172 



" One of the trees budded at Hope was a stump not less than 

 50 years old." 



Harris recommends that the trees be cut down carefully to 

 within 2 feet of the ground. The shoots are thinned out to three 

 as near the top as possible. These he considers ready for budding 

 when three-quarters of an inch in diameter at the base (Bull. 

 Dept. Agric. Jamaica, 1903, p. 253). 



Oliver recommends two- or three-year old seedlings and 

 moderate-sized trees as stocks on which to bud approved varieties 

 of the Mango, the stems selected for the reception of the buds 

 being at least an inch in diameter (The Propagation of Tropical 

 Fruit Trees and other Plants, Bull. No. 46, 1903, U.S. Dept. of 

 Agric. Bur. PI. Ind. p. 11). He illustrates the ordinary method 

 of shield-budding, and a modification called the rectangular patch 

 method (I.e.). 



Propagation may also be effected by layering. 



Grafted, budded, or layered trees come to maturity earlier by 

 several years than do those raised from seed. Twenty to thirty feet, 

 possibly more, will be required between each tree, when fully 

 developed, for the coarser growing kinds, and for the finer varieties 

 any distance from 12 or 15 feet and upwards may be required. 



A tropical or sub-tropical climate ; a rainfall of 50 inches and 

 upwards ; rich deep and well-drained soil suits the Mango, and is 

 essential to good growth, more particularly in the early stages, but 

 if the soil is over rich at the time the trees are due to fruit they 

 are apt to produce an excess of wood. 



Of greater importance than soil, perhaps, is a dry season of 

 sufficient duration to admit of the fruiting wood being thoroughly 

 ripened. In Singapore they do not succeed well owing to the 

 short dry season (Derry). In moist regions, where the growth is 

 continual, artificial means of checking it are resorted to, such as 

 ring-barking the smaller branches, the application of salt, 10 lbs. 

 to each tree (Woodrow, The Mango, p. 14) at the end of the rainy 

 season, and root pruning. The latter method is perhaps the most 

 efficacious and certainly the more practical way ; although in 

 countries like Nigeria, subject to tornado seasons, it would be 

 necessary to guard against the possibility of uprooting. 



Heavy rains at the time of flowering prevent pollination. 



The tree is one of the finest for making avenues. 



In the references to the literature some of the improved kinds 

 dealt with by the various authors are mentioned. There are 

 many excellent sorts. Maries collected in Durbhunga, N.W. 

 Bengal, over 500 varieties, and by a judicious selection it is 

 possible to have fruits in season for at least five months in the 

 year. One variety — " Barmassia," the 12 months Mango — is said 

 to be a perpetual bearer, but it is of very inferior quality (Journ. 

 Roy. Hort. Soc. xxvi. 1901, p. 756). A variety known as the 

 " Do-am " is said to fruit twice in one year. 



The fruit is ready for gathering when it separates easily from 

 the tree ; a slight softening near the point of attachment is also a 



