MISCELLANEOUS TROPICAL FRUITS 



515 



The avocado is worthy of careful experimentation in those localities 

 where climate will permit of its growth. It doubtless has great possibili- 

 ties, although the demand for the fruit at present is limited. 



The Mango. — It originated in India. There it has been cultivated 

 for many centuries and the fruit is as important to the people of that 

 country as is the apple to the people of North America. 



The fruit of the mango is not well known outside of the regions in 

 which it is grown. It is strictly a tropical fruit and under favorable condi- 



Fruit of the Mango. Seed on the Right. 1 



tions the tree attains a height of sixty feet or more and produces fruit for 

 several decades. In the United States it is grown chiefly in the southern 

 part of Florida. When in a dormant state the trees will withstand a temper- 

 ature of seven or eight degrees below freezing, but if growing rapidly when 

 freezing weather occurs, the trees are killed back to the ground. 



It does best on fairly deep, rich, well-drained soils, but requires a 

 liberal amount of moisture. 



Mango trees are usually propagated from seeds. As with any other 

 fruit, trees produced in this way are not true to the parent stock. More 



a Courtesy of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. From Annual Report of Porto Rico A. E. S., 1912. 



