150 THE PLANT WORLD 



like a polygonal cone. From the many abandoned hedges, this locality 

 shows evidence of having once been widely cultivated. Most of the land 

 now said by the natives to be cansada, or " tired." 



Near the hut a handsome, large, dome-shaped mango tree, with its 

 trunk covered with scars. The young man said he had hacked it with 

 his machete in order to make it bear. The mango tree {Afangifera 

 indiax) is not so well established in Guam as in Samoa or the Philippines. 

 Comparatively few trees are found on the island ; but these are highly 

 prized by the natives, who esteem their fruit above all others. Guam 

 mangos are large, sweet, fleshy, juicy, and are free from the tow-like 

 fibre and the peculiar turpentine flavor which so often characterize the 

 fruit in other countries. In shape they resemble the " Manila " variety, 

 which has found its way to Mexico.* 



The trees grow to a good size and appear to thrive, but the majority 

 of them on the island have been blown down by hurricanes, continuing 

 to grow, as though propping themselves up b}^ their elbows. Most of 

 those which remain standing are in places protected from the wind. The 

 great esteem in which the fruit is held is shown by the fact that the price 

 of a farm is always enhanced by the presence of a mango tree upon it. 

 There are some years in which no fruit is produced, owing, perhaps, to 

 too great moisture, or heavy rains at the time of flowering interfering 

 with the pollination. Not only do the natives try to force the tree by 

 cutting gashes in the trunk, but they build fires beneath the branches, 

 with the idea that the smoke will cause them to bring forth flowers and 

 fruit. Sometimes one part of the tree will bloom or send out tender 

 fresh foliage while the rest remains dormant ; and the fruit may be ripe 

 on one limb and green on all the rest. In Guam the trees are propagated 

 entirely by seed. In other countries inarching, layering, and budding 

 are practiced. Grafting is more difficult. The mangos of Guam are of 

 such good quality that I think it would be unwise to introduce other 

 varieties. They come true to seed. The reason that the tree does not 

 thrive better is probably owing to the fact that in Guam there is no very 

 well defined dry season like that of the countries best suited for its 

 cultivation. 



In taking leave of my host I asked him to whom the hut and the fine 

 mango tree belonged. " To me," he said ; " to my brother and myself ; 

 we are soldiers in the native artillery company, senor. Nearly all the 

 soldiers have ranchos. Indeed the school-teachers, the Gobernadorcillo, 

 the justice of the peace — all the officials must have ranchos, for the pay 

 they receive from the government is not enough to support their families. 

 For this reason we have certain days free, so that we are able to come 



*See G. N. Collins, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry— Bulletin No. 2S ; 

 plates III and XIV, from the former of which the accompanying illustration (Plate 21) is taken, with 

 the permission of the author. 



