MANGNALL 



MANGOSTEEN 



19 



occasional washing and brushing maintain the skin 

 in a healthy state, and thus prevent its becoming a 

 suitable nidus for the acari. The Sarcoptic mange, 

 due to a burrowing mite, besides being highly con- 

 tagious, is often fatal, and is specially legislated 

 for in the Shetland Islands, where it is very pre- 

 valent, under the Contagious Diseases Act*. 



Manmiall. RICHMAL, of Irish extraction, but 

 born probably in Manchester, 7th March 1769, was 

 the head-mistress of a ladies' school atCrofton Hall, 

 near Wakefield, and died there 1st May 1820. Few 

 particulars of her personal history have been pre- 

 served ; she survives only in her redoubtable Ques- 

 tions, the pride and terror of several generations 

 of school-girls. She was an amiable and excellent 

 woman, but as a writer she has lieen well called 

 ' the very high-priestess of the great god Cram.' 

 Of the popularity of her schoolroom encyclopa-dia, 

 compiled entirely by herself, there can, how- 

 ever, be no doubt : an impression, printed in 1857 

 in America, was taken from the 84th London 

 edition. It has been reprinted in England (ed. by 

 Wright and Hodder) as recently a 1892. 



Mango (Mangifera indicn, natural order'Ana- 

 cardiaceie ), one of the most esteemed fruits of 

 t lndia. The tree grows from 40 to 50 feet high, 

 with spreading ton and numerous branches, at the 

 extremities of which are the densely-crowded long 

 lanceolate leaves. When in flower" it bears some 

 resemblance to the Sweet Chestnut. The fruit, 



Common Mango (Mangifera indica). 



which is a fleshy d rape, when fully ripe is some- 

 what kidney-shaped or oval, varying in size from 

 that of a small hen's egg to a large goose's 

 egg. in colour yellow or reddish, specklecl with 

 black, and containing a large flattened stone, 

 the kernel of which is nutritious. There are 

 several varieties of mango. Some have the flesh 

 of the fruit full of tibres, and are on that account 

 considered inferior ; those that cut like an apple, 

 ami have few or no fibres, are the most highly 

 esteemed. The fruit is eaten without any pre- 

 "ii, except peeling the outer rind off. Jellies, 

 preserves, and tarts are made of the unripe fruit, 

 anil it in also pickled. Mango was introduced 

 into Jamaica in 1782, and is now very generally 

 cultivated in tropical and subtropical countries. 

 The tree is ordinarily raised from seeds, but, as the 

 finer varieties cannot be depended upon tn come 

 true from seeds, they are increased by layering and 

 inarching. M. tylvatirn, besides being eaten when 

 ripe and fresh by the natives of India, is dried and 

 used medicinally. M. oppoxiti folia, the fruit of 

 which is of the size of a pullet's egg, is much 

 esteemed in Burma. 



Mangold-wurzel, or MANGOLD, a German 

 name in general use in Britain and America to 

 designate the varieties of the common beet (see 

 BEET) cultivated in fields for feeding cattle 

 Beta vulgaris of the natural order Chenopodiacese. 

 The field beets differ from the garden beets chiefly in 

 being larger in all their parts, and coarser. They 

 have large roots, which in some of the varieties are 

 red, in others greenish or whitish, in some carrot- 

 shaped, and in others nearly globular. The cultiva- 

 tion of mangold as a field-crop was introduced from 

 France into England in 1786. At first, so little 

 was its value known, that the leaves alone were 

 used as food for cattle. Its importance, however, 

 was soon appreciated, and it rapidly gained favour. 

 It istnuch more patient of a high temperature than 

 the turnip, liable to fewer diseases, and vastly more 

 productive under favourable conditions. In highly- 

 manured grounds in the south of England as much 

 as from 60 to 70 tons to the acre have teen raised ; 

 throughout the south of England it is generally 

 admitted that it is as easy to grow 30 tons of 

 mangold to the acre as 20 tons of Swedish turnips. 

 The lower temperature of Scotland, however, does 

 not admit of the crop being raised there to advan- 

 tage. The mode of culture does not vary materi- 

 ally from that followed in raising turnips. The 

 laud in which the crop is to be planted receives 

 a deep furrow in autumn ; and, if it is quite free 

 from perennial weeds, it is often previously well 

 manured. Mangolds are sown both in rows on the 

 flat ground and in drills raised by the plough the 

 former from 18 to 25 inches apart, and the latter 

 from 25 to 28 inches wide. From 12 to 16 tons of 

 dung with from 2 to 34 cwt. of superphosphate, 

 2 to 3 cwt. common salt, and 2 to 3 cwt. nitrate of 

 soda per acre are common dressings for mangolds. 

 Indeed, this crop can hardly te over-manured. It 

 requires 6 or 7 fb. of seed to the acre ; and, as the 

 grains are enclosed in a hard and rough coat, they 

 are steeped in water for two days previous to their 

 being planted, for the purpose of promoting a 

 quick and regular 'braird.' The long red, the 

 round red, and the orange and yellow globes are all 

 favourite varieties in England. As soon as the 

 plant- are about 3 inches above ground, they are 

 singled out by the hand, and their cultivation is 

 afterwards the same in all respects as in the case 

 of Swedish turnips. The crop should always be 

 stored by the end of October, and should not be 

 consumed till the following spring, by which time 

 the roots have lost their tendency to produce scour 

 in animals, and have greatly improved in feeding 

 value. Care has to be taken not to injure the 

 leaves or bulbs, as they are liable to suffer from 

 ' bleeding. ' The roots are stored in pits or ' clamps,' 

 covered with straw and a little earth, as a pro- 

 tection in severe weather. 



Mangonel. See BALLISTA. 



MangOSteen* produced by Garcinia mangos- 

 tana (natural order Clusiacefe), is considered the 

 most delicious and wholesome of all fruits. The 

 tree, which is a native of the Moluccas, grows 

 alx>ut 20 feet high in very regular symmetrical 

 form. The leaves are large, oval, entire, deep dark 

 green a)>ove with a dull lustre, olive-green below. 

 The open flowers resemble those of a red rose, but 

 have only four petals. The fruit, in size and shape, 

 resembles a middling-sized orange ; it is dark 

 brown, spotted with yellow or gray, has a thick 

 rind, and is divided internally by thin partitions 

 into cells. The pulp is soft and juicy, of a rose 

 colour, refrigerant and slightly laxative, with a 

 mixture of sweetness and acidity, and has an 

 extremely delicate flavour. It may te eaten very 

 freely with perfect safety, and is esteemed very 

 beneficial in fevers. It is cultivated in Java and 



