the tropical agriculturist. 
510 
r A pril t, 
I may also mention, that I have seen a “(:«an 
!Del” tree possessing e- single branch with leaves 
like those of the brejid-ivnit ; also a young ‘jak 
tree possessing a few divided leaves and young 
“Gan Del” plants with the ordinary leaves.— 
Yours faithfully, “ INQUIRER.” 
[In Eerguson’s *' Timber Trees of Ceylon 
there are four varieties given of Artocarpus : 
“Nobilis” or “Delgaha” of the Sinhalese; 
“ Integrifolia ” or “ Kosgaha,” Jak ; “Incisa” or 
“Ratadel,” Breadfruit and “Lakoocha’ or 
“ Kanna-gona-gaha ’ ol the Sinhalese. Can there 
be confusion between the first and last in the 
Bentoia distiici ? -Ed. T.A.] 
Dear Sni, — In reference to “Inquirer’s” letter it 
is not by any means a rare occnrr.'nce for the leaves of 
young nlants to be totally difforentin outline from these 
ofolio!.' plants of exactly the same kind or even of older 
branches ot the .same tree. A good example of fbis 
transition of form is seen in Ah urites tnJoha, the Tel- 
kekuna of the Sinlialese, or “ Candle-nut of Euro- 
peans. This in the young state has the leaves distinctly 
three-lobed, heme the specific name ; but as the plant 
attains to some feet in height, the leaves gradually lose 
their lohed character and become perfectly egg-shaped, 
thus puzzling persons who look only to grown-up trees 
for the origin of the specific name. 
Regarding the query put by “Inquirer ’ however, 
Ai'tocarpus nobilis, the Giu-del, Wal-del, or Vi’ild 
•Breadfruit, is a distinct species, not a variety, and, 
as far as I have observed, does not have the leaves 
lobed or divided in the young state. In this respect 
probably Artocarpus incisa, the Rata-del or real Bread- 
fruit, has been mistaken for the former, the specific 
name denoting the particular described by “Inquirer. ’ 
This has large and deeply “cut” leaves, the seg- 
ments being again “cut” in the edges, and is alto- 
gether, in most opinions, a more noble tree than A. 
•nobilis, despite the name. The fruit of A. incisa 
(Breadfruit) is usually quite round, contains no seed 
and is, perhaps on this account, much more in favour 
with curry eaters than the long oval-sha,ped wild 
Breadfruit, . 
Artocarpus Lalcoocha, or Eauna-gonn.a, is also 
equally distinct both in general appearance and in 
the fiuit, which is much smaller than that of the 
other two above mentioned, and can scarcely be con- 
sidered edible in comparison with them. There are 
of course s^^veral recognized varieties of Artocarpus 
iRleijrijoUa (jak', some being much better appreciated 
than others by the natives, — Yours faithfully, 
DEL JATHI. 
Bentota, March 5. 
Dear Sir,— There is no confusion between “ Arto- 
carpus Nobilis” and “ Arto-carpiis Lakoocha” in 
the Bentota district. “Inquirer” has not often seen 
“ Gan-Del ” trees when young. . In fertile places 
the young tree has leaves similar to those of the 
bread-fruit or “ Arto-carpus Incisa.” The leaves 
change \vl ei the tree grows old. But, according to 
the quality of the timber, there are four distinct 
species of “ Gan-Del.” They are “ Habiu'u-Del, 
Patta-Del, Alu-Del, and Meeau-Del. ’ The first word 
in each case will explain the quality of the timber. 
Of these, the last two are valuable and the first two 
very inferior timber. The timber of “ Haburu-Del_ 
easily breaks in pieces, and that of “ Ratta-Del is 
somewhat tough. “ Alu-Del ” has an ash colour and 
“ Meean-Del ” timber is like the horns of a buffali, 
hard and stiong. But in ail cases the tree looks 
alike. “ 
M.VNGIl'EHA INDICA— THE MANGO 
TREE. 
