ISH 



a. p. 11-. Coiin-iw,,. Plate LXVI 



iMaiigifcra iiidica. 



MANGO. 



The mango, which is a native of South Asia, is extensivel)- 

 ciihivated throughout India, the Islands of the West Indies, and 

 somewhat in Morida. In Hawaii it has become thoroughly nat- 

 uralized, and is one of the most common trees ; growing from 

 the sea level up to about 1,000 feet. 



A hot, rather dry, climate, with well-drained soil suits it best. 

 It is an evergreen, shad)- tree of quick growing habit, sometimes 

 reaching a height of 70 feet, and having a round, dense top. All 

 parts of the mango tree have a resinous fragrance, that suggests 

 turpentine. Its thick, shiny leaves are from 6 to 10 inches in 

 length. The greenish, scented flowers are borne in large terminal 

 ])anicles : and these are folowed three or four months later by 

 the fruit, which is large and kidne\'-shaped, having a smooth, 

 rather soft, jjale-green skin, with tints of yellow and red. The 

 large seed is nearly as long as the fruit, its shell is rough and 

 fibrous, and the kernel is shaped like a bean. In the inferior 

 varieties of mangoes the pulp is full of fibre and tastes strongly 

 of' turpentine. There are numerous varieties of the mango cul- 

 tivated in Hawaii ; the fruit of which varies much in point of 

 flavor, juiciness, as well as in the size and shape of the seed. 



\\'ithin the past ten years improved varieties have been im- 

 ported ; notably the Alphonse, Cambodiana, Pirie, and many 

 others. These have thrived well and have borne delicious fruit ; 

 from them many grafts have been made and the finer grades of 

 mangoes have been disseminated. i'ropagaticn is effected by 

 seed, by grafting" or inarching, and by budding. The mango 

 as a rule does not come true to seed ; also seedlings take much 

 longer to fruit than do the grafted trees. 



The illustration on the opposite page is that of the socalled 

 common mango, which was brought to Hawaii from Mexico. 



