Srpt. ], 1903. J THE TROPICAL 
comes across a really good variety that he has not, 
and which is much fancied, or is likely to be highly 
appreciated, it shauld be added to the existing collec- 
tion, I do not recommend the cultivation of a large 
number of varieties simply for the sake of having them 
in the garden. I take a more utilitarian view of fruit 
culture. 
There are certain well recognised points about 
Mangoes which shoold be kept before one in making a 
selection. These are: (1) flavour; (2) absence of 
fibre in the flesh : and (3) the size of the seed. A 
Man|70 without flavour, though having no fibre and a 
small seed, is quite unfit as a dessert fruit; but is 
eminently suited for making into preserve, jelly or 
jam. On the other hand, a Mango with exquisite 
flavour, and with fibre and a large seed, is equally 
nnsuited as a dessert fruit, and is not fit for preserving, 
etc. Again, a lilango with good flavour, little or 
no fibre, but having a large seed, is also unsatis- 
factory. Therefore, a Mango, to be fit for dessert 
purposes, should have flavour, little or no fibre, and a 
small seed. In the following list 1 have divided the 
varieties into " Dessert " and" Kitchen," as they do 
at home in the case of Apples and Pears : — 
DESSERT 
Alphonso ov AJ^oos.— This is undoubtedly the best 
Mango ill India. It is grown chiefly in the neighbour- 
hood of Hombay, but in reality its home is Goa, I 
have eaten it at both places, and my enquiries elicited 
the fact that it was introduced to Bombay from Goa 
by the Portuguese. It has preserved its distinctive 
features in a wonderful manner. It comes " true " 
from seed, so there need be no hesitation in raising 
plants by this means. The fruit is of moderate size, 
about 3i inches long and 2^ inches across, slightly 
flattish, and having a distinct " nose." It assumes 
a rich yellow tinged with pink when ripe. The flesh 
is deep sulphur yellow, of rich consistency, and 
delicious flavour. There is practically no fibre, and 
the seed is exceedingly small and flit. It is a vigorous 
grower and prolific bearer ; and realizes Rs. 5 per 
dozen in the Bombay Crawford market. It is in 
season during May and part of June. 
Langra. — I consider this next to the foregoing in 
quality. In many respects it resembles it, that is, in 
size, colour of flesh, flavour and small seed. Some- 
times it grows to a larger size, especially in the 
Darbhanga district. It cones " true " from seed, and 
maintains its distinctive character. It is in season 
in June, almost a month later than most other 
Mangoes. The Langra described by Firminger as " an 
excessively large fruit, of inferior quality," does not 
apply to this, and that authority must have had the 
•ommonFazli in mind ; as this fruit is often palmed 
oS on the unwary as the true Langra. There is, 
however, no comparison hetween the two. 
JSomia)/. - Under this name a large number of 
varieties are sold that are not really Bombay. The 
true Bombay is a fairly large fruit; pyreform in shape 
narrowing off almost to a point. The skin is very 
dark green, with a bluish, tinge or " flush." It is of 
exquisite flavour. The flesh is deep reddish yellow, 
absolutely fibreless, and with a small thin seed. 
Why it is called Bombay I don't know, because it is 
not met with on the Bombay side — at any rate I have 
not met with it there. It does not come " true " 
from seed ; that may be one reason why there are so 
many inferior forms of Bomhaee Am. It must 
always be propagated by grafting or inarching. It is 
in season in May. 
Malda.—The true Mslda is aa exquisite fruit ; quit 
different from the huge fruits, of insipid flavour, com- 
monly met with under this name. It is a middle 
sized fruit, of olive green colour when ripe, with 
flesh of deep orange colour, fibreless, delicious flavour 
and small, flat seed. It may be described as a large- 
sized Langra. It does not come " true " from seed, 
Xt la in season from aboat the middle of May. 
AGRICULTURIST. 157 
_ Pi/aree or Simwhemj. —Thia is a fruit grown exolu. 
aively on the Bombiiy side, in the neighbourhood of 
Mazagon. It is a small fruit, with a cuiious but very 
pleasing flavour, reminding one somewhat of the 
Strawberry; hence its name. The flesh is pale 
yellow and fibreless with a seed large in proportion 
to the flesh. It is in season throughout May and 
part of June. I have never raised it from 
seed. 
Kissenbiwg.—Thia is a round fruit of large size 
The flesh is fibreless, but in flavour it is inferior to 
all the foregoing; but it is a dessert fruit, and much 
esteemed by the natives of Bengal and Behar. It is in 
season earlier than most kinds. 
Tue six foregoing I consider to be the beat Mangoes 
in cultivation in India. The following I have classed 
as " Kitchen," but at a pinch some of thsm may be 
used as dessert : — 
KITCHKN. 
Laiye Mahla.—Thia is an immense frui^, perhaps 
the largest in cultivation. It corresponds to the 
Barera of Goa and Bombay. It ripens a pale yellow] 
The flesh is of the same colour, ami fibreless ; but the 
flavour, though sweet, is " mawkish." It makes 
excellent preserve and jelly. It ig in season in May 
and .June. 
Barera — This is the largest Mango g-rown on the 
Bom&ay side, and is in t^ient request for pioklns, 
ohutoies, preserves, etc. The flesh, when ripe is 
yellow, and has a small amount of fibre, with a 
moderate sized stone. It is said to have come originally 
from Goa. 
Go/Jal Blior/.— This ig a moderate sized fruit, grown 
chiefly in the Alalda District, and held in high esteem 
by the natives of i^engal. It ripens a deep amber, 
the flesh being oriinge colour, of' livery consistency 
and of fairly good flavour, lb is fibreleas, with a small 
seed, and makes excellent preserve and pickle. 
Peter.— This is a moderate sized frurit, of roundish 
form with a pronounced " nose.' It ripens of a red- 
dish tinge. The flavour is said to resemble that of a 
ripe Gooseberry ; but to me it never gave that idea. 
It has a small amount of fibre. 
Ki/sapatee. — Some people go into eostaores over 
this fruit. It is small, slightly flbi-ous, with a seed 
out of all proportion to the flash, Its only merit lies 
in its flavour, which is V3i-y tiae. Tlie natives use this 
largely for p'okliug, 
Madra:^ or Hangalore. — This is a large, round fruit, 
somewhat like Kissenbhog.lt ripens with a bdght 
reddish tinge. It is a good Mango, but has a larger 
proportion of fibre than one would wish for in a 
dessert fruit. The flavour is distinoi from any other 
Maago. It is much esteemed in Southern India. 
o^/i.— This is a very large fruit, and ooaies into 
season in July and August. It resembles tha large 
Malda in many respects, and is not a bad fruit, takau 
all round. It makes splendid preserve. 
The seven foregoing I can recommend as well worth 
cultivating in the garden. There are scores of orhers, 
all more or less good, bad and indifferent. I have tried 
nearly all the known kinds, and have come to the con- 
alusion that they are not worth growing in the garden 
The following are highly spoken of by Mr. Gollan, 
Superintendent of the Gaverament Botanical Gardens 
Sharanpur, but with the merits of which 1 am not 
acquainted. 
Hatijlnd.— 01 this Mr. Gollaa says : " One of the 
best. This kind yields fruit with a very thin seed ; 
flesh of most delicious flavour and each fruit averag- 
ing a p luad in weighs." Other gsod kinds whicli 
have fruited with him, and which he "ecommends, are 
Baramasi, Gola, Naspali, Phaism, Tamancha. and 
Tata. 
Hoai0s iNDicas, 
Indian. Planting and ffardening. 