Sxu Dr. Dev’s notes* give valuable and reliable 
inforn’iatiou and I make the following quotations 
from it ;— “ Esteemed by both Europeans and nativ s 
as the most delicious of Indian fruits. The ripe 
fruit is very wholesome, nourishing, and highly 
antiscorbutic ; the unripe fruit is made into re- 
freshing sherbets and custards, into pickles and pre- 
serves, as a sour ingredient in certain curries, and 
as the principal ingredient of the chutnies so popular 
in Indian cookery and exported to Europe. The 
kernel inside the large flattened ‘ stone ’ or seed 
contains about 10 per cent of taunic acid, of which an 
enormous quantity must be wasted each mango 
season, the seeds not being utilized. 
“The pulp of the ripe fruit contains a trace of gallic 
acid, with citric acid and gum : the unripe fruit 
contains about 20 per cent of free acids, tartaric, 
citric and malic. The bark of the tree contains 
tannic acid and from it exudes a pink-coloured gum 
partly soluble iu water. The fruit exudes just before 
ripening a resinous substance with an odour of 
turpentine. The blossom is regarded as astringent. 
“ Medicinal uses . — The powdered kernel of the seed, 
called ainar hisi, is used as an astringent in diarrhoea, 
and as a remedy, also as an anthelmintic. A fluid 
extract of the bark has been recommended in 
hemorrhages. The popular idea among Europeans 
in India that the mango fruit is productive of boils 
and skin eruptions is a fallacy, and has probably 
arisen through the coincidence of the occurrence of 
those symptoms with the mango season, the end of 
the hot season and the beginning of the rains. On 
the contrary as has been indicated, it is a valuable 
antiscorbutic, unless when used immoderately 
I have italicised the words ripe, and immoderately 
80 as to lead to the accepted view that only ripe fruit 
should be indulged in and that the delicious flavour 
should not be allowed to cause excess of indulgence. 
The unripe fruit should be always cooked in some 
manner of preparation before it is used as a food or a 
condiment. The acids in the unripe fruit make it an ex- 
tremely valuable addition to saltfish curry, and a 
thin sauce containing mango is pleasant enough 
with salt-beef, timed salmon, kippered herrings, 
bloaters etc. 
After all, moderation in the use of a good thing 
is the golden rule. The fate of the cows fed to 
excess on mango fruit with the express intention of 
piodiiciug pathological results, and the experience 
of many that a few mangoes has a marked diuretic 
effect teaches the value of moderation. The best 
mangoes do not cloy, but whet the appetite, hence 
heavy meals of the ripe fruit until satiety is attained 
with some difficulty. The most simple rules are as 
follows : — Eat only ripe mangoes, and those only 
after a meal, and do not eat any after evening; it 
is a positive disadvantage to have a juicy bulk of 
fermentable stuff in a stomach when one goes to bed. 
It is worth noting that in certain varieties (and 
the cheaper kinds especially) a cluster of glands 
round the insertion of the fruit-stalk secrete a tere- 
binthine resin which can permeate the pulp and 
ruin much of the flavour of the fruit if the stalk 
end be the uppermost when the mango is lying in 
store or cupboard for a few days ; hence, another 
rule, always lay by mango fruits with the stalk end 
undermost. — Yours truly, MEDICO. 
EFFECTS OF FEEDING CATTLE 
ON MANGO LEAVES. 
Sir, — You mentioned, in your reference to Sir 
Grand Duff’s lecture before the Society of Arts, the 
deleterious effects of mango leaves on cattle ; but 
what perliaps is stranger is that animals are fed on 
this peculiar diet witli a specilie object, being 
made use ot as so many machines. Tlie 
fo’lowing facts gathered from the Kew Bulletin 
No. 39 should prove of interest to some of your 
reailei's. Indian fellow or purree is described in 
ordinary books of reference as a colouring 
matter liighly esteemed by artists, but its origin 
was little known till comparatively lately. 
* Indigenous Drugs of India. 
