ANTHEAClSrOSE OF THE MANGO IN FLOEIDA. 11 



bore 9,218 flowers, of which 8,407 were staminate and 811 perfect, 

 and the five seedling panicles bore 2,429 flowers, of which 1,022 were 

 staminate and 1,407 perfect. 



The flowers are opening continuously throughout the day and 

 night, and after opening retain their fresh appearance for about two 

 days. The staminate flowers wither and drop off the third or fourth 

 day, while the ovaries of the perfect flowers generally begin to take 

 on a dark-green color on the third day. 



A peculiar condition is observed when panicles bearing freshly 

 Opened flowers are removed from the tree. Within 15 to 30 minutes 

 the pistil and stamen of each perfect flower curve toward each other 

 and frequently meet, and in some cases wrap themselves together. 



Fig. 1. — Complete mango flowers, much enlarged: A, A freshly opened flower; B and C, flowers which 

 have been removed from the tree for 30 minutes, showing the flexing of the stamen and pistil. 



This condition has never been observed on the tree and is not thought 

 to have any bearing on the fertilizing processes of the flower. Fig- 

 ure 1, A^ shows a freshly opened flower, and figure 1, B and C, shows 

 the flexing of the stamen and pistil after the flower has been re- 

 moved from the tree. 



RELATIONS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE DISEASE. 



That there is a very definite relation between weather conditions 

 and the productiveness of the mango has been observed by various 

 writers. 



Fawcett and Harris,^ writing of the mango in Jamaica, have the 

 following to say on this point: 



Although the mango grows freely everywhere, it is not a fruitful tree in every dis- 

 trict; in the southern plains and the low, dry limestone hills it produces enormous 

 crops year after year, and very often two crops a year, the main crop from May to 

 August, and the second crop later in the year. * * * In humid districts and 

 along the northern coast the tree is not at all fruitful, except in very dry years, and 

 in the wet districts like Castleton it rarely fruits. 



1 Fawcett, WiUiam, and Harris, W. The mango. Bulletin, Botanical Department, Jamaica, n. s., v. 8, 

 pt. 11-12, p. 161-177, 1901. 



