APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1914. 



55 



87822 to 37869 — Contd. (Quoted notes by Mr. Dorsett and others.) 



or practically none ; apex rounded ; surface smooth ; color 

 when fully ripe bright orange; skin one-eighth of an inch 

 thick, pliable, oil glands rather small; segments commonly 10; 

 rag rather tough, core open, one-fourth to three-eighths of an 

 inch in diameter; flesh golden yellow, tender, exceedingly 

 juicy ; flavor sweet, apt to be cloying when the fruit is very 

 ripe ; quality good ; seeds averaging 8 to 10, small to medium 

 size. 



*' While most abundant in the markets about Christmas 

 time, the season commences in late September or October and 

 extends to the end of January. The variety is an extremely 

 prolific bearer — quite a contrast in this respect to Selecta, 

 whose bearing habits are like those of the Bahia navel orange. 

 The branches of Pera trees are not infrequently so heavily 

 laden with fruits that they have to be propped to prevent 

 them from breaking. 



" One of the finest groves of this variety seen in the vicinity 

 of Rio de Janeiro is that of Shr. Cezar Augusto Henriques, at 

 Maxambomba. The trees here are all budded on the sour 

 orange (laranja da terra), the commonest stock in this region 

 and generally considered the best ; at 4 years of age the 

 budded trees produce on an average 500 fruits per tree, ac- 

 cording to the statement of the owner. The usual price 

 obtained for the fruits is 5 milreis (about $1.60) per hundred. 

 The orchard is situated on a hillside, the soil being rich clay 

 loam, grayish in color. No deep cultivation is given the 

 trees, but the surface is frequently hoed to keep down weeds. 



" The variety should be given a trial in the orange-growing 

 sections of the United States to determine its quality and 

 value, as well as its season of bearing, under different climatic 

 conditions." 



37844. ''Laranja natal (Christmas orange), as the name indi- 

 cates, is so named because it ripens at Christmas time. In 

 general appearance the variety is strikingly similar to 

 laranja pera, so much so, in fact, that closer acquaintance 

 may prove it to be Pera under another name. Its bearing 

 habits are the same, and the fruits of both to the casual 

 observer are identical in appearance. At Maxambomba, where 

 large orchards of Pera are located, this variety does not 

 appear to be grown ; at Nictheroy, on the other hand, Pera 

 does not seem to be common. Natal taking its place; all of 

 which suggests that it may be known in the two different 

 localities under different names. For trial in the orange- 

 growing sections of the United States." 



37845. "The so-called laranja verticillata, a variety grown by 

 Eickhoff, Carneiro Leao & Co. The leaves show the greatest 

 variation in form and size, making the variety of interest to 

 plant breeders. The fruit is of good size, but is considered of 

 poor quality. For cultivation by those interested in the breed- 

 ing of citrus fruits." 



37846 to 37848. Mangifera indica L. Anacsirdiacese. Mango. 



