The History of Cuba, vol. 5Johnson, Willis Fletcher
History
The History of Cuba, vol. 5
Johnson, Willis Fletcher
Cuba -- Economic conditions; Cuba -- History
There are two distinct races or types of this family in Cuba, one known
as the mango, and the other as the manga. The terminations would suggest
male and female, although no such difference exists in sex. Both in form
and fruit, however, the types are quite different.
The mango is a tall, erect tree, reaching frequently a height of 60 or
70 feet, with open crown and strong, vigorous limbs. The fruit is
compressed laterally, has a curved or beak-like apex, yellow or
yellowish green in color, often blushed with crimson. It is rich in
flavor but filled unfortunately with a peculiar fibre that impedes
somewhat the removal of the juicy pulp.
Nearly all varieties of mangoes are prolific bearers. Their handsome
golden yellow tinted fruit not infrequently bends limbs to the breaking
point, so great is its weight. The fruit is from three to five inches in
length, and will weigh from five to twelve ounces. The skin is smooth
and often speckled with carmine or dark brown spots, and in most of the
seedlings there is a slightly resinous odor, objectionable to strangers.
The manga, quite distinct from the mango both in form of tree and in
appearance of fruit, is easily distinguished at a distance. It grows
from 30 to 40 feet in height, is beautifully rounded or dome shaped, and
has a closed crown or top. The panicles in early spring are from 12 to
24 inches in length, pale green in color, usually tinged with red, and
in contrast with the deep green of its foliage produce rather a
startling effect.
There are two types of the manga, one known as the Amarilla and the
other as the Blanca. More of the latter are found in the neighborhood of
Havana than in any other section of the island. Three of the most
perfect samples of the manga blanca, both in tree and fruit, are found
within a few rods of each other on the northern side of the automobile
drive from Havana to Guanajay, between kilometers 35 and 36.
The mangas also are prolific bearers, whose fruit ripens in July and
August, a month or so later than the mango. The fruit is roundish, very
plump, and with the beak or point of the mango entirely missing. Its
color is lemon yellow with a delicate reddish blush, the length about
three inches and the weight from five to eight ounces. The skin, rather
tough, peels readily, and in eating should be torn down from the stem
towards the apex. The same fibre is present as in the mango, while the
pulp is very juicy, sweet, slightly aromatic and pleasant in flavor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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