THE MANGO IN PORTO RICO. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 



Introduction 3 



Soil 4 



Climate 5 



Blossoming 7 



Propagation 9 



Importance of classification 13 



Tage. 



Description of varieties U 



Weights of different parts of fruits 23 



Protection against fruit flies 24 



Harvesting and packing 24 



Mangoes as ornamentals 28 



Summary 29 



INTRODUCTION. 



The mango industry in Porto Rico has developed practically with- 

 out attention or interest on the part of the inhabitants, although the 

 fruit is one of the most important of the island, as it is of most trop- 

 ical countries. The common types, all of which grow without culti- 

 vation, are as a rule prolific, the fruit of the best sorts being free from 

 serious insect pests and diseases, but all are of ordinary or poor flavor 

 with an abundance of objectionable fiber in the flesh. With few ex- 

 ceptions the fruits are small, and this, together with their poor keep- 

 ing qualities, makes them unsatisfactory as a commercial crop. 



The production of the superior varieties of mangoes, notably those 

 from India and the East Indies, is a new industry but one worthy of 

 greatly increased interest in Porto Rico, as the climate and soils are 

 suitable and the best markets of the United States may be reached 

 within a very few days. Home markets for this fruit could be 

 quickly developed also, as the liking for the mango is universal 

 among the inhabitants of the island and large quantities of the com- 

 mon types are consumed as soon as they are ripe enough to be edible. 



The problems confronting the commercial production of superior 

 mangoes here are in many respects those of a new industry. Meth- 

 ods of asexual propagation are not known among the planters, but 

 chance seedlings happening to spring up in desirable places are 

 protected to furnish the future supply of fruit. The trees have not 

 been cultivated nor the suitability of the soil tested. The present 

 method of marketing is to shake the crop from the tree and to load 

 it loosely into cars or wagons for transportation to local markets 

 or those in other parts of the island. Tests with fruits of superior 



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