THE CUBA REVIEW. 



23 



Mulgoba Mango, cross section. Natural size. 



and allow the union to knit together more 

 securely for three or four weeks, at the 

 end of which time it is ready for the field. 

 During the whole period of eight to ten 

 weeks or so, great attention should be given 

 to the watering and care of the seedling, 

 it must not be allowed to suffer any setback 

 in growth. Many seedlings may, of course, 

 be inarched with the parent tree at the same 

 time. 



Soil and Climatic Conditions. 



There are few fruits which are less par- 

 ticular about the soil on which they grow 

 than the mango. The writer has seen healthy 

 vigorous mango trees growing on soils vary- 

 ing from spruce pine land, little better than 

 pure beach sand, to the heavy rich ham- 

 mock lands of the tropical forest. But the 

 lighter and poorer soils need fertilizer and 

 plenty of water. 



The drainage must be good, for the tree 

 will not thrive on a soil charged with stag- 

 nant water. Heavy rains during the bloom- 

 ing period are injurious; it needs dry 

 weather until the fruit is well set, and 

 localities where these conditions cannot be 

 secured are likely to prove undesirable for 

 mango culture. The lack of moisture after 

 the fruit has set can be made good by 

 irrigation, but the evil effects of rains at 

 blooming time cannot well be overcome. 



Planting Distance and Care. 



A distance of at least 30 x 30 feet should 

 be given and 30 x 40 feet or even 40 x 40 

 feet will be none too close. 



Dig the holes deeper and broader than the 

 tree needs, fill in around with good surface 

 soil, set at the same depth as it was before 

 transplanting, pack the earth tightly around, 

 the ball of earth, land water well if the 

 weather and soil be dry. A half-pound of 

 good commercial fertilizer scattered thinly 

 around the tree and raked in is often ad- 

 visable. 



Picking and Packing. 



Mangoes for distant shipment should be 

 picked when fully grown, but before they 

 begin to soften as they Co when the final 

 stages of ripening set in. The slightest 

 bruise will show itself on the fruit, hence 

 it must be handled with extreme care, never 

 allowed to fall or to be injured in any way. 

 Grade carefully to uniform size, appearance 

 and "uality. 



Handpick the fruit when dry and just as 

 close up to the leaving of the steamer as 

 possible. If it can be picked the same day, 

 so much the better. 



Each fruit should be wrapped in soft, 

 fresh, clean fruit wrapping paper, such as 

 is used for citrus fruits. In the bottom of 



