410 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



SOUTH AMERICA. 



BRAZIL 



BAHIA. 

 INTKODUCTOEY. 



I have the houor to report the following concerning oranges and 

 lemons, as called for in the circular dated September 28, 1889. 



As neither figs nor olives are grown here in the State of Bahia, noth- 

 ing need bo said of them. Very little attention is paid even to the 

 cultivation of the orange or the lemon ; so-little, that all that are grown 

 are used in the place, none being exported even to adjoining States. 

 The supply is so limited as practically to prohibit exportation, on ac 

 count of the very high price that must necessarily be paid for them. 



Should one wish to send a box of selected oranges to a friend in the 

 United States, he must pay for such box of one hundred, packed ready 

 for shipment, 12^ millreis, equivalent to $6J2J, and this in the orange 

 season, too. Therefore, as none are grown except for home consump- 

 tion, it seems quite useless to answer the questions in the order in 

 which they are submitted, 



ORANaES. 



Varieties. — The best variety is called Lavanja de embigo or navel 

 orange. These oranges are seedless. When properly cultivated they 

 grow to a great size and have a most delicious flavor, being also ^•ery 

 juicy. It is not an infrequent thing to find oranges of this class weigh- 

 ing a kilo each, and often a little more, and measuring in circumference 

 from 18 to 20 inches. The orange of this class of ordinary growth 

 measures from 12 to 15 inches in circumference. 



The other varieties, not choice, however, are Lavanja de terra, or Se- 

 ville orange, which has rather a bitter taste, with seeds, and not as 

 large, nor of course as flue a flavor, as the Lavanja de enibujo. 



Another kind is the Laranja de Gvaro or tangerine, similar to the 

 tangerine of Florida, with seeds. The fourth and the last class is the 

 Laranja hraho, or wild orange, with pips also. 



Whatever cultivation is given the navol orange receives, though 

 some attention is being giveu to the tangerine. 



Situation. — Anywhere along the sea-coast. 1 ha\e been informed 

 they may grow anywhere in fact in the State. 



As there is no land in tiie State thiit is cultivated that has any great 

 degree of elevation, it may be said they will grow at any elevation. 



Soil.— G\a,yey soil mostly about and in this city. Some sandy, in 

 the interior of the State more of an alluvial nature. The character of 



