32 THE MANGO IN PORTO RICO. 



PetsTH. — One of the finest flavored of all Trinidad mang'oes, said to 

 bear regular crops. In Trinidad this variety is very subject to sour- 

 ing in the center of the fruit. This would probably be much less 

 troublesome in Porto Rico. 



Julie. — A fine, large mango, with thin, long seed; commences to bear 

 when ver}^ young. 



On the west coast of Africa and in some other localities the mango 

 has two seasons of bearing ripe fruit, about six months apart. At 

 Esquintla, Guatemala, where the mango grows luxurianth' and is very 

 prolific, this appears to be the case, as many trees were seen bearing- 

 flowers and nearly ripe fruit at the same time, April 16. If this is a 

 difference in kind and not due to climatic conditions these forms should 

 be imported, as the placing of a new fruit on the market would be 

 greatly facilitated could it be done in the winter, when competition 

 with native fruits would be less. 



BEST METHOD OF INTRODUCING NEW VARIETIES. 



The introduction of new varieties from the East Indies has been 

 attended with much difficulty. Seeds can, of course, be secured at com- 

 parativeh^ small expense, but in most of the cases on record only a small 

 percentage have germinated, and these, after the trouble and delay of 

 bringing them to bearing, are likely to produce fruit with only a 

 slight resemblance to the variety desired. 



Hitherto the most successful importations have been in the form of 

 inarched stock in Wardian cases. This, though a very satisfactory 

 method, is very expensive, and a less costly plan would greatly encour- 

 age importations. 



Experiments in packing cuttings, suitable for budding, so that they 

 ma}^ be sent through the mails, have been made b}' Mr. D. G. Fair- 

 child. He recommends the following method: 



Have a cylindrical tin case made, 10 inches long, 2 inches in diameter, with a well- 

 fitting cap 2 inches long, in which to send the cuttings through the post. This case 

 should be fitted in a cloth sack before dispatching. Cut scions about 10 inches long, 

 making sure that they have good buds on them. Dij^ the cut ends in collodion or 

 melted beeswax, wrap each scion in a strip of light tin foil, and wrap these again 

 in oiled paper. Pack not more than four or five in each case, with slightly moist- 

 ened sawdust. Be careful to put the address on the tag. 



The first shipment of mango cuttings packed in this manner arrived 

 in rather poor condition, the sawdust in which thej^ w' ere packed being 

 apparently too moist. Buds, which were inmiediately placed in the 

 healthy stock, showed signs of life, but it is still too early to report 

 the success or failure of the experiment. The sending of a second 

 shipment, packed in drier sawdust, was so delayed that the severe heat 

 encountered on the voj^age resulted in an entire loss. Experiments 



