CULTURE OF THE MANGO. 
159 
finest trees, and best flavoured fruit, are always to be met with in districts where the 
soil is deep, light, and somewhat sandy : this knowledge may serve as a guide in 
I this respect. If the plants are grown in pots or tubs, a mixture of two parts light 
rich turfy loam, and one part peat, sand, and rotten manure mixed, is the best soil, 
with abundance of drainage ; but if they are turned out into a prepared border, any 
" light rich turfy loam, rendered open by an addition of sand, will answer every 
purpose. 
The general temperature in those countries where the plants naturally grow, 
range from 60° to 90° ; with us, during the most vigorous growing season, they 
require an average heat of 75°, with a humid atmosphere; in the dry season, 70° 
with a moderate moisture; and in winter from 50° to 55° with a dry and airy 
situation. 
Whilst the plants are in vigorous growth, water with weak liquid manure, made 
from sheeps’ droppings, and continue to supply this whilst the fruit are swelling up. 
Syringing also is very important whilst the wood is forming, and the fruit small, 
but this must be discontinued when the plants are in flower, the fruit are ripening, 
and in the period of torpidity. 
Air should be supplied liberally when the weather is sufficiently fine to admit 
of it: even in winter this is desirable. 
Although Mango trees do not flourish in bottom-heat, yet if grown in pots or 
tubs it is generally thought advantageous to plunge them, either in old tan or earth, 
for otherwise they sometimes fail to set a good crop of fruit. Some persons, however, 
are very successful, who leave the pots standing on the surface; perhaps in this 
latter situation more attention is required to prevent any sudden alternations of heat 
and cold, drought and moisture, reaching the roots, which would effectually check 
the progress of the crop. 
A very moderate share of attention only is required to grow these plants to 
perfection. When they have attained about the height of four feet, they may be 
considered sufficiently large to bear fruit ; introduce them in spring to a brisk moist 
heat, to insure a good growth ; when the shoots are formed, remove them to a more 
moderate heat, with less moisture, to mature their wood ; and afterwards keep them 
in a cool place through the winter. 
During the winter and before growth commences, pick off the terminal buds 
from the strong-growing branches, to induce them to send out side-shoots, and make 
the plants dwarf and bushy. Pruning with a knife should never be resorted to ; 
the branches which are cut bleed so profusely when the growth commences, that the 
usual vigour and health of the plant is greatly weakened. 
In the following March, shortly after the plants are introduced into heat, they 
become covered with a profusion of flowers. These should be fertilised, otherwise 
the fruit often sets thinly; those which do set, however, usually swell off pretty 
freely. About four good fruit on a panicle are quite sufficient to leave : more would 
scarcely arrive at maturity. Two or three weeks previously to the fruit ripening, no 
