PACKING AND SHIPPING. 33 



with this method of packiiij^ are beiii^ continued ]>y Messrs. Taylor 

 and Fairchild, as the system has not as yet received a fair ti-ial. 



Experiments made by Mr. H. Knight, in Queensland, on the' keep- 

 ing quality of mango cuttings proved that cuttings carefully packed 

 in cocoanut fiber would remain alive and in good condition for at least 

 three and one-half months. Cuttings were tried in ))oth moist sand 

 and cocoanut fiber that had been boiled, washed, and sijueezed dry. 

 The cuttings were packed in tight tins. At the end of two months, 

 of 14 cuttings packed in moist sand, all were dead but one, while after 

 three and one-half months all the cuttings in the coeoaiuit fiber were 

 alive and had shoots from 2 to 4 inches long. This length of time is 

 ample for the introduction of new varieties from India to this country, 

 but the cuttings thus experimented w^th were doul)tless kept at a 

 reasonably luiiform temperature, and it must not be inferred that they 

 would have sui-vived a voyage to the West Indies where, owing to the 

 changes to which they would be subjected, they would probably have 

 deteriorated nuich more rapidly. The fact that the cuttings made 

 sprouts, M-hile indicating the success of this method of preserving the 

 life of the cuttings, would not be desirable if the cuttings were to be 

 used for l)udding. This could, however, doubth^ss be prevented by 

 drier packing. 



The introduction of new varieties by means of cuttings that can be 

 sent throup-h the mails would be such a simple and economical method 

 that it is well worthy of experiment, })ut in view of the difficulties 

 which many have experienced in budding the mangoes it may be well 

 not to place too much dependence on this method until budding has 

 been successfully accomplished from cuttings thus treated. 



The propagation and dissemination of the finer varieties of the 

 mango might well be one of the lines of activity of the experiment 

 stations recently established in the tropical possessions of the United 

 States. 



PACKING AND SHIPPING. 



The packing and shipping of mangoes is a question of great impor- 

 tance, as the success or failure of their production on a commercial 

 scale is to a large extent dependent on its proper solution. With the 

 poorer varieties, it is a comparatively simple matter, and the fruit 

 wrapped in paper and packed in cases comes through in very good 

 shape. With the finer varieties the question is, however, much more 

 difficult. Sample lots of the best varieties grown in the West Indies 

 have been shipped long distances, as from Jamaica to London, and 

 have arrived in good condition. 



In larger lots it would doubtless be much more difficult, but with 

 proper care it would seem that the loss need not be serious. The 

 8992— No. 28—02 3 



