THE NAVEL ORANGE OF BAHIA. 23 



wild trees in the immediate vicinity of the city. The tree is practi- 

 cally never planted, and so far as could be learned no effort is being 

 made to select and propagate the better types. Quantities of the 

 fruits are gathered from wild seedling trees and brought into the 

 market, where their aromatic fragrance soon dominates all other 

 odors. The island of Itaparica, in the bay of Todos os Santos, about 

 T miles from the city, is said to produce the finest cashews. One tree 

 on the island, the "Manteiga" or "butter" cashew, is especially 

 famed. Aside from being eaten fresh, in which state great quantities 

 are consumed by the natives, the cashew makes excellent jams and 

 jellies and a light wine, all of which are manufactured commercially. 



THE MANGO. 



The mango {Mangifera indica L.), introduced from India in. the 

 early days, vies in popularity with the cashew, though it is not pro- 

 duced in such lavish profusion. Large seedling trees are seen every- 

 where, not only in gardens, but along the roadsides wherever seeds 

 have chanced to fall. The immense size which the tree attains in 

 the deep soil of this region is astonishing; a magnificent specimen 

 at Cabulla (PL XI), said to be over 100 years old, was found to 

 have a spread of 120 feet, while the trunk was over 25 feet in cir- 

 cumference. 



Itaparica is famed throughout Brazil for its mangos. Most of the 

 trees on the island are seedlings, of which more than 180 are known 

 by name. Quantities of fruit are exported to Eio de Janeiro, the 

 growers receiving $5 to $10 per hundred. At this rate, some of the 

 largest trees are reported to yield an annual income of $200. 



It must be admitted that most of the mangos grown in Bahia 

 and elsewhere in Brazil, grafted varieties as well as seedlings, are 

 somewhat inferior to the best of those cultivated in India, the Phil- 

 ippines, or the United States. There is one variety, however, whose 

 unusual beauty and exceptional commercial qualities make it of par- 

 ticular interest. This is the Manga da rosa (rose mango), grown 

 commercially in the vicinity of Pernambuco and to a less extent at 

 Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and other points in Brazil. During the holi- 

 day season quantities of the fruit are shipped to Rio de Janeiro, 

 principally from Pernambuco, and sold by dealers in fancy fruits at 

 the efjuivalent of G5 to 80 cents each. The attractiveness of this 

 mango, with its cordate, regular form, slightly beaked at the apex, 

 and its contrasting shades of apricot and scarlet, can scarcely be 

 resisted. It will average about 1 pound in weight. The fiber is 

 coarse and rather long; the quality is fair; the flavor and aroma 

 aio very good, indeed. However, the variety as a whole can not be 

 considered the equal of tljc Mulgoha, Pahcri, or several other Indian 



