16 BULLETIN 542, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



same variety, set 6 fruits from 47 pollinations. The Sandcrsha, 

 pollinated by the same variety, set 10 fruits from 52 pollinations. 

 The Paheri, pollinated by the same variety, set 2 fruits from 59 

 pollinations. Pollinated by the Sandersha, the Paheri set 17 fruits 

 from 92 pollinations. 



Though the best results were obtained from cross-pollination, 

 nothing has been found to indicate that any of the varieties are 

 self-sterile. Both the experiments in self-fertilization and the 

 behavior of many isolated mango trees in southern Florida and 

 elsewhere indicate that the mango is normally self -fertile. 



From the fact that pollination ordinarily is scanty, it might be 

 concluded that productiveness could be increased by insuring more 

 abundant pollination. While this is perhaps true, a careful con- 

 sideration shows this point to be of comparatively little practical 

 importance. The total number of flowers produced is so enormous 

 that it is usually of small consequence if half of the perfect ones fail 

 altogether to receive pollen (Pis. Ill and IV) . In practically all of the 

 seedling mangos it has been observed that the trees often set many 

 more fruits than they can carry to maturity, and this has been 

 noted with the Bennett, Cambodiana, Haden, and other budded 

 varieties as well. Possibly it might be of importance in the case of 

 varieties producing a very small number of perfect flowers, such as 

 the Mullgoa and the Jamshedi, but in the varieties which are being 

 planted commercially in Florida the percentage of perfect flowers 

 is satisfactorily large. 



FLOWERING HABITS OF THE MANGO. 



Different races and varieties of the mango exhibit well-defined 

 characteristics of flowering, both with regard to flowering under 

 adverse climatic conditions and with regard to the abundance of 

 flowei*s produced and the length of time the tree remains in bloom. 

 There are also marked differences in the proportion of perfect to 

 staminate flowers in different varieties and in the distribution of the 

 perfect flo Wei's upon the panicle. 



REGULARITY OF FLOWERING. 



There can be no doubt that the production of flowers is strongly 

 influenced by the soil moisture during the normal blooming season. 

 This fact has not only been noted by various observers in Florida, 

 but has been recorded elsewhere. In some sections where the 

 ground is low and continually moist, the mango rarely flowers, while 

 in regions where there is a well-defined dry season corresponding to 

 the norma! flowering season, allowing the soil to dry out thoroughly, 

 flowers are produced abundantly. From the behavior of the numer- 

 ous varieties and seedlings in the vicinity of Miami, it is apparent 



