange, its 

 flavor is considered better and the flesh more delicate in texture. 



The slightly oblate form of this fruit has given rise to the name 

 laranja deprimida, or "flattened orange," which is sometimes ap- 

 plied to it. In size it is large, though somewhat smaller than the 

 average navel orange of Bahia, measuring 3^ to 4 inches in diameter. 

 The skin is thick, yellowish green in color early in the season, later 

 becoming bright golden yellow. The flesh is tender and very juicy, 

 with tender rag but a rather large, open core. The seeds are rather 

 large, commonly 10 to 20 in number. 



In flavor Selecta is strikingly suggestive of the California navel 

 orange: there is more acidity than is normally found in the navel 

 orange produced at Bahia and consequently a more sprightly flavor. 



The tree is not as prolific as the other commercial varieties grown 

 at Eio de Janeiro. The fruit commences to ripen early in March and 

 continues until October, the main season being June and July. The 

 relationship between Selecta and the navel orange has already been 

 discussed. 



Pera is considered second only to Selecta. It is a smaller and 

 sweeter fruit, coming at the opposite season of the year and thus not 

 competijig with Selecta in the market. A good specimen is 3 inches 

 in diameter, slightly elongated in form, but not pyrif orm as the name 

 laranja da pera, "pear orange," seems to indicate. The skin is 

 smooth and fine in texture, deep golden orange in color, not more 

 than an eighth of an inch in thickness. It adheres closely to the light 

 yellow flesh. The rag, though not thick, is objectionably tough. The 

 juice is abundant and of very sweet flavor, perhaps a trifle lacking in 

 acidity. 



In the groA'es of Maxambomba (PL VII) this variety is grown 

 practically to the exclusion of all others. At Nictheroy Selecta is the 

 most i:)rominent, though Natal, "the Christmas orange," which in 

 reality appears to be Pera under another name, is cultivated to a 

 certain extent. 



Most of the other citrus fruits found at Bahia are grown also at 

 Rio de Janeiro, the tangerine being especially popular in the 

 Nictheroy district. 



MISCELLANEOUS FRUITS GROWN AT BAHIA. 



With its rich soil, mikl climate, and abundant rainfall Bahia is 

 preeminently suited to fruit culture. That the Brazilians have not 

 been neglectful of this fact is evidenced by the large number of 

 species cultivatec], some of tliem indigenous to the region and others 

 introduced from the Orient by the Portuguese in the early days of 

 5S081'— Bull. 44.'>— 17 3 



