48 



CROPS THAT PAY. 



shaped, but sometimes spherical, again long and narrow like a cucum- 

 ber, crooked or straight. It varies from two or three inches in 

 greatest diameter to three or four times that size, and in weight from 

 one to four pounds, or more. The pulp is yellow. 



The entire tree, wood, leaves and fruit, have a sweet, resinous 

 smell which suggests turpentine, but after a few trials it becomes 

 an agreeable fragrance. In India every part of the tree serves 

 some economic purpose, while the fruit possesses medicinal value 

 of an unusual range, if we may believe the account in Watt'* 

 Dictionary of the Economic Plants of India. A summary of it» 

 uses would make a long list. Here are a few : 



The wood of the mango is white and soft and of little value in 

 manufacturing; but it is highly prized for burning with sandal wood 

 in cremating the bodies of great personages. The bark yields tannic 



PERMISSION 



S. DEPT. AG'L- 



FRUITING BRANCH OF MANGO TREE. 



GARDNER, REPORT OF PORTO RICO AG'L. EXPERIMENT STATION, 1902. 



acid used in tanning, and a resinous gum which is sold as a sub- 

 stitute for gum arable. The leaves and bark yield a yellow dye; 

 and a permanent black dye is made of mango bark with that of other 

 trees. Mixed with lime and beaten the bark produces a "fleeting" 

 green dye which, by adding tumeric, becomes a bright rose-pink. 

 Indian yellow, a familiar water color paint, is an indirect product 

 of mango leaves. Until very recently the origin of this coloring 

 matter was unknown, the process by which it was produced being 

 1 guarded secret in India. 



The ripe fruit is not only a delicious dessert, but a wholesome 

 food highly recommended for its medicinal qualities. It is con- 

 sidered to be "invigorating and refreshing, fattening and slightly 

 laxative and dipurative." But the rind and fibre, as well as the 

 unripe fruit, are acid and astringent. One of the most popular prep- 



