65 



III. — Rumpf, Amb. i. t. 43 ; Lam. Encycl. t. 405 ; Desc. Ant. i. t. 

 23 ; Lodd. Cab. t, 845 ; Vidal, Fl. For. Filip. t. 11 F ; Nooten, Fl. 

 Java, t. 8 ; Le Jard. 1888, p. 187 ; Bot. Mag. t. 4847 ; Gard. Chron. 

 Nov. 20th, 1875, pp. 656 & 657 ; Nov. 6th, 1897, pp. 325 & 327 ; 

 Dec. 17th, 1904, pp. 426 & 428 ; Fl. d. Serres, t. 2359-60 ; Pierre, 

 Fl. For. Cochin, t. 54 ; Plenck, Ic. t. 360. 



The Mangosteen. 



Native of the Malay Peninsula ; cultivated in Ceylon, parts of 

 India, and the West Indies. 



The cultivation of this choice fruit in Nigeria may not yet have 

 extended beyond the Botanic Gardens. Plants have been intro- 

 duced to Lagos and Old Calabar, through the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Kew, and although these have not arrived at maturity, 

 their successful development is of sufficient interest and impor- 

 tance to merit some details of the plant being given here. 



In Ceylon, Madras, Straits Settlements, Java, and the West 

 Indies the cultivation appears to have been carried to a successful 

 issue, and it is reasonable to expect that it will succeed in Nigeria, 

 more especially in the Southern Colony. 



The fruit is regalaiiy shipped from Singapore to Calcutta, but 

 the establishment of a trade between any of the countries of pro- 

 duction and the European markets has so far not been accom- 

 plished. 



A box containing nine fruits of Mangosteen was received at Kew 

 from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad, in 1897. Each fruit 

 was separately packed in a compartment with pine wool, and owing 

 to the firm consistency of the outer wall of the fruit it travelled 

 well, and was favourably reported on (Kew Bull. 1898, p. 26). 

 Fruits imported in 1904 were, however, not favourably reported 

 on (Gard. Chron. Dec. 17th, 1901, p. 427). 



The rind is said to yield a valuable tanning material, and in 

 India it is used in combination 'with the fruits of Terminalia 

 Oatappa as a black dye. A decoction of the rind is considered 

 useful in cases of chronic dysentery and diarrhoea, and is said to 

 possess other medicinal virtues (Diet. Econ. Prod. Ind.). 



The seeds, although they do not retain their vitality for long, 

 germinate quickly when sown in a fresh state. Plants may be 

 raised in nursery beds or in bamboo pots, and planted out in 

 permanent places when about a year old, at distances of from 

 18-20 feet. A tropical temperature, heavy rainfall, and an open, 

 rich, loamy soil are indispensable to satisfactory growth. 



Garcinia ovalifolia, Oliv, ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 166. 

 111.— Pierre, Fl. For. Cochin, t. 88 C. ; Yidal, Fl. For. Filip. 1. 11 A. 

 Vernac. name. — Bolong (Congo). 

 Niger. 



The wood is used on the Congo for making canoes (De Wilde- 

 man, PI. Util. Congo, Art. xxvi. p. 356). 



Ochrocarpus, Thouars. 



Ochrocarpus africanus, Oliv. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 169 

 African Mammee Apple. 



The pulp of the fruit is eaten by the natives (Mann, Mns. Kew). 

 33386 E 



