30 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPOETED. 



43472 to 43474r-Continued. 



a rather important role as a jelly fruit. It grows into a large shnib or 

 small tree, resembling rather closely in leafage the so-called Russian 

 olive belonging to the genus Elaeagnus. The fruit is about the size of 

 a currant and varies in color from yellow to red. It is not at all palatable 

 until very late in the season, after it has partly dried so that the skin 

 is wrinkled and presents a withered appearance. To most tastes it is 

 not palatable at all in the raw state, but it makes a jelly of very superior 

 quality. The fruit is gathered by shaking the trees very late in the season 

 and catching the falling berries upon sheets. The yellow form is usually 

 preferred to the red for culinary purposes." (Griffiths.) 



43472. Red-berried form. 43473. Yellow-berried form. 



43474. Berberis fremontii Torr. Berberidaceae. Barberry. 



" From Lyford and San Saba, Tex. A native of southern and central 

 Texas. Like the other species of the genus, it has ornamental value. 

 In its native regions the berries are used for culinary purposes. In 

 localities where the species is very abundant jellies are prepared and 

 offered for sale on the markets. The species is very variable." (Grif- 

 fiths.) 



43475. Persea Americana Mill. Lauraceae. Avocado. 



(P. gratissima Gaertn. f.) 

 From Santiago, Chile. Seeds* procured through Mr. W. A. Shelly, at the 

 request of Mr. W. F. Wight, of the Bureau of Plant Industry. Received 

 October 16, 1916. 



"Palta. I am sending several of the varieties found here in Chile." 

 (Shelly.) 



43476. Persea Americana Mill. Laiiracese. Avocado. 

 (P. gratissima Gaertn. f.) 



From Guatemala. Cuttings collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural 

 Explorer for the Department of Agriculture. Received October 20, 

 1916, to June, 1917. 



"(Nos. 48, 55, 82, 126, and 148. Avocado No. 3.) Lamat.^ A variety com- 

 bining unusual productiveness with good size, attractive appearance, and good 

 quality of fruit. In addition, it seems to ripen earlier than many other 

 avocados, which suggests it for trial as a winter-ripening variety in California. 

 It has no claim to unusual hardiness, since it is grown at an elevation where 

 frosts are not experienced. 



" The parent tree is growing in the chacara of Angel Samayoa, in the town 

 of Amatitlan (altitude 3,872 feet). It stands close to the corner of a small 

 held in which tomatoes and maize are planted annually. The soil is a loose 

 sandy loam, apparently of excellent fertility and considerable depth. The age 

 of the tree is not definitely known, but judging from its size it is probably 5 

 or 6 years old. It stands about 20 feet high, with an erect crown, extending 

 almost to the ground, about 10 feet broad, and well branched. The trunk is 



3 This and other varietal names for Mr. Popenoe's Gautemalan avocados have been 

 taken from the Maya language, which in various dialectic forms is the one spoken in 

 those parts of Guatemala from which these avocados have come. It has been thought 

 that the use of these names, many of which have appropriate meanings, would serve 

 to distinguish these varieties from others grown in the United States, as well as to 

 indicate their origin. 



