The Florida agriculturist., 1907-10-16
The Mango the Coming Florida Favorite.
BIG

1t was only few years ago, when
the pOmelO, or as it is more generally
called, the grapefruit, was almost an
unknown fruit while today it is one of
the most popular and the history of
the propagation and the growth is to
be repeated in the mango or to be
more definite, the choice varieties of
this seductive and delicious fruit The
principal varieties Of which are the
Mulgoba, the Soondershaw, the No.
II, the Philippean, and other varieties
being imported from India and under
examination by the Department at
Washington One OF the first of the
Government importatiOns over twenty
years ago was a Mu1goba which they
sent to Rev. Eldridge Gale of West
Palm Beach, who cared for it success
fully, and it is from this parent tree
that all the trees of this splendid vari-
ETY. have been grated or marched in
Dade county section of country pre-
eminently adapted to the cultivation
of the fruit
The mango is a native of India and
the East Indies, where it grows wild
and during the fruiting season is one
of the chief foods of the natives. In
the East Indies, so far as we know,
there has been little attempt made to
bud or graft the trees, thus securing
better quality of fruit and one that
is more uniform There are almost
as many varieties (seed1ings) as there
are trees. It is seldom that a seed
planted will come true to the parent
fruit To secure fruit of the choice
size, color, and eating quality, and
freedom from fibre, they must be
grated or marched from the known
varieties.
Many years ago, the common mango
was introduced into Dade and Monroe
counties by people migrating from the
East India Islands to this tropical
section. Around every old home, there
are more or less mango trees, planted
out like the forest trees, which have
borne large crops of fruit year after
year with almost none or, at best,
very little attention.
After the Florida East Coast Rail-
way was built and newcomers began
to pour IN, those who had old places
planted in these trees found that thev
had commercial value The new
corners became very fond Of the fruit,
'"d among their paintings was the
mango, or rather the mango seed.
The tree being rapid grower it comes
into bearing in three to five wears
from seed, but the grated or marched
tree will come into bearing two to
three wears earlier than a Seeding.
In the original paintings, there were
as many varieties as there were trees
and many Of them were designated as
the old turpentine'' mango. Tn size
color and shape, they differ greatly,
some beng round, others fiat, and
others oblong. In color they vary
from dead black green to hand
some bright yellow. with cheeks of
red and pink. Nearly all of the 'Fna
tive" varieties are filled with a strong
{ hbre which is attached to the seed
that is eliminated in the standard
sorts. The usual direction for eating
the mango was to "undress and oet
INTO a bath tub, peel the fruit and suck
or chew the pulp from the fibre"
that part OF the fruit adhering firmly
to the stone or seed. In spite of the
edlffculty of eating the fruit, it soon
became very popular with the new
comefs. and now is planted extensive-
~ and is general favorite.
Several years ago, the Department
OF Agriculture at Washington became
greatly interested in the mango. be.
l1ev1n9 that in the years to come #
would be among the most pODu1ar
fruits grown in the United States and
after events have shown the wisdom,