IMPERIAL GARDENS FOR FRUIT-TREE DISSEMINATION. 309 
Mandarins, but the only true Mandarins I ever saw there were a few on 
a neglected tree which the late Dr. Trimen showed me in Peradeniya. 
The Tangerines of the London shops are no other than Mandarins.* 
I never could discover one in London worth eating. To enjoy it you 
must grow it yourself, and take it oft' the tree when fully ripe. The 
perfume of its peel is not to be found in any other Orange. 
To the ' Suntara ' group belongs a small Orange, grown almost wild 
on the borders of Nepaul, north of Goruckpore. It is the sweetest 
Orange I ever came across, perhaps a little too sweet. It is locally known 
by the name of SfDitdldJi. 
Another important Indian Orange belongs to what I consider a sub- 
group of the ' Suntara.' It goes by the name of Keonla or Kdmala. Its 
exterior is of a deep lobster-red, and even when quite coloured is sourish, 
but if left for a long time on the tree it sweetens. It is the latest of all 
Indian Oranges. 
The Ldroo of Poona is, I consider, a variety of the foregoing. It is 
flat and very loose skinned, so much so that the pulp- ball can be made to 
rattle within the skin. 
I have enumerated all the Indian Oranges that could, I think, be made 
marketable, although there are several others. 
It is not easy to find a place for an Imperial Orange Garden, where all 
the Orange varieties of the Citrus genus could be studied, for one kind of 
soil might not suit them all. The Mediterranean climate would probably 
suit all varieties, and Cyprus or Egypt might perhaps be mentioned as 
an eligible locality. It must be a place where water could be easily pro- 
cured, and not subject to frost. 
(6) A Mango Garden. 
An Imperial Garden for Mango trees of the choicest varieties, for th& 
study, propagation, and dissemination of this noble fruit. There are at 
least about fifty choice varieties of this unique fruit, some of which cannot 
be bought, but are grown in the orchards of native gentlemen, and kept 
for presentation to important officials and select friends. 
The Mango is the one fruit in which the native of India takes a real 
interest. You may mention to him many other fruits, but he will tell 
you " They don't come up to the Mango." 
No one who has not lived some time in India, and has discovered what 
a choice Mango, just ripe, means, can form any adequate idea of the 
exquisite flavour of this fruit. 
New arrivals in India, having heard of the Mango, very often get hold 
of seedling bazaar Mangos, and pronounce them a fine combination of tow 
and turpentine. They have a sort of turpentine flavour, and the inferior 
varieties are very stringy, and can only be sucked. Nevertheless, there 
are often exquisite flavours even among these. 
The Mango is never allowed to ripen on the tree, but is plucked at a 
certain stage and packed in large jars among straw. This operation is 
called putting the fruit in pal. The reason given for this is that the 
* Perhaps they may be a seed variety, and a little smaller than the true Mandarin. 
I 2 
