THE MANGO 97 



Other mango trees in the immediate vicinity but on higher 

 ground produce fruit regularly. 



Mangos can be grown successfully on soils of several different 

 types. In Porto Rico deep sandy loam has given excellent 

 results. On this soil the tree makes rapid growth and attains 

 great size. The sandy soils of southern Florida have proved 

 satisfactory. Clay, provided it is well drained, seems to be 

 good. 



In India, some of the best mango districts are situated 

 on the great Indo-Gangetic plain, where the soil is a deep, rich 

 alluvial loam. This may perhaps be considered the best of 

 all mango soils. An analysis of surface soil from the mango 

 orchards in the Saharanpur Botanic Garden shows that it 

 contains : 



Lime (CaO) 1.20 % 



Magnesia (MgO) 1.18 % 



Potash (K 2 O) 2.73 % 



Phosphoric acid (P 2 O 6 ) 0.18 % 



Nitrogen 0.105% 



C. F. Kinman 1 says : 



"A shallow soil underlain with stone or hardpan, although 

 sufficiently deep to produce shrubs or other low-growing wild 

 vegetation, will not satisfy the needs of the deep rooted mango, 

 whose growth in such ground will be slow and its yield poor, 

 at least after the first few years. The application of fertilizers, 

 however, will materially decrease the depth of the soil re- 

 quired. . . . Mango trees are often found on very light, un- 

 fertile sand, which may be a few feet in depth, and still produce 

 flourishing growth if the subsoil is suitable. As the mango, 

 like most other fruit trees, thrives best on a deep loose loam 

 with good drainage and a high percentage of humus, those who 

 intend planting it commercially should secure, if possible, this 

 type of soil." 



1 Porto Rico Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull., 24. 



