

THE MANGO 



Five hundred years ago Amir Khrussu, one of the greatest of Hindi 

 poets, wrote in Persian verse : "The mango is the pride of the garden, 

 the choicest fruit of Hindustan; other fruits we are content to eat when 

 ripe, but the mango is good in all stages of growth." 



The verdict of present day philosophers is an even stronger en- 

 dorsement of the mango than that of 500 years ago, and in all parts of 

 India it is now in such high esteem as to be almost sacred. English 

 writers have called it the "King of Fruits," and the "Apple of the 

 Tropics," and it is of such supreme importance and superb merit as to be 

 worthy of these titles. 



It would be hard to imagine a more attractive fruit than, for instance, 

 a mango of the Alphonse variety, oval and plump in shape, of a beauti- 

 ful deep golden color, and exhaling an aroma that makes one's mouth 

 water. By making a longitudinal cut around the fruit, the skin can be 

 readily removed, exposing the rich golden flesh, of about the same con- 

 sistency as a well-ripened peach and dripping with juice. Dipping your 

 spoon in and placing it on your tongue, it fairly melts in your mouth, 

 a fruit of most delicate, spicy flavor, with just a trace of acidity to make 

 the proper combination to please the palate. 



BUT, for California such mangos are a thing of the future, not of 

 the present. Only seedlings of uncertain value are now to be had. We 

 have such seedlings for sale at 50 cents each ; but having secured through 

 our own explorers the choicest varieties grown on the slopes of the Hima- 

 layan Mountains in a climate similar to that of Southern California, we 

 expect in the course of another two years to be able to furnish our patrons 

 with the choicest of mangos that will be hardy in this climate. 



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