OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1917. 55 



45560 to 45564^Continued. 



" The flowering season is February and March.. The tree blooms 

 profusely and in some years sets enormous crops of fruit. In 1917 

 a very lieavy crop was ripened, in general, the bearing habits of the 

 tree give promise of being unusually good, there being a tendency for 

 the fruits to develop in clusters. Tlie season of ripening is properly 

 from February to Jmie, but fruits piclied early in December develop 

 fairly good flavor upon being ripened in the liouse. The season may be 

 termed early to midseason. 



" The fruit is more variable in form tlian that of most otlier varie- 

 ties. The range is from oval to slender pyriform, nearly all tlie fruits 

 being of tlie latter shape, without, however, a well-deflned neck. The 

 weight varies from 8 to 12 ounces. Tlie surface is slightly rough and 

 green in color. The skin is moderately thick, the flesh rich yellow, quite 

 free from all fiber or discoloration, and of very rich and pleasant flavor. 

 The seed is a trifle large in some specimens, small in others, being 

 medium sized or rather small on the average. It is tight in the seed 

 cavity. 



" The variety may be formally described as follows : 



" Form oval to elliptic-pyriform ; size below medium to medium, 

 weight 81 ounces to 12 ounces, length 3| to 4J inches, breadth 2^ to 3J 

 inches ; base rounded to pointed, the stem inserted slightly to one side 

 without depression ; apex rounded to broadly pointed ; surface sparsely 

 pebbled, uniformly so, bright green in color, with comparatively few 

 small yellowish dots ; skin not very thiclc for this race, one-sixteenth of 

 an inch near the stem and slightly more toward the apex of the fruit, 

 hard and coarsely granular ; flesh rich cream yellow in color, free 

 from fiber and with no discoloration, firm and unusually dry, of rich 

 and pleasant flavor ; quality very good ; seed ovoid-conical, medium 

 sized, weighing 1 ounce more or less, tight in its cavity, with both seed 

 coats adhering closely to the smooth cotyledons." 

 45561. "(No. 211. City of Guatemala. November 13, 1917.) Kagttah. 

 Bud wood of avocado No. 33 from the flnca La Polvora, in Antigua. A 

 promising variety in appearance, but since ripe fruits were not tested 

 it should be held for limited distribution in California and Florida. 



" The parent tree is about 30 feet high, slender, the crown fairly 

 dense but not broad. Tlie trunk is 8 inches thick at the ground, branch- 

 ing at a lieight of about 15 feet. The crop this season is satisfactory, 

 though not to be termed heavy. The growth seems to be vigorous and 

 healthy, the branchlets being round and well formed, with the buds 

 conveniently placed for cutting and of large size, indicating that the 

 variety will probably be easy to propagate. The wood is not unusually 

 brittle. 



" The location of the tree is in the finca La Tolvora, at Antigua, 

 Guatemala. The altitude is about 5,100 feet. The tree stands among 

 coffee bushes, but has room for good development. 



" The fruit, judging from slightly immature specimens, will he about 

 24 ounces in weight, long and slender in form, with a thick neck. The 

 surface is rough and is said to be deep green at maturity. The flesh 

 shows no fiber nor discoloration, and its deep-yellow color indicates 

 that it will be of good quality. The seed is medium sized and tight 

 in the cavity. The season gives promise of being late." 



