MTSOEB AND OOOBG. 79 



References-— i?ra?i(i. For. ¥1 125. Drury U. PI. ; 

 Bid. of Econ. Prod, of Incl. 



The mango tree. "VYithout exception this is the 

 best known and most highly esteemed fruit tree in 

 Hindustan. Its praises have been sung for more 

 than a thousand years, while kings and princes have 

 vied to do it honour. The mango tree is evergreen, 

 and flowers progressively during the months of 

 January, February and March. The fruiting season 

 (when ripe fruit can be procured) is likewise pro- 

 gressive through the months of May, June and July. 

 The species is easily influenced by various conditions 

 of season, soil, and position ; hence the long term 

 usually covered by its reproductive growth in the 

 varying climates of India. There are also numerous 

 varieties of the fruit, but these are often peculiar to 

 certain districts, and are apt to. lose their esteemed 

 properties when cultivated in other loca,lities. 

 Grafted mango trees have been profitably cultivated 

 at Bangalore for upwards of 30 years. As compared 

 to the seedling tree they are greatly stunted 

 in growth, assuming the form of huge globular 

 bushes rather than trees, they also come into bear- 

 ing much sooner and are probably shorter-lived 

 than the seedling tree. Brandis affirms that in 

 Burmah the mango is not' generally grafted. Seeds 

 of a distinct variety occasionally produce seedlings 

 of their kind, and, it may be exclusively, in districts 

 where the species is limited to one or two varieties, 

 but where the latter are numerous no reliance can 

 be put in the identity of mango seedlings. The 

 grafted varieties cannot be reproduced from seed, 

 so that grafting or inarching should be resorted to 

 as the quickest and surest method of securing the 

 finest fruit. 



In addition to its great value in dessert, the mango 

 ie very extensively chatnied, pickled and preserved, 



