Of the total, about 87 percent are orange trees; 11 percent, grapefruit; 1.8 percent, mandarin; and 0.2 percent, lemon.

Oranges are grown commercially in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Bahia, and the Federal District. The principal varieties are the pera (a pear-shaped orange) and the navel orange. Other varieties are grown but are not exported. The Valencia type is not grown extensively, and bitter oranges are grown principally for rootstock and for the manufacture of marmalade and preserves. The Sao Paulo district is better suited for navel-orange production; the pera orange is the predominating variety in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Mandarins are grown mostly in Sao Paulo. Orange production has increased steadily, having risen from 11,500,000 boxes in 1929 to 33,500,000 boxes in 1937. The orange harvest is practically continuous from April through November, and exports are shipped from April through December.

Brazilian production of oranges is shown below:

Brazil ranks third among countries producing oranges and mandarins, and fifth as an exporter of these fruits. About 40 percent of the citrus-fruit exportation consists of navel oranges, 20 percent consists of pera oranges, and the remainder is made up of mandarins, grapefruit, and other citrus fruits.

Exports of Citrus Fruits From Brazil, 1932-39

The principal ports exporting oranges are Santos (from April to September, with a peak in May and June) and Rio de Janeiro (from June to December, with a peak in September). About 64 percent of the exports leave through Rio de Janeiro and consist largely of pera oranges, which are reported to stand shipment long distances exceptionally well. Exports by months for 1937 were:

Brazilian oranges have offered competition on world markets only within the past 10 years. Up to 1925, practically all exports of Brazilian citrus fruits were shipped to other South American countries. The trial shipments sent to England in 1925 and 1926 aroused

interest there, and in recent years the United Kingdom has taken more than 58 percent of the total orange exports. The export markets have been steadily expanding.

No official data are available on exports by countries of destination for 1938. Exports of oranges from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, as supplied by semiofficial sources, are shown in the following table:

Exports of grapefruit and mandarins from Brazil are still comparatively small. Exports of grapefruit began in 1931, when 549 cases were shipped out, and increased to 75,750 cases in 1936. Exports of lemons are also small.

Santos is a more important port than Rio de Janeiro for grapefruit, also for mandarins and lemons. About two-thirds of Brazil's total exports of these fruits pass through Santos.

BRITISH GUIANA

The Government is giving much attention to citrus growing in the northern districts of British Guiana, where a large number of seedlings are being budded with standard varieties of grapefruit and oranges. The area planted in limes is 913 acres, and that in other citrus fruits is 459 acres. Exports at present consist of lime products only.

CHILE

Citrus fruits are grown in the northern zone of Chile. In 1936 there were 141,000 orange trees in bearing, with a production of 80,560 boxes of oranges; trees not in bearing numbered 127,500. The varieties produced are mainly the Washington navel, Thompson, and late Valencias.

Also in 1936 there were 40,300 lemon trees in bearing, with a production of 27,300 boxes of lemons; trees not in bearing numbered 20,800.

A small quantity of citrus fruit is exported, but imports exceed exports. The fruit is exported in standard boxes.

In Ecuador oranges are cultivated principally on the coastal lowlands and in the warm inter-Andean valleys. Those produced in the region along the Daule River in Guayas Province are famed for their quality. In size and general appearance the best Ecuadoran oranges resemble the Valencia type.

Mandarins are also extensively grown; but the trees remain small because of the altitude, and the fruit also is small.

Limes are grown up to an altitude of 6,000 feet. The sour orange is also raised and is often employed as stock on which to graft sweet oranges. Good varieties of grapefruit are scarce and are not yet grown on a commercial scale.

Oranges are exported throughout the year, but the peak months are from September through December, during which period over 70 percent of the exports are shipped. About two-thirds of the exports go to Peru and the rest generally to Chile. In 1937 and 1938 small shipments were made to France, Germany, and Denmark. Exports from 1931 to 1938 were as follows:

PARAGUAY

Citrus fruits are grown throughout Paraguay. No data are available on production in that country but the total is large, and citrus fruits constitute one of the leading exports. Argentina is the outlet for practically all of these exports, the quantity being adjusted to the requirements of that market. The orange season extends from May to October.

? Number of fruits to the box: Lemons, 300; oranges, 200; mandarins, 200; grapefruit, 100.

3 All to Argentina.

Chiefly to Argentina.

PERU

No information is available on the production of citrus fruits in Peru; however, oranges and limes are plentiful. Imports of citrus fruits are small and come mainly from Ecuador. In 1929 there were 844,650 citrus trees in the country.

URUGUAY

About 80 percent of the citrus fruit produced in Uruguay is grown in the Department of Salto. Production has increased in recent years. Production of Citrus Fruit in Uruguay in 1938

About 10 percent of the production was consumed in the producing areas. The estimated production of oranges in Salto in 1939 was 100,000 boxes (of 82 pounds each) greater than in 1938 and that of mandarins about 200,000 boxes (of 82 pounds each) greater.

Exports of citrus fruits are regulated in order to prevent a scarcity on the domestic market. In 1939 a decree was passed governing the packing of citrus fruits for both the domestic and foreign markets, designating the sizes of the boxes and their marking showing size and grade of the fruit.

Oranges, lemons, and grapefruit are grown in Venezuela and are available throughout the year, but the season of heaviest production is from September to March. Imports are small because of the domestic production and also because of the protective tariffs on imports. In 1937, imports of all citrus fruits amounted to 410 boxes, of which 328 came from the United States.

MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA

MEXICO

Oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes grow in Mexico, but it is difficult to get accurate production figures, for many of these fruits grow wild. According to the agricultural census of Mexico, the production of oranges has remained fairly constant for a number of years, and exports and imports have remained small. Grapefruit production is small, but has increased, and this fruit is now being canned. The principal citrus fruit grown for export is the lime. It is reported that in 1939 the Mexican Government planted approximately 20,000 new lime trees in the States of Oaxaca and Morelos. It is expected that lime production will increase about 25 percent in the next few years. Both fresh limes and lime oil are exported, the former being shipped almost exclusively to the United States. Lime trees grow wild over large areas. Dependence upon the crop from these wild trees increases the cost of marketing and causes irregularity in the sizes of the fruit offered. It is estimated that of the total production of limes in Colima, the principal producing State in 1937, 46 percent was exported as fresh fruit, 37 percent was used for the manufacture of lime oil, and 17 percent was used for domestic consumption. Limes are usually exported in light wooden boxes containing 60 pounds of fruit. Shipments are made during the period from March to October, reaching a peak in June, July, and August.