OCTOBEE 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1916. 85 



43485 to 43487— Continued. 



43486. "(No. 50. From Santa Maria de .lesus, October 20, 1916.) 

 Avocado No. 4. Itzamna. From the garden of an Indian, who 

 refused to divulge his name. The garden is in the center of the 

 village, toward the Volcan de Agua from the central plaza. Santa 

 Maria de Jesus is a small village located upon the upper slopes of 

 the Volcan de Agua, at an elevation of 6,700 feet. It is about 10 

 kilometers from Antigua. As one climbs up the broad slope of 

 the volcano the character of the vegetation changes considerably, 

 and many of the plants common in the gardens at Antigua are not 

 grown here because of the cold. Among the plants which are con- 

 spicuous by their absence are the banana, the orange (and other 

 citrus fruits), and the tender ornamental plants, such as the royal 

 palm. In their stead, the gardens of the Indians are filled with 

 peacli trees, chayote vines, granadilla vines {Pass! flora Ugularis), 

 and with vegetables such as peas. The hardy Abyssinian banana 

 is a common ornamental plant. Among the plants of the lower 

 elevations which persist are the cherimoya, the avocado, and the 

 matasano (Casimiroa), though I saw only one tree of the latter. 

 Grevillea rohusta is one of the commonest ornamental trees. It can 

 thus be seen that the vegetation is not at all tropical in character. 

 The commandant assures me that the thermometer goes below the 

 freezing point, but records are lacking. This avocado has been 

 obtained in the hope that it may prove slightly hardier than those 

 from the lower elevations. In the United States it may succeed in 

 regions which are a trifle too cold for the average Guatemalan 

 variety. It should at least be given a test to determine its hardi- 

 ness. The fruit is not yet fully grown, so it can not be described. 

 The tree is about 25 feet high and is carrying a fair crop. It has 

 good, large wood and seems to be a stronger grower than some I 

 have seen. The fruits are almost round, tending toward broadly 

 obovoid, and obscurely ribbed. The surface is very light green, 

 almost glossy, with numerous large yellowish dots. The skin is 

 slightly over one-sixteenth of an inch thick. The fruit looks like 

 a good avocado. The season of ripening could not be ascertained, 

 but probably it is not earlier than April." 



43487. "(No. 15. San Lucas, Departamento de Sacatepequez, Octo- 

 ber 22, 1916.) Avocado No. 5. Batab. From the garden of an 

 Indian, near the center of the village, to the west of the church. 

 This village is situated on the road between the city of Guatemala 

 and Antigua, at an elevation of 6,850 feet. The principal fruit 

 trees in the gardens of the Indians are peaches, cherimoyas, 

 avocados, quinces, manzanillas {Crataegus stipulosa), and pome- 

 granates. There are no bananas here, and I saw only two or three 

 orange trees. The tropical fruits do not succeed at this elevation. 

 This variety, like No. 4 [S. P. I. No. 43486], has been selected 

 because of its possible hardiness. Coming from an elevation about 

 1,750 feet above Antigua, it may prove to be more frost resistant 

 than varieties from the latter place. It should be given a trial in 

 localities in California and Florida which are slightly too cold 

 for the average variety of this race. The tree is about 20 feet 

 high, with a good crown. According to the owner, it bears over 

 200 fruits in good seasons, but sometimes the crop is partly de- 



