1589 
IS THE MANGO GOOD TO EAT ? 
(Mangifera indica) 
It will seem strange enough to any one who has 
learned to love the flavor of one of the most remarkable 
fruits In the world that such a question could be 
appropriate, but, to those of us who have had the 
chilling experience of offering mangos to peopl e of the 
most refined tastes and getting unfavorable opinions 
In return, the question. "Is the mango good to eat?" Is 
not so entirely out of place. Of course, It must be 
answered In the affirmative, but the answer must be 
accompanied by the statement that not even the most 
delicious peach In existence can compare in richness 
and weal th of flavor with a good mango. In our opinion, 
anyone who declares he can not abide mangos, either 
has never tasted a good one or, for some reason, has 
been unwilling to learn to like them. 
In the summer of 1918 an unusually fine lot of 
mangos (the Totofarl, the White Alphonse, and the Kala 
Alphonse) was sent up from the Miami Plant Introduc- 
tion Field Station and when in prime condition these 
were served to the members of the Cosmos Club of Wash- 
ington. Brief printed descriptions of the mangos, with 
space for the voluntary comments of those who tasted 
the fruits, were also distributed.* The influencing of 
opinion was avoided as far as possible. 
The following comments show how opinion differed 
with regard to these mangos ind how often those who 
had eaten the mango in their travels were delighted 
to taste it again: 
Very pleasant flavor and excellent substance. 
Would prefer it to a good peach. (Earl B. Phelps.) 
! I acquired the taste for mangos in Panama in 
1909-11. The one I have just sampled was better 
than any I had on the Isthmus. (E.C. Sherman.) 
! Think the fruit is very good on first trial. 
(P. Walker.) 
A most welcome addition to Cosmos Club menu. A 
delicious, juicy, and appetizing fruit, witha dis- 
tinctive flavor that is most agreeable and refresh- 
ing. (Gilbert Grosvenor.) 
Very sorry but we did not 1 ike the mangos. (E.M. 
Redfield, wife of Secretary of Commerce.) 
