General consensus exists amongst horticulturists and historians, that the edible
mango (Mangifera indica L.) originated in India (Woodrow, 1904; Scott, 1992; Cole & Hawson, 1963; Mukherjee, 1971; CITEM, 1985; Malo, 1985). Designs of the fruit, flowers and leaves of the mango tree are still found in Buddhist and Hindu temples throughout India. According to Indian folklore, Buddha was given a mango orchard by a faithful follower so that he could rest in its cool shade (CITEM, 1985). Ancient literature records the presence of mango in India. Whilst Tuglak Shah reigned in Delhi (1325 – 1351) a Turkoman poet, Amir Khrussu, wrote "The mango is the pride of the garden, the choicest fruit of Hidustan. Other fruits we are content to eat when ripe, but the mango is good in all stages of growth" (Woodrow, 1904). It is, furthermore, generally agreed that the natural origin of the mango in India is in the north-eastern region on the foothills of the Himalayan mountain in the vicinity of India's boundary with Bangladesh. The great Mogul Emperor Akbar, who ruled at Delhi from 1556 to 1605 had an orchard of 100 000 mango trees which, even by today's standards, was a huge orchard of probably between 500 and 1000 hectares, depending on planting density.
It is not known exactly how the mango was distributed from India to the rest of the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. However, very interesting historical facts are found in literature which makes it possible to trace the distribution of this delicious fruit to some parts of the world. One can safely assume that the mango was firstly distributed to the rest of South-East Asia. An English traveler of the eighteenth century recorded that mango trees were seen in Djakarta (then the Dutch colony of Batavia). |
| THE CULTIVATION OF MANGO
Editors: E.A. de Villiers & P.H. Joubert
Size: A5 Price: R493.00
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