290 
CULTURE OF TROPICAL FRUITS. 
to be found is unquestionable; .the wonder is, that in this country 
sufficient pains have not been taken for the attainment of so impor¬ 
tant an object. It is true, that no other than the liberal-minded 
man of rank and affluence can patronize such undertakings, and he 
is the only one who would receive much gratification from either 
seeing things of this sort in the hothouse, or upon his table. 
Commerce affords us the enjoyment of many fruits from warmer 
climates, such as the orange with its alliances, pomegranates, figs, 
dates, raisins, currants or Zante-raisins, cocoa, with many other nuts 
and kernels, tamarinds, &c. All these, (though several of them 
might be perfected by suitable buildings and treatment,) are not 
worth the requisite trouble and expense of culture, except, perhaps, 
the shaddock, which deserves a place on account of the beautiful ex¬ 
uberance of the tree, and its ample fruit. But there are others, which 
I take the liberty to recommend to your notice, as really deserving 
a separate subdivision of the Chatsvvorth range of hot-houses. For 
example, the mango, (Mangifera indica) is a fruit quite as good as 
a well-ripened Newington peach. In the East Indies, their pulp is 
stringy, and on that account the fruit is the less valued. This stringiness, 
however, passes off by cultivation, for in the West Indies the same 
fruit is found in great perfection, having a melting pulp, and being 
entirely free from that clingstone defect complained of in the East. 
This tree has been already well fruited in different parts of Europe, 
without any extraordinary preparation being made either for the 
roots or head. In India, the mango appears to flourish most in a 
deep sandy soil, the temperature varying from 60 to 96 degrees. 
Again, the mangosteen, (Garcinia unangostana) is a most delicious 
fruit. It is about the size of a pomegranate, the seeds are sur¬ 
rounded by an almost transparent pulp, and when ripe it is covered 
by a dark red shell. It is common at Malacca, and the Islands of 
Sumatra, Java and Banca, growing on low alluvial land, and seem¬ 
ing to require a humid atmosjffiere. The tree is of moderate size 
and regular growth, but does not grow so high as the mango. 
The next fruit worthy of a trial in our stoves, is the Jambosteen 
Eugenia or Jambos malaccensis. This is found located with the 
preceding, and is a much more beautiful, though a smaller fruit. 
To these may be added the different species of Guava ( Psidium) 
but particularly the Cherimoyer (Anona Cherimolia) which, if they 
succeed, would give an interesting variety to the dessert. Peach 
culture, as to soil and training, would no doubt suit the trees I have 
named, and if they were kept to the back wall or on a trellis, allow¬ 
ing the head to occupy the highest part for the benefit of heat and 
