JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1917. 75 



flesh is rich cream yellow in coloi', smooth and entirely free from fiber or 

 discoloration. The flavor is of the very best, rich, bland, and pleasant. The 

 seed, while larjje, is not large in comparison to the great size of the fruit, and 

 the proportion of flesh to seed is quite satisfactory. 



" Those who are interested in large avocados should by all means give this 

 variety a trial. Its only visible defect is the tendency to produce weak 

 branches, but if pruning and good culture can produce a reasonably shapely 

 and V'gorous growth the variety seems likely to prove of great value in the 

 United States. 



"A formal description of the fruit follows : 



" Form broadly oval, sometimes oblong-oval, and always more or less oblique ; 

 size extremely large, perfectly developed fruits weighing 3G to 45 ounces and 

 measuring 5i to 6 inches in length by 4* to 5 inches in breadth ; stem rather 

 short and very stout, inserted obliquely without depression ; base slightly flat- 

 tened obliquely, not decidedly so ; apex rounded to obliquely flattened ; surface 

 heavily pebbled in most instances, occasionally lightly pebbled, deep green in 

 color, with numerous irregular, large, yellowish dots ; skin moderately thick, 

 one-sixteenth of an inch toward the base of the fruit and one-eighth of an 

 inch toward the apex, separating readily from the flesh, coarsely granular 

 and brittle ; flesh firm, oily, smooth, rich cream yellow, tinged with green to- 

 ward the skin, free from fiber or discoloration and very rich, pleasant fiavor; 

 quality excellent; seed medium sized, roundish conic or oblate-conic, weighing 

 4 ounces, tight in the cavity with both seed coats adhering closely." {Popenoe.) 



44441 and 44442. 



From Tucuman, Argentina. Presented by Mr. E. F. Schultz, horticulturist, 

 Tucuman Experiment Station. Received March 27, 1917. 



44441. Caesalpinia melanocarpa Griseb. CsesalpiniacefK. Guayacan. 



" The (juaijacdn is a very hard-wooded tree, tall and spreading, with 

 smooth white bark. The heavy lumber is used in the manufactui-e of 

 heavy 2-wheeled carts and for similar objects. It is also cut for railroad 

 ties and for fence posts, lasting in this capacity 30 years and more. It 

 is frequently diflicult to drive nails into even the green wood. The seed 

 pods contain a great deal of tannin and are used for ink manufacture." 

 ( Schultz. ) 



44442. ZiziPHUS mistol Griseb. Rhamnacese. Mistol, 

 A spiny tree from Argentina, up to 30 feet in height, with oval, 



leathery, hoary pubescent leaves about an inch long and edible black 

 fruits one-third of an inch in diameter, with large stones. The wood is 

 red and hard, but is not known to be of commercial use. 

 See S. P. I. No. 40853 for previous introduction. 



44443. Persea Americana Mill. Lauracese. Avocado. 



(P. gratissima Gaertn. f.) 



From Guatemala, Guatemala. Seeds purchased by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, 

 Agricultural Explorer for the Department of Agriculture. Numbered 

 March, 1917. 

 A collection of seeds sent in for stock purposes. 



