Vol. X. Xo. 249 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



357 



CALIFW'.MA. It Las been found impossible to obtain 

 budded I'lants in sutticient quantity tor planting in orchards 

 in Southern L'alifornia, so that, here, there are almost no 

 plantations of Inulded trees The United States Department 

 of Agriculture has, however, become interested in the develop- 

 ment of the indiistry in Southern California, and has recently 

 supplied a large number of buddtd plants for trial. These 

 are all of the standard Florida varieties: Trapp, Pollock, 

 Mitchell, Baldwin, Family, Wester, Blackman and Peacock; 

 one variety from the P)aliamas called Largo: and unnamed 

 varieties from Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, California, the 

 Canary Islands, Florida and Hawaii. This importation should 

 form a useful means of selecting choice varieties of the avocado 

 suited to California. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE COMMEUCIAL AVOCADO. As 



regards season, in the United Slates, the greatest demand 

 occurs during the winter months, when other fruits are scarce. 

 In Florida, any kinds other than winter-bearing varieties of 

 the avocado are rarely planted, because in summer, it is stated, 

 many small avocados are imported to the east coast of the 

 United States from the West Indies. In California it is now- 

 recognized that the hardiest varieties will prove the most 

 successful, on account of the fact that, except in Southern 

 California, comparatively low temperatures are e.xperienced 

 during certain parts of the year. 



In the matter of yield, mature trees of the large varieties 

 are often known to produce .500 to 1,000 fruits in each season; 

 the small purple varieties are sometimes extraordinarily pro- 

 lific, some trees having been known to bear as many as 4,000 

 fruits in one season. With respect to the size of the fruit, 

 the mistaken opinion is often held that this should be as large 

 as possible; under conditions in the United States, a fruit 

 weighing from 1-5 to 20 oz. would appear to be the most 

 suitable. 



For export, it is best for the form of the fruits to be 

 oval or nearly spherical; those possessing a neck require 

 much care in packing, and are best suited for local consump- 

 tion. Uniformity should exist, not only in regard to form 

 but with respect to .size, particularly as this increases the 

 attractiveness of the fruit when it is exiiosed for sale. As 

 regards colour, the purple varieties have been most in favour 

 in California; in Florida those having a dark crimson colour 

 seem to be preferred 



In the case of avocados for shipment, the thickness and 

 toughness of the skin are matters of importance. Many of 

 the Mexican varieties pos.sess a thick skin, while in others it 

 is very tliin; thickness is particularly a feature in the skins 

 of Guatemalan types. In the matter of flavour, it seems 

 that this is dependent on the percentage of fat in the flesh 

 of the fruit. Lastly, the seed in avocados for export should 

 fit tightly in its cavity, in order to prevent it from being 

 shaken against the flesh and thus hastening the deterioration 

 of the fruit; the seed should also be small, and it is hoped 

 that in time the availability of a seedless variety will render 

 the successful transportation of the fruit feasible over much 

 longer distances than are possible at present. 



A TRIAL WITH THE CHICK PEA 



IN ST. LUCIA. 



The following account of an experiment made with 

 the chick pea {Cicer arietinum — the Gram of Bengal) 

 by the Assistant Agricultural 8uperintenclent, St. Lucia, 

 has been received from the Agricultural Superinten- 

 dent in that island: — 



Seeds of this plant were rscenlly obtained from Ceylon 

 by the Commissioner of Agriculture, and forwarded for trial 

 to test its suitaViility as a green dressing crop in St. Lucia. 



Owing to the small quantity of seeds received they were 

 sown without delay to prevent the possibility of their losing 

 vitality or being damaged by weevils. 



Small holes were made 2 feet apart, and two seeds 

 were sown in each hole. The seeds germinated well, but the 

 plants grew very weakly. Flowering began eight weeks 

 after sowing, the plants having at this time reached their 

 natural height of about 1 foot. 



The development of the root system was good; it was 

 much branched and bearing numerous nodules, which must 

 have had a good nitrating influence on the soil. 



The plants did not however produce good foliage, as 

 they made but little lateral growth, and at no period 

 did they cover the soil. This was .somewhat disappoint- 

 ing, as in India, Cicer arietinum i.5 recorded as being 

 a valuable rotation crop and of such dense growth as to kill 

 out weeds. 



I attribute the chief cause of failure in this respect to 

 the fact that the seeds were sown in May, instead of Novem- 

 ber, the latter month being regarded throughout India as the 

 most suitable time for .sowing. The crop then ripens in 

 February and March. 



Seeds are being harvested from the plants, and further 

 trials will be made. 



C'ieer arietinum is the most important grain of India, 

 where it is extensively cultivated as a food crop. It is said 

 to thrive best in a moderately heavy clay loam, light sandy 

 soils being unsuitable to its growth. 



The following particulars, taken from The Commercial 

 Products of India (Sir George Watt) may be of general 

 interest: — 



'The seed is extensively eaten both by men and cattle in 

 every part of India except Madras. The pea is often parched 

 and used in that form as diet, esi)ecially when cooking may 

 be difficult or impossible. It is in this sen.se frequently of 

 exceptional value to the Indian array. The seeds are also 

 steeped in water to remove the husks, then mashed up and 

 boiled alone or with onions, etc. (and this made into a thick 

 .soup), or the split pea may be cooked along with rice. 

 Ground into flour, gram is used in various ways, such as in 

 the preparation of sweetmeats or biscuits.' 



Attention has been drawn in this volume of the Agricul- 

 tural Nevi~, pp. 92 and 140, to the issue of six leaflets, by the 

 Permanent Exhibitions Committee of F.rilish Guiana, dealing 

 with the chief industries of the Colony. Another booklet in 

 the same series has just been received: this deals with the 

 gold and diamond indastries, having been prepared by the 

 Commissioner of Lands and Mines and i.^sued, as in the case 

 of the others, by the Permanent Exhibitions Committee. 



H.M. Consul at Tamsui, reporting on the trade of 

 Formosa during 1910, states that during the year a .Japanese 

 syndicate received permission to utilize some 3,-300 acre.s of 

 waste land in the Kagi prefecture for rubber-planting. The 

 kinds to be put in are Central American rubber, Ceara 

 rubber. Para rubber and Assam (Itambong) rubber, together 

 with bananas, pineapples and lemons; wind breaks will 

 be planted. The fiovernment is also encouraging rubber- 

 planting by raising large quantities of the trees named, and 

 distributing them to peasants. 



