The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-09-11
Mango Culture and It's Outcome About
Lake Worth.

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is altogether probable that it will be
found that there are many other local
tiles which are also suited to this fruit
However, if only Dade, Lee and Monroe
are suitable, still the amount of terri
tory is considerable. Allowing for the
many thousands of acres of swampy
land which cannot be set to groves,
there are still acres enough to supply the
market for a great many years.
in the last number of the Palm Beach
News, Rev. Elbridge Gales tells some
thing of what has been done, and what
is being done, and what may be done
i'll the future.
Ii the accounts of this fruit are at
all reliable, there is a good prospect
for those who get into the business of
producing the best varieties at an early
date. Mr.. Gales article is as follows:
Nearly twenty years ago, p. w. Rea-
soner assured us that the rolling sand
lands of South Florida were adapted to
the culture of the mango. This state
ment at first seemed to make very lit
tie impression. Maybe because we
knew little of the value of the mango
and cared less. Then when mango cul
ture began to assume some Importance,
we saw SO many objections in the way
of it's home culture that we were ready
to turn our longing eyes to the yet
unknown hindrances that might spring
up in Cuba or Porto Rico. We studied
carefully the history of mango culture
in Jamaica for one hundred and twenty
five years, hoping for help. The out
look was not encouraging. We found
sections where the tree would grow to
grand proportions but would seldom or
never fruit, but we were far from &C
cepting the idea of neglect. We were
more inclined to believe that the meth
DDS of our neighbors had very much to
do with the meager results.
It was evident that mango trees would
spring up all about our claim cabins,
both north and south of Mangonia,
wherever the settler would stay long
enough to cover up the seed. In not
few instances the settler has gone,
but the mango trees are there. Many
of these are large fruiting trees now,
and this year Seeding manages have
come into market from as far north as
Stuart and Merritt's Island.
1t is an interesting fact that plant
life of all kinds, up to a certain point
gradually adapts itself to climatic con-
ditions. Thus we are told that the Man
go in it's native India may be found
growing at an altitude of 1000 feet.
No doubt, a mango tree from the gar
dens of Bombay, if removed to that
altitude, would nearly or quite perish.
A hardening process might reach through
ages.
All over south Florida many thou
sands of mango seeds have been planted
this year. The field for mango culture
is very limited. It embraces only por
lions of three southern counties. There
will be found warm hooks or corners
even north of the natural mango belt
where Seeding mangOes will come into
fruiting with a reasonable regularity.
Such places should be considered by
their owners.
It is untimely to enter into any dis
cussion as to the comparative value of
the very few good mangoes concerning
which we really know anything. There
are Seeding mangoes that have already
come to the front. Don't run wild with
the improbable idea that your special
Seeding is going to be a success. Each
fruit or variety will have to be tried
by the test of years. There are races
of mangoes, as there are of apples, pears
and peaches. [ have watched for fifteen
years for fruit from trees that had the
Mulgoba markings, but the fruit was
not worth having. We are shut up to