123 



further south. But the Mango is mucli more hardy and cosmopo- 

 litan 111 its habits than many other tropical fruits. The Mango may 

 be grown successfully in any ordinary good soil, but it thrives best 

 in a rich, deep, sandy loam. It is essential that the ground should 

 be well prepared, and effective drainage provided, if necessary, as the 

 Mango cannot thrive in a wet soil. Effective shelter must also be 

 provided, when necessary, as the trees and crops are apt to suffer severely 

 when fully exposed to high winds. Permanent trees should be planted 

 not less than thirty feet apart so as to allow space for free development. 

 1 1 will be some years, however, before the trees fully occupy this amount 

 of .space, and temporary ones may with advantage be planted between. 

 By adopting this plan not only can a better return be obtained from the 

 land, but the temporary trees will act as nurses in affording shelter to 

 the others. The best time for planting is in the autumn, but if that is 

 impracticable it should be done early in the spring. While yoimg the 

 trees should have their growth regulated from time to time so as to 

 bring them into the desired forms, but when mature they require but 

 little in the way of pruning. The trees will usually begin to bear in 

 three or four years from the time of planting, and afterw r ards they 

 generally yield regular and payable crops. Weeds should never be 

 allowed to make much headway in a Mai;go plantation, and, as far as 

 practicable, the surface soil ought to be kept loose by frequent stirrings. 

 This is more especially necessary in the case of irrigated land, which is 

 apt to cake hard after each watering. Mulching is very serviceable in 

 ]\Iango culture, and a coating about four inches thick of straw, grass, or 

 litter should always be applied early in the summer. Mangoes, being 

 strong feeding and heavy bearing trees are exhausting to the soil, and 

 manure may be used with advantage from time to time in moderate 

 dressings. Mangoes are somewhat liable to the attacks of " scale " 

 insects, but these pests, if not allowed to make too much headway, can 

 generally be kept down by using the ordinary remedies. (See vol. 1, 

 page 84). 



GATHERING AND PACKING THE FRUIT. 



The Mango season in Australia lasts for several months, according to 

 the varieties grown and the localities. When required for home use 

 the fruit should be left upon the trees till it is fully coloured in order to 

 obtain it in the highest degree of perfection. If wanted for export the 

 fruit must necessarily be gathered somewhat earlier, or just as it begins 

 to turn colour. It should be handled carefully so as to avoid bruising, 

 and packed securely in medium-sized cases in such a way that there will 

 be no shifting till the fruit reaches its destination. If properly packed 

 and handled fruit should keep in good condition for at least a month if 

 stored in a cool place. A limited trade is already carried on from 

 Queensland to the other colonies, as also from the northern coast river 

 districts of New South Wales, which is likely to assume much larger 

 proportions in the future. This trade has been materially kept back by 

 groAvers sending fruit insufficiently ripe and lacking in the rich flavour 



