CH'AP. IT. DESSERT FRUITS. 229 



ANACARDIACEJE, 

 Mangifera Indica, 



MANGO. 



.A 



Am. 



The Mango, in its uncultivated state, rises to become a forest- 

 tree of stately growth, with wide-spreading, noble foliage. It is a 

 native of India, where it may commonly be seen in the outskirts 

 of villages, in large topes, under the sombre shade of which the 

 traveller is wont to find shelter from the rays of the mid-day 

 sun. 



The cultivated Mango, however that which has been propa- 

 gated by cutting or graft becomes altogether dwarfed in cha- 

 racter, attaining then to a size not too large for it to find a place 

 in the orchard or garden. 



The Mango-tree blossoms about the middle of February, with 

 sprays of small greenish flowers, which for a week or two scent 

 the air for some distance around with rather a heavy but agree- 

 able fragrance. The fruit of most kinds begins to come into 

 season towards the middle of May. 



The fruit of the Mango is generally of an oval form, some- 

 what flattened, and with a kind of heel near the apex. There 

 is no fruit of which the several varieties vary more in size, the 

 smallest being no larger than a pullet's egg, and the largest 

 attaining to the size of a small Pumelo. They are equally 

 distinct also in quality and flavour. The worst have been, not 

 inaptly, likened for flavour and consistency to tow soaked in 

 turpentine ; while the finest, having the soft bland consistency 

 of blanc-mange, so as to admit of being eaten with a spoon, 

 certainly rival, if not excel, any fruit in the world for delicious- 

 ness of flavour. 



It would be almost impossible to describe or even to enumerate 

 the various kinds of Mango found in India. Many, probably of 

 exquisite flavour, are beyond access, existing only in private 

 gardens, in remote parts of the country, known scarcely to any 

 one but the owners ; while the majority of those offered for sale, 

 as well as those frequently met with in gardens, are of very 

 inferior description, and unworthy of notice. All I am enabled 

 to do is to mention such as have come under my own observation, 



