24 BULLETIN- 445, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



mangos grown in the United States. Its unusual attractiveness and 

 the fact that it withstands shipment and handling much better than 

 other varieties observed make it of interest and well worthy of 

 introduction for experimental tests in North America. 



Manga da rosa is believed to have been introduced into Brazil from 

 Mauritius. Two subvarieties are known in Bahia, " da terra " and " do 

 Rio," differing slightly in the shape of the fruits. Inarched trees are 

 produced in small quantities and sell at $3 each. The variety is 

 polyembryonic, like the "No. 11" mango of Florida and the West 

 Indies, and appears to be a regular and prolific bearer. 



There are four other named varieties of the mango which are 

 propagated by grafting and are more or less well known at Bahia 

 as well as in other sections of Brazil. The best of these is probably 

 the Itamaraca, which takes its name from the island of Itamaraca, 

 off the Brazilian coast near Pernambuco, a place especially noted for 

 its mangos. The fruit is small and of very unusual form, distinctly 

 oblate, with a small protuberance, or "nak," at the stigmatic point 

 near the apex. Usually it does not average more than 3 inches in 

 diameter. Its color is orange yellow, and the flesh is free from fiber, 

 is aromatic, and of piquant, spicy flavor. It is generally considered 

 the best flavored of the grafted varieties. Espada (sword), an- 

 other named variety, is apparently a seedling type, of which indi- 

 viduals are sometimes propagated by inarching. Its form is distinc- 

 tive, long and curved at each end. It is usually yellowish green when 

 ripe, not at all attractive in appearance. While its flavor is fair, the 

 flesh is very fibrous and it must be ranked as inferior. Carlota and 

 Augusta and two other named varieties, neither of them being widely 

 grown. Both are rather small, of good flavor, but with no particular 

 merit. 



THE dend]e: palm. 



The Guinea oil palm {Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), known in Bahia 

 as dende, was doubtless introduced from Africa in the early days of 

 the slave trade. It is frequently seen growing upon the hillsides on 

 the edge of the city and is common around the huts of the negroes. 

 Its tall, straight stem, ascending to a height of 40 or 45 feet, is 

 crowned by a rather compact head of stiff, pinnate leaves about 20 

 feet in length. While not graceful in appearance, it is handsome 

 and of considerable ornamental value, the scattered groups, which 

 are abundant in the suburbs, being among the most pleasing features 

 of the landscape. 



The fruits are produced in crowded bunches, clustered around the 

 trunk at the bases of the leaves. Individually they are oblong ellip- 

 tical, about 2 inches in length and 1 inch in thickness, dull orange- 

 scarlet in color when fully ripe. The large seed is surrounded by a 

 layer of firm golden yellow pulp, very rich in oil. 



