240 ON THE EFFECTS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE OX SOME PLANTS. 



in much apparent perfection, and the tree exhibits every appearance of 

 the most exuberant health. 



The Mango. (Mangifera Indica.) This species of fruit-tree appears 

 to possess great peculiarity of constitution ; for, although a native of a 

 very hot and bright climate, and capable of bearing, with apparent 

 benefit, the hot drying winds of Bengal, it vegetates freely, and retains 

 its health in comparatively low temperature, and under a cloudy 

 atmosphere. The plants I possess sprang from seeds in October 1818; 

 and the leaves acquired, during winter, their proper dark colour, and 

 remained in perfect health till spring ; although, not possessing at that 

 period, a hot-house, I was very ill prepared to preserve them. Tn March 

 they began to shoot a second time, without having been, I believe, at 

 any period subjected to a higher temperature than 60, and some of them 

 are now shooting strongly ; although the temperature of my house during 

 the last five weeks, except once or twice in very bright days, has rarely 

 been so high as 60. The mode of growth of this plant appears also to 

 be very singular ; it extends' a few inches, and then closes its terminal 

 buds, as if its growth for the season were ended. One of my plants has 

 done so nine times within the last thirteen months, without having 

 acquired a greater height than two feet seven inches. I am much 

 inclined to believe that the mango might be raised in great abundance 

 and considerable perfection in the stove in this country, for it is a fruit 

 which acquires maturity within a short period. It blossoms, in Bengal, 

 in January, and ripens in the end of May; and Mr. Turner, in his 

 journey to Thibet, states that he found the mango growing in latitude 

 27 50' in Bout an, in the same orchard with the apple-tree ; the apples 

 ripening in July, and the mangoes in September. And another Eastern 

 traveller of credit (I think it is Mr. Barrow), mentions an instance in 

 which a frost, sufficiently severe to have injured the crops of barley, had 

 proved fatal to the blossoms (only) of the mango-trees. 



The Alligator, or Avocado pear. (Laurus Persea.) The plants of this 

 species have grown with rather troublesome luxuriance in my house, 

 though they have been generally confined to small pots ; one plant to 

 which a larger pot was given is more than six feet high, with branches 

 extending five feet wide ; and a stem, the growth of a single year, 

 exceeding, at its base, an inch in diameter. To obtain fruit of this 

 species within the narrow limits of a forcing-house, it would be necessary 

 to propagate from buds or grafts taken from the extreme branches of 

 trees of considerable age. 



The Mammce-tree. (Mammea Americana.) Very contrary to my 



