6 



Quality. A careful attempt should be made to estimate the general 

 quality of the fruit, which is usually described by the use of such terms 

 as poor, good, or excellent. 



The form and size of the seed should be carefully described, and the 

 weight, as well as longitudinal, transverse, and lateral dimensions given. 

 Further, in the light of the recent important discoveries regarding the 

 embryony of the mango, it should be stated whether the seed is monoem- 

 bryonic or polyembryonic. 



The season is usually described as early, mid-season, or late, but it 

 is well to add the exact period during which, in each particular region, the 

 fruit can be picked, also its keeping and shipping qualities. 



There are usually a few remarks regarding the fruit which will 

 suggest themselves, and which have not been provided for in the general 

 description. These should be noted down, following which the characteris- 

 tics of growth and productiveness should be fully described. Under this 

 head will be included any peculiarities of growth or foliage, resistance to 

 cold and disease, and those most important of points, precocity and regular- 

 ity of bearing, as well as the average size of the crop. 



The importance of accurate illustrations to accompany the description 

 of each variety cannot be overestimated. If photographic apparatus is not 

 available, careful drawings will suffice. One drawing should show the 

 general outline of the fruit, another a longitudinal section with the seed in 

 place, and a third the seed alone, viewed longitudinally. 



Photographs are by far the most satisfactory illustrations. With a 

 camera of fairly good size a composite photograph may be taken, showing the 

 fruit in several positions and including every detail. The external appearance 

 should be shown by longitudinal and basal views, though in the case of a 

 flat, compressed variety a view of the ventral surface may be more satisfac- 

 tory than a basal one. A seed should be included, or better, two of them, 

 washed free of all pulp but with the fibers left intact, and one viewed edge- 

 wise, so as to show the thickness, the other showing its length and breadth. 

 A scale or tape line, marked in inches or centimeters, should always be 

 placed in one side of tlie photograph to show the comparative size. 



Classification. 



An accurate and systematic classification of varieties is at present one 

 of the greatest desiderata in connection with mango culture. There seems 

 to be ample basis for a classification by natural characteristics, in which, 

 could all named varieties be included, their relationships would be vividly 

 brought out, and the synonomy established of many considered distinct. 



The principal obstacle confronting such a work is the widespread dis- 

 tribution of the mango, making it impossible to gather together all varieties 

 for study and comparison. There is no reason, however, why a classificatory 

 system could not be formed which could be applied by each pomologist to the 

 varieties of his particular region, when a collaboration of the various in- 

 vestigators would bring together the fragments and produce the desired 



