THE MANGO 111 



G. L. Chauveaud 1 has advanced the theory that polyembryony 

 is a more primitive state than monoembryony, which would 

 seem to be borne out by this observation ; for it must be true 

 that the choice mangos of India which have been propagated 

 by grafting for centuries are less primitive in character than the 

 semi-wild seedling races. 



Inarching is an ancient method of vegetative propagation. 

 While several writers have attempted to show that it was not 

 known in India previous to the arrival of Europeans, and that 

 the Jesuits at Goa were the first to apply it to the mango, others 

 have held the belief, based on researches in the literature of 

 ancient India, that the Hindus propagated their choice mangos 

 by inarching for centuries before any Europeans visited the 

 country. 



This method of propagation is still preferred to all others 

 in India and a few other countries. In the United States it 

 has been superseded by budding. 



For the production of stock plants on which to bud or graft 

 choice varieties, seeds of any of the common mangos are used. 

 No preference for any particular race has yet been established. 

 It is reasonable to believe, however, that there may be important 

 differences among seedling races in vigor of growth and perhaps 

 in their effect on the productiveness and other characteristics of 

 the cion. The subject has never been investigated and deserves 

 attention. 



Seeds are planted, after having the husk removed, in five- or 

 six-inch pots of light soil or in nursery rows in the open ground. 

 They are covered with 1 inch or 1 J inches of soil. In warm 

 weather they will germinate within two weeks, and must be 

 watched to prevent the development of more than one shoot. 

 Polyembryonic mangos will send up several; all but the 

 strongest one should be destroyed. If grown in pots and 

 intended for budding, the young plants may be set out in the 

 1 Compt. Rend. 114, 1892. 



