APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1917, _ 43 



^^ 



44679 to 44681— Continued. 



thick at the base, branching about 10 feet from the ground. The crown 

 is broad and spreading, but sparsely branched. To judge from the size 

 of the tree it must be at least 30 or 40 years old. It seems to be a vig- 

 orous grower, the branchlets being stout, well formed, and of good, 

 length. The bud wood furnished by this tree is quite satisfactory, 

 having well-developed eyes which do not show a tendency to drop and 

 leave a blind bud. The tree is uncared for and has much dead wood 

 in it. 



" While Purula is scarcely higher than Antigua, it has a colder 

 climate. It is not, however, sufficiently cold to test the hardiness of 

 avocado trees of the Guatemalan race. 



" The tree has not been seen in bloom, but probably flowers about 

 February. In good seasons it carries an enormous crop of fruit. This 

 would be expected of a small-fruited variety. The first fruits turn 

 color about the first of December and can then be picked. The height 

 of the season, however, is not until February, at which time the fruits 

 are fully mature. If allowed to remain on the tree, many of them 

 hang until April or May. 



" The fruit is pear shaped or obovoid, small, weighing not over 6 

 ounces (it will probably weigh more when grown under cultivation in 

 California and Florida), somewhat rough on the surface, and maroon 

 colored. The skin is thick and woody. The flesh is yellow, sometimes 

 slightly discolored with fiber streaks, but with no objectionable fiber. 

 The flavor is rich and pleasant. The seed is medium sized in com- 

 parison with the size of the fruit. In comparison with the seeds of 

 most other 6-ounce fruits it would be called small. 



" The variety may be formally described as follows : Form broadly 

 obovoid to pyriform ; size small, weight 5 to 6 ounces, length 3i to 3J 

 inches, greatest breadth 2§ to 2f inches ; base tapering, the moderately 

 stout stem, which is 5^ inches long, being inserted slightly obliquely 

 without depression ; apex rounded or almost imperceptibly flattened ; 

 surface rough, deep dull purple-maroon or purple in color, with rather 

 few small russet dots; skin thick, one-sixteenth of an inch at base, 

 nearly one-eighth of an inch toward the apex of the fruit, coarsely 

 granular and woody in texture; flesh rich cream yellow, changing to 

 pale green near the skin, sometimes marked with fiber traces but with- 

 out any tough fibers, melting and buttery in texture, of very rich and 

 agreeable flavor; quality very good; seed roundish oblate, small to 

 medium in size, weighing less than 1 ounce, tight in the seed cavity, 

 with both seed coats adhering closely." {Popenoe.) 



See also Exploring Guatemala for Desirable New Avocados, Annual 

 Report of the California Avocado Association, 1917, p. 130, fig. 26; 

 reprint, 1918, p. 25, fig. 26; and The Avocado in Guatemala, U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 743, p. 58, pi. 19. 

 44680. "(Nos. 99, 159, 178. Avocado No. 23.) Mayapan. This variety 

 possesses several excellent commercial characteristics — round form, de- 

 sirable size (nearly 1 pound), attractive purple color, thick, firm skin, 

 and flesh of excellent quality. In this latter respect it is one of the 

 very best varieties in the collection. The seed is not large and the 

 tree is very productive. It seems a very promising avocado. 



" The parent tree is growing in a sitio owned by Arcadio Saguirre, 

 but now occupied by Eusebio Guzman, in the town of Purula, Depart- 



