The History of Cuba, vol. 5Johnson, Willis Fletcher
History
The History of Cuba, vol. 5
Johnson, Willis Fletcher
Cuba -- Economic conditions; Cuba -- History
During the early Napoleonic wars, a shipload of choice mangoes and other
tropical fruit from India was sent by the French Government to be
planted in the Island of Martinique. The vessel was captured, however,
by an English man-of-war and carried into Jamaica. From this island and
from Santo Domingo, the French refugees introduced a number of mangoes,
including nearly all those that are now growing in Oriente, while the
manga, so common in Havana Province and Pinar del Rio, is thought to
have been brought from Mexico, although its original home, of course,
was in India and the Malaysian Islands.
The fancy mangoes of Cuba today have all been imported within recent
years at considerable expense from the Orient, and their superiority
over the Cuba seedlings is due to the patient toil and care spent in
developing and perpetuating choice varieties of the fruit in India. Of
these fancy East Indian mangoes, the Mulgoba probably heads the list in
size, quality and general excellence. The fruit is almost round,
resembling in shape a small or medium sized grape fruit. Its average
weight is about sixteen ounces, although it sometimes reaches
twenty-four or more. When entirely ripe the Mulgoba is cut around the
seed horizontally. The two halves are then twisted in opposite
directions, separating them from the seed, after which they may be eaten
in the inclosing skin, with a spoon.
The pulp is rich, sweet, of delightful flavor, and absolutely free from
fibre of any kind, which is true of nearly all East Indian mangoes.
Budded trees begin to bear the third or fourth year, yielding perhaps 25
mangoes. The sixth or seventh year, dependent on soil and care bestowed,
they should bear from three to five hundred. In the tenth year, mangoes
of this variety should average at least a thousand fruit to the tree and
will bring from $1 to $3 a dozen in the fancy fruit stores of the United
States.
The Bombay is another excellent mango, devoid of fibre. Its weight is
somewhat less than the Mulgoba, ten ounces being a fair average. Another
East Indian variety known as the Alfonse has the size and weight of the
Bombay, although differing in flavor and in its form, which is heart
shaped. Its weight will average ten ounces.
A close companion of the Alfonse is known as the “Favorite,” whose fruit
will average about sixteen ounces. The Amani is another choice East
Indian mango of much smaller size, since it weighs only about six
ounces. The “Senora of Oriente” is one of the varieties of the Filipino
introduced into that Province many years ago, and has proved very
prolific. It is fibreless, of good commercial value, the weight of the
fruit varying from ten to twelve ounces. It is long and carries a very
thin seed; its color is greenish yellow.
The “Langra” is another importation from India, a large long mango
weighing about two pounds, lemon yellow in color, of good qualities,
with a sub-acid flavor.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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