MANGIFERA INDICA. Linn. Mango.
montana, Heyne. M. domostica, Gcertn.
Maghzak, . . . ARAB. Mang'ga, . . SUNDA. Am, . . BENG., HIND. Ma maram . TAM. That-yat, . . . BURM. Mavi, ltlamidi chettu, TEL. Mavena, CAN Ela (fragrant) mavi, Mang-kwo, . . Onus. Gujju (dwarf) mamidi, Palam, Jay Etamba (wild) mamidi, Kapalam, . . Lanruxe. Racha mamidi, . Mampalam, Maya, MALEA. Tiyya . . Makandamu, Amra, SANS. Ambo, Urfa, . . . Amba, Attamba, . SINGH.
The mango tree is generally diffused over all the warmer parts of S. Asia, as far north as 30° in the Panjab, in N. India up to 3500 feet, and up to Nabu at an altitude of 4000. It has been successfully introduced into the West Indies. It grows to a great size, with an erect tisank, and dark-coloured cracked bark. Its flowering time is January, February, and March ; the fruit ripens in May, June, and July, and is one of grateful fruits of the tropical parts of Asia. The Archipelagic names of the cultivated mango are all, according to Crawfurd, derived from th:Sans krit, Maha-pahala, or great fruit. Through the agency of Europeans, however, the corrupted form of the Sunda name for the wild mango has become prevalent throughout the east, from Mada gascar to the Philippines, and has extended to America. The mangoes of Mazagaon were once celebrated. The best mangoes come from Goa, Bombay, Multan, Hushyarpur, and KarnaL The best of all are the Paiwandi, or grafted mangoes, at once known by the utter absence of all stringi ness of texture, and by their delicate flavour. Natives usually prefer mangoes when they are so ripe that they have lost their firmness, and are quite flabby and soft. The wood is of a dull grey colour, porous, yet pretty durable if kept dry, but soon decays if exposed to wet, of the effect of which it is very sensitive. In very large old trees it acquires a light chocolate colour towards the centre of the trunk and larger branches. This is hard, closer grained, and much more durable. It is generally used for constructing masula boats, and for packing- cases ; the cabinet-makers at Madras prefer it to other wood for veneering on ; it is also generally used by coach-builders, cabinet makers, and others, where common light wood is required, being the cheapest wood obtainable for packing-eases, boarding, and rough work, and for hacks and linings of furniture. The wood holds a nail faster than any other wood. It is very serviceable for planks, when not exposed to wet, and is much used for house purposes. It seems to bear the action of salt water better than that of fresh ; is hence used for canoes. It could be readily creosoted. It is used in Mysore for the solid wheels of country carts and rough furniture. The root bark is an aromatic bitter. The kernels are large, and seem to contain some nourishment ; during times of scarcity and famine, they are boiled in the steam of water, and used as an article of diet. Propagating by layers, and graft ing by approach, are the only modes of certainly continuing fine sorts, as well as of improving them. These have the advantage also of bearing when small in size, that is, only a few feet in height, and therefore well suited to culture in the hothouses of Europe.
The mango tree is said to have been brought into India by Ravana from Ceylon. Some of the most esteemed sorts of this fruit in India are the Alphonse, Raspberry, Doria, Magbrabab, and the Mazagong. The practice of engrafting the mango was first introduced at Madras by Dr. James Anderson, who improved it in a great degree. Propagation may easily be effected by seed and cuttings, etc., but the process is slow, as a tree thus raised will not bear fruit before the fifth or sixth year, whereas those that are grafted produce in the second or third, although it is injurious to the tree to let it bear so early, and the blossoms should be removed. Young grafts will sometimes, indeed very often, blossom the first season they are removed, but if allowed to bear fruit, it checks them for a length of time after. A mango graft
may be applied at any time of the year, but the stock must be kept continually moist by watering. When the graft and stock have become united, the former must be partially divided by a notch with a sharp knife ; this may be done after six weeks have elapsed from the time of itC"first being united. A second cutting may be effected a fortnight later, and the complete removal from the parent tree at the exd-2,tion of nine or ten weeks. After this, remove tne graft into .the shade for a fortnight longer, when it may be put into the spot where it is to remain. A graft tree mover attains the size of a seedling, neither will it continuo to live or bear so long, and it is doubted if the seed of it graft mango would produce the same fruit, whereas a seedling often does so. The time that a seedling takes to produce fruit is the great objection to this mode of rearinn. trees ; nevertheless a young tree of three years old might have one of its branches brought into blossom by ringing ; this would enable the cultivator to judge if the tree was worth preserving or not. The Maghrabah variety is of a greenish tinge inside when ripe, and by far the largest of the whole, being three times the size of an Alphonse, and it ripens the last. When the graft is planted out, it requires only a moderato proportion of care, clearing the ground of all weeds, and removing any buds that show themselves. Within the space from the ground to where the first branches are to rise from, all superfluous and weak shoots should be removed, more particularly those from the centre of the tree, as also all branches that trail on the ground, unless required for grafting from. The tree is better for being pruned, and whenever the interior of a tree may contain superfluous branches, or when there is not sufficient room for the growth of the young and fruit-bearing shoots, a clear space must be pro vided, and this can only be done by pruning. The best time for this operation is soon after the tree has done bearing fruit. No old and decayed wood should be allowed to remain, and great care must be taken to remove, on the first appearance, the borers,' should they indicate their presence by their appearance on the bark. When trees are old and have their bark injured, it must be all cleared away, and the parts covered with a com position. One mode of propagating by slips or cuttings is thus described : Take slips from the healthy branch of a mango tree, at least two feet long, taking care to cut it one inch above the joint at the top, and the same below the joint at the bottom. The cuttings will not all be equal, as in some branches the joints are short and in others long. The thickness of the slip is to be from to 3 inches in diameter. Half the length of the slip is to be slightly punctured with an awl, and then inserted into the ground to that depth (half of the slip), perfectly perpendicular, and then make a knob at the top of the slip with plain cow-dung. The cuttings must be well watered in such a manner as to keep up an uninterrupted moisture in the ground ; and, moreover, the out ings are to be well shaded, and the coverings only to bo removed by degrees as the plants attain leaves and strength, and not to be transplanted on any account until the next monsoon. The slips begin to bud within a month generally, but sometimes take a much longer period. In all cases the punctures are indispensably necessary, to admit of root-fibres being thrown out from them.
The tree and its fruit may both be improved, if, during the cold season, the ground is dug all round the roots, and by the addition of a suitable quantity of good old manure. The seed will only grow I when fresh, and seldom after six weeks. When green, it is used for making preserves, pickles, tarts, etc. The mango may be procured twice in the year in Bombay. Mango tree leaves are liable to be attacked with a blight caused by an aphis. Drs. Ainslie, Royk, Riddell, M'Clelland, Gibson, Wight, Cleghorn, Voigt, Ilfason.