Date:31/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/31/stories/2007053117980300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

200 and still thriving

Staff Reporter

THE GREAT SURVIVOR: The 200-year-old mango tree at Lalbagh planted during the time of Tipu Sultan in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE: These mango trees have withstood vagaries of nature for centuries to remind the public of a native variety that existed during the 18th Century.

Believed to be planted during Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan's period and now standing proudly in Lalbagh, the two mango trees have provided good harvest year after year.

Experts believe that the two surviving mango trees may have been planted around 1770 when Lalbagh was known as Royal Orchard.

Another mango tree, believed to be of the same period died last year, and a sapling has been planted in its place after harvesting a seed from the same variety.

Each tree has yielded nearly two tonnes of mango this season, which is considered an on season (productive season). A native variety of mango that has long been forgotten, these mangoes are rich in fibre having good aroma with a tinge of jeera. These trees are expected to thrive another couple of decades.

Additional Director of Horticulture S.V. Hittalmani told presspersons on Wednesday that these mangoes would be distributed to those who wanted to taste them during the mango mela.

These mango trees were depicted in a couple of paintings dating back to 1794 and 1805. "These antique paintings were available in our library collections," Mr. Hittalmani added.

Mavinahalli

Lalbagh had been laid adjacent to Mavalli, which was also known as "Mavinahalli" during the 18th Century, and the area around present Mavalli had a large number of mango orchards.

These mangoes do not bear any local name in particular and are merely referred to as "seedling origin" or native variety (nati gida).

According to Mr. Hittalmani, they have fallen out of favour because of the arrival of many grafted varieties, including Badami, Rasapuri and others.

After the British popularised grafting methods, many mango varieties that had superior tastes emerged and demand for the native variety declined.

These native varieties, still found in many localities in Bangalore, bear large number of fruits and are snapped up by the pickle industry.

Being juicy, they can be used to prepare mango drinks. "Because they are fibrous, pickles prepared from these mangoes are long-lasting. Many do not prefer Badami, Raspuri or Alphonso for pickles," he added.