242 



RECENT PUBLICATIONS. 



BULLETIN NO. 12. 



The Mango in Haii'aii, by J. E. Higgins, Horticulturist Hawaii 

 Agr. E\xp. Station. Washington, ipo6. This bulletin is one of 

 the most interesting and instructive to general readers that we 

 have read from the pen of Mr. Higgins. The mango is often 

 called "the king of fruits," but while none who have had the pleas- 

 ure of tasting the more choice varieties of this delicious tropic 

 product, will deny its high claim for prominence, a distinction 

 such as that conferred by the term we have quoted, seems more 

 deserved by one or other of those less pretentious fruits which 

 have by their simple qualities and utility earned for themselves 

 a recognized position in our domestic economy. As is well 

 known the mango is not indigenous to Hawaii, although its con- 

 gener, the Wi (Spondias dulcis), holds a place among Polynesian 

 flora. Other nearly allied trees to the mango common in Hono- 

 lulu are the Cashew nut and the pepper tree. The cultiva- 

 tion of the mango has been carried on in India from the earliest 

 times, but its introduction here was probably from Mexico, al- 

 though more recent importations have been made from many 

 parts of the world. There has recently been exhibited in 

 a Honolulu store, fruit from the reputed first mango tree 

 which was planted here. The quality of the mango fruit growri 

 in Hawaii is generally mediocre, and as there are so many high 

 class varieties of delicious flavor which bear about the same rela- 

 tion in quality as that borne by a good apple to the "crab," it 

 is certainly well worth while to endeavor either to replace our 

 inferior trees by those of better quality or to use our old stock 

 for careful grafting. This is the more important when it is re- 

 membered that as far as the great majority of our population is 

 concerned the mango in Hawaii is indeed "king." Mr. Hig)- 

 gins in his bulletin, urges the extensive cultivation of mangoes 

 for export to the mainland where an almost unlimited market 

 awaits exploitation. The whole subject of propagation, graft- 

 ing, transplanting. and general cultivation are dealt with at length, 

 as well as directions for picking and marketing the fruit. Direc- 

 tions are also given to allow the novice to eat the mango, and at- 

 tention is directed to the different uses of the fruit, in which con- 

 nection receipes are given for the manufacture of chutney, marma- 



