Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 



161 



be hoped that in the future propagation in this way will be utilized only to supply 

 the necessary stocks upon which to bud or graft superior varieties. As with nearly 

 all other tree fruits, the mango does not come true from seed, and trees grown 

 by this method are liable to prove inferior and disappointing in the majority of 

 cases. With all the choice varieties now at our command it will be much more 

 profitable to turn our attention at once to the asexual propagation of those found 

 to be adapted to this climate, than to the development of new varieties through 

 the selection of seedlings. 



By Seed: Propagation from seed is most simple, and no difficulties are 

 encountered in growing the mango in this way. It has been found advantageous 

 to remove the husk from the seed before planting, as this not only hastens germina- 

 tion, but does away with loss of seeds from insects or fungous growths which find 

 their way inside the husks. A high temperature favors prompt germination, and 

 for tin's reason seeds are usually started in a greenhouse. They can be planted 

 singly in 4-inch pots, a light, well drained soil being best suited to the develop- 

 ment of the young plant. 



Ixarchixg: The simplest method of asexual propagation, and the only one 

 practiced until very recently, is that known as inarching, or grafting by approach. 

 This is the method that has been in use in India for centuries, and by which the 

 choice varieties for wliich that country is famous have been perpetuated. Inarch- 

 ing provides a simple means for the perpetuation of good varieties, and while 

 somewhat tedious and not suited to the production of trees commercially, propa- 

 gation in this way may be much more successfully practiced by the inexperienced 

 than budding. The following description of the process from the Sugar Journal 

 and Tropical Cultivator will be of great assistance to those contemplating doing 

 this work; 



"Tlie best method of propagating good varieties of mangos is by means of 

 inarching, which is a very simple process. It is performed usually between a 

 large tree of superior variety growing in the ground and a seedling growing in a 

 pot, — small, cheap flower pots about eight or nine inches deep and six inches 

 diameter do well for the purpose. The soil should be good potting soil, with a 

 fair proportion of manure. A single large mango stone should be planted in 

 each pot. The seedlings are ready for inarching, if well grown, in ten months or 

 so; if not well grown, they should be older. Two-year-old seedlings are very suc- 

 cessfully inarched. The stem of the seedlings should be in each fairly thick, with 

 the wood fairly developed, — near the root the stem will be somewhat thicker than 

 an ordinary workingman's smallest finger. Any number of seedlings in pots can 

 be inarched in one tree by erecting a stage (for their support) under the lower 

 branches. The stem of the branch to be inarched should be about the same thick- 

 ness as the seedling, and like the seedling, should be fairly developed wood. The 

 juncture where the inarching is performed should be about six or eight inches 

 from the root of the seedling and about a foot or so from the growing point of the 

 branch, unless the branch is making new vigorous growth, in which case the dis- 

 tance will be more. A straight, well-shaped branch should be selected, so that 

 the future grafted tree will be well proportioned. A slice of wood and bark 



