FRUIT CULTURE 169 



by seed; thrives and hears fruit at Peradeniya, where it has been 

 introduced in 1868. Suited to medium elevations. 



Mammea americana. (Guttiferae. Mangosteen family). 

 Mammee-apple ; St. Domingo-apricot. A moderate-sized tree, 

 40 to 50 ft. high, with large, rigid, leathery, shining leaves, and 

 white, scented flowers, native of tropical America and the West 

 Indies. The fruit is nearly spherical, 3 to 5 inches in diameter, 

 with thick brown bark-like skin, containing one (sometimes more) 

 large seed. Towards the apex of the fruit is usually developed a 

 distinct pointed nipple. The seed is covered with a layer of fibre, 

 which is surrounded by dense, orange-coloured, sweetish and 

 slightly aromatic pulp. The latter may be eaten raw or stewed, or 

 preserved with sugar. The small Mowers are cream-coloured 

 and scented, and a distillation of these is used in flavouring the 

 spirituous liquor known as Ran de Creole. DR. LIXDLEY referred to 

 this fruit as the "Wild Apricot of South America, said to rival the 

 Mangosteen ;" while MACFADYKX described it as "of a sweetish 

 aromatic taste, bearing a resemblance to that of carrots." The 

 tree has been established at Peradeniya since about 1810, and 

 bears a crop of fruit annually, but here the fruit is sought after 

 more as a curiosity than on account of its flavour. Propagated by 

 seed. 



Magnifera indica. (Anacardiaceae). Mango; "Amba" S; 

 "Manga" 7\ A medium or large-sized tree, of a spreading and 

 quick-growing habit, indigenous to tropical Asia. It bears large 

 p inicles of greenish-white, scented flowers, usually in January, 

 February, or March, followed three or four months later by the 

 fruit. The latter is generally oval in form, somewhat flattened, often 

 with a more or less pronounced beak at the apex. It may weigh 

 from 6 oz. to 2 or 3 lb., has a tough thin skin, and, when ripe, is 

 yellow, reddish, or green. The flesh is usually of a reddish tint, 

 with a more or less sweet, turpentine flavour, sometimes resinous 

 and fibrous. In the centre is the large fibrous seed. The Mango 

 is the fruit par excellence of India, where it has been cultivated 

 from time immemorial. Here it may be considered an article of 

 food as well as dessert, while it also enters largely in the prepa- 

 ration of chutneys and other preserves. The tree grows from sea- 

 level to about 4,000 ft. or more, but is scarcely fruitful at ele- 

 vations over 2,000 ft. in Ceylon. A hot and rather dry climate 

 and a rich, well-drained soil suit it best. The trees should be 

 irrigated during prolonged drought, and receive a good mulching 

 once a year. Pruning is confined to thinning out superfluous or 



