COOK AND COLLINS—ECONOMIC PLANTS OF PORTO RICO. 183 
Porto Rico. The finer, asexually propagated varieties are quite as manageable as 
the peaches and pears of our own climate. 
Several of the best Indian varieties have already been introduced into Florida 
and the West Indies. and when these are produced in sufficient quantities to be 
placed regularly in the Northern markets the mango is almost sure to become a 
popular fruit. 
The drier portions of Porto Rico are admirably adapted for growing mangoes, 
and the absence of all danger from frost places this island at a decided advantage 
over Florida, where the best varieties are now being propagated on an extensive 
scale by several of the more enterprising fruit growers. It has been found pos- 
sible to ship even the better varieties from India to London, consequently there 
need be no fear as to the shipping qualities. 
For a discussion of the possibilities and requirements of the mango in Porto 
Rico, see Bulletin 28, Bureau of Plant Industry. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
The wood is light, soft, fibrous in texture, and not very compact, brownish 
gray with little spots and irregular lines of brown. After varnishing this wood 
resembles light-colored walnut. It is resistant and elastic. and is used for the 
same purposes as the ash of Europe—for gunstocks, etc. It is not, however, used 
as much as it deserves. Specific gravity, 0.864. (Grosourdy, 2: 400.) Specific 
gravity also given as 0.738. (Exp. 1857.) 
Mangle blanco. See Avicennia nitida and Laguneularia racemosa. 
Grosourdy (2:399) gives this common name to both Avicennia tomentosa 
(=A. officinalis) and Laguncularia racemosa, and describes the wood as being 
hard and heavy, fibrous and compact in texture, and gray in color with rather 
brown undulations, which produce a very pleasing aspect. Used for the small 
timbers of houses, but its most common use is in making a good charcoal and 
for fuel. The specific gravity of Avicennia is 0.867; of Laguncularia, 0.860. 
Mangle bobo. 
A tree from near the seashore; height, 25 to 30 feet (8 to 9 meters); diameter, 
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 centimeters). Wood, dark. hard; specific gravity, 1.124; 
used for cabinetwork. Also called ‘‘ mangle prieto.”’ (Exp. 1857.) 
A good firewood; on the higher elevations of El Yunque this grows as mere 
saplings, while in the lowlands it reaches 8 or 10 inches (20 to 25 centimeters) in 
diameter. (Hansard.) 
Bello gives this common name with Avicennia nitida, but this is certainly not 
the tree reported by Captain Hansard. 
Mangle botanico. 
A tree from the beaches of the island; height, 20 to 25 feet (6 to 8 meters); 
diameter, 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 centimeters). Wood, silver-gray, hard; specific 
gravity, 1.072; used in making knees of boats. (Exp. 1857.) 
Mangle boton. See Conocarpus erectus. 
Mangle cobo. 
A tree from the beaches of the island; height, 18 to 20 feet (5.5 to 6.5 meters); 
diameter, 9 to 10 inches (22 to 25 centimeters). Wood, white, soft; specific gravity, 
0.840; not used. (Exp. 1857.) 
Mangle colorado. See Rhizophora mangle. 
A tree from the beaches of the island; height, 18 to 20 feet (5.5 to 6.5 meters); 
diameter, 9 to 10 inches (22 to 25 centimeters). Wood. pinkish, hard: specific 
gravity, 0.752; bark used in tanning leather. (Exp. 1857.) 
Mangle prieto. 
A tree from the beaches of the island; height, 25 to 30 feet (8 or 9 meters); 
diameter, 10 to 12 inches (22 to 25 centimeters). Wood, dark, hard; specific gravity, 
1.124; used for cabinetwork. Also called ‘‘mangle bobo.’ (Exp. 1857.) 
