28 BULLETIN 445, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Myrciaria cauliflora. The species jaboticaba is properly known as 
jaboticaba de Sao Paulo, jaboticaba de cabinho, and jaboticaba do 
matto. ‘Tavares* mentions another species, I/. tenella Berg, whose 
fruit is known as jaboticaba macia. The horticultural variety Corda, 
one of the commonest named forms in Rio de Janeiro and Minas 
Geraes, can probably be referred to I/. cauliflora. Another variety, 
Murta, is equally well known, and has smaller leaves than Corda; 
it, too, is possibly a form of I/. cauliflora. Branca (white) and Roxa 
(red) are two other names that are occasionally applied to varieties 
cultivated in the gardens. | 
When heavily laden with fruit the tree is a curious and interesting 
sight (Pl. XV). Not only is the trunk covered with clusters and 
masses of glistening jaboticabas, but the fruiting extends to the ends 
of the smallest branches as well. When one stops to consider the 
comparatively small size of the fruits and the profusion with which | 
they are produced all over the tree, it is apparent that the number 
must be enormous. 
The season not only varies with the species and location, but quite 
frequently several crops a year are produced. The trees even flower 
and fruit during the winter months in locations where the tempera- 
ture does not go below 64° F. Tavares? considers moisture to be the 
essential factor governing fruit production and states that the 
fazendeiros (ranchers) of Sao Paulo, who irrigate their trees at times 
when there is a scarcity of rain, succeed in having ripe jaboticabas 
throughout the year. 
For shipping, the fruit is usually packed in wooden boxes which 
originally held two 5-gallon cans of kerosene. No packing material 
is used; and on account of the quantity of fruit in a single package 
much of it, of course, is crushed and bruised. Since good jaboticabas 
are sold in Rio de Janeiro for the equivalent of 25 cents a pound there 
is sufficient profit in handling the fruit to permit its being shipped 
from considerable distances. Boxes from Sao Paulo and the interior 
of Minas Geraes are sometimes seen in the markets of Rio de Janeiro. 
While the jaboti¢aba is adapted to a number of different. uses, at 
the present day practically all of the fruit seems to be consumed in 
the fresh state. By the aboriginal inhabitants a wine was made, 
which was held in high esteem. Recently the manufacture of jaboti- 
caba jelly has been taken up with very successful results. It has been 
found that the skms should be removed from about half the fruits 
used in order to prevent the jelly from having too strong a taste of 
tannin. 
The tree succeeds best in a deep and rich soil, although it seems to 
grow on heavy clay or poor soils when forced to do so. Its growth 
ZOps cits, v.10; pease. 2Op. cit., v. 10, p. 427. 
