20 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



39369 to 39375— Con. (Quoted notes by Mr. Wilson Popenoe.) 



It is, however, unusually prolific. The form varies from oval to 

 broadly obovate. The surface is rough, almost tuberculate, dark 

 green until fully ripe, when it changes to deep purple. The skin is 

 thick, woody, granular in texture. The flesh is free from fiber, 

 smooth, and of good flavor. The seed is slightly under average size, 

 compared to the size of the fruit, and is perfectly tight in the cavity. 

 The tree appears to be a vigorous grower and about as hardy as most 

 of the Guatemalan varieties grown here. Although it has been grown 

 under unfavorable conditions and is somewhat small in size, the 

 parent tree has produced more than 800 fruits in a single season. 

 It ripens from April to June. To be tried in southern Florida." 



39371. "(No. 8. November 2, 1914.) Meserve avocado. A variety 

 originated at Long Beach, Cal., on the ranch formerly owned by 

 Mr. A. R. Meserve. The seed is believed to have come from Hawaii; 

 in characteristics of fruit and foliage the variety is almost identical 

 with some of the avocados of Guatemalan and southern Mexican ori- 

 gin which are grown in California, but in view of the fact that the 

 Guatemalan avocados were long ago introduced into Hawaii this is not 

 surprising. As a commercial variety the Meserve has the advantage 

 that it is nearly round. Quality is its other strong point, the flavor 

 being unusually rich and pleasant. The skin is deep green in color, 

 thick and woody, as in all of this type. Good specimens will average 

 nearly a pound in weight. The seed is medium sized, tight in the 

 cavity. In growth the tree is vigoi*ous, and while the parent was 

 badly injured in the cold weather of January. 1913, this may not 

 have been due to its tenderness so much as to its exposure and condi- 

 tion at the time. It is a good bearer, and on the whole seems to be a 

 very promising variety. The season is April and May in southern 

 California. For trial in southern Florida." 



39372. "(No. 9. November 2, 1914.) Solano avocado. This is one of 

 the largest varieties yet fruited in California. It originated on (he 

 property of Mr. Alfred Solano at Hollywood, Cal., and is of the southern 

 Mexican or Guatemalan type. Probably its origin may be sought in 

 one of the shipments of avocados brought to Los Angeles from Atlixco, 

 Puebla, Mexico, by John Murietta. In shape the Solano is oval to 

 oblong pyriform ; the size is large, averaging from 16 to 28 ounces 

 in weight. The skin is thick, tough, externally green in color, and 

 almost smooth. The flesh is creamy yellow in color, smooth, and free 

 from fiber. The parent tree has been grown in the center of a lawn 

 where it received a good deal of water, consequently the fruits have 

 not been quite as rich in flavor as tbey would probably have been under 

 normal conditions. The seed is small in comparison with the size of the 

 fruit, and it is tight in the cavity. For a variety of this size, the Solano 

 is very productive. Its season is May and June. In growth it is vig- 

 orous and strong, but it does not produce good bud wood and is more 

 difficult to propagate successfully than some others. For trial in 

 southern Florida." 



39373. "(No. 10. November 2, 1914.) Blakeman avocado. Originated 

 on the Dickey place at Hollywood. Cal.. from a seed imported from 

 Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico, by John Murietta. of Los Angeles. It is an 

 excellent variety of the thick-skinned Guatemalan type. In form it is 

 broadly obovate. but broader at the basal end than is common with 



