Avenue of Mangoes in the Botanic Garden of Rio de Janeiro. 



These trees, apparently all seedlings, were brought 

 from India during the reign of the Emporer Don Joao VI, 

 probably about 1808. As far as known none of them has 

 ever matured any fruits, although they bloom profusely at 

 times and even set fruits which grow to the size of a wal- 

 nut before they fall. Dr. Willis, director of the garden, 

 attributes this to the low, wet soil in which they are 

 growing. The trunks have been hacked to encourage fruiting, 

 a custom widely practiced among the natives of this region. 

 Hacking is always done on the day of Sao Joao Baptista, the 

 24th of June. Dorsett, Popenoe, and Shamel Photograph 

 No. 506. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 



