102 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



in mind that stable manure is not, generally speaking, suitable 

 for bearing mango trees. 



Well-grown budded or grafted trees, when shipped from 

 the nursery, are eighteen inches to three feet in height, with 

 stems one-half inch in thickness. They should be stocky and 

 straight, with foliage of rich green color. Inarched trees are 

 sometimes weak, crooked, and may have poor unions. While 

 many inarched trees are produced and planted in certain parts 

 of the world, notably in India, they seem much less desirable 

 than the sturdy budded trees grown in the nurseries of Florida. 



As soon as the young trees have been planted in the field, 

 they should be shaded with a light framework covered with 

 burlap or other cheap material. Palm leaves and pine boughs 

 may be used for this purpose. The trees should, of course, 

 be watered liberally as soon as they are planted, and in most 

 regions the ground around the base of each should be mulched 

 with straw or other loose material. 



During the first four or five years, the trees should be en- 

 couraged to make vigorous rapid growth. After that the aim 

 of the orchardist is to make them produce good crops of fruit. 

 The object of early culture is, therefore, distinct from that of 

 later years and somewhat different methods are required. The 

 young growing tree can be given both water and fertilizer in 

 liberal quantities; the mature tree, on the other hand, must 

 be encouraged to flower and fruit by withholding water and 

 fertilizer during certain portions of the year. 



It must be admitted that the cultural requirements of the 

 mango are not yet thoroughly understood. Varieties differ 

 greatly in their reaction to the stimulus of tillage, irrigation, 

 and manuring. A thorough study has not yet been made of 

 the requirements even of a single variety. Horticulturists in 

 India have devoted a limited amount of attention to the 

 subject ; but the mango seems to differ so markedly from other 

 fruits which have been subjected to systematic cultivation 



