FORMS AND VAKIKTIKS. 29 



particular sorts by l)ud propaojitioii that varieties in tiie poinolooical 

 sense have not yet found a i)Iace in literature. La Saura" o-iv(>s the 

 followino- classitieation, based upon the characters of the fruit: 



The aguacate in, without doubt, one of the most viiliiahle I'ruit trees of South 

 Aiiieriea. The fruit is in form of a lari^e pear, witiiout any depression at tlie head. 



The skin is a yellowish j^reen or a pale violet eolor, and smooth. The substance 

 of the fruit, when well matured, is nearly white and has a soft, oily consistency 

 and a slijihtly sweet taste, somewhat sufrary. It is eaten in its natural state and also 

 seasoned in various manners, nearly always with a little salt. The animals devour 

 it eajierly. 



Tlie tree l)lossoms in April and the fruit matures in July and Au<j;ust. The varie-. 

 ties which are cultivated in Cuba are — 



1. The violet color, which is nearly round in shai>e. 



2. The large green, round, with the inside yellowish ami iiaving the consistency 

 of bread. 



8. The large yellow, similar to a large pear. 



4. The long green. 



The maturity of the fruit is known when the seed which it, contains Ix'comes 

 loosened from tiie substance of the fruit and rattles when it is shaken.'' 



In order to obtain good trees one must sow the see(l in the place where it will 

 remain permanent, in holes of 3 feet in dimension in every direction, which are 

 tilled with good soil. 



These trees ordinarily bear fruit from the lifth year and live to about their 

 eightieth year. They are planted in form of beautiful groves and walks about the 

 dwellings of the inhabitants, and as their growth is very vigorous they soon take 

 strength from neighboring trees. Their flowers yield a very agreeable perfume. 



Compare the description of phites, page 30, and tigs. <>, 7, 8, and 9 

 with the above description. 



Meissner*^ recoo-nizes several l)otanical varieties ba.sed upon the 

 shape and size of the leaves. Viil(/<iris has leaves "3-4 poll" by 

 "li poll;" OhloiHja, '^4-9 poll" by' " f-2 poll;" MacrophijUa, "6-9 

 poll" by '^3Mipoll." 



THE MEXICAN AVOCADO. 



There is a small-fruited form of avocado which, was introduced in 

 1893 from Mexico (see tig-. •», B) in the form of seeds b}" the Divi- 

 sion of Pomology of the Deptirtment of Agriculture, to which no ref- 

 erence is made in the literature examined, and no specimens of this 

 form were found in the herbaria visited. It is regarded in Mexico 

 as more frost resistant than the common form found in Florida and 

 the West Indies, but is not conside^'cd as valuable as the larger fruited 

 varieties where the latter may be grown successfully. Its fruit is 

 pear-shaped, or bottle-necked, about the size of a hen's Qgg^ usually 

 of a dull blackish or bluish color. Tiie skin of the fruit is thin and 

 leathery. The seed is small, conical, usually about an inch in diameter. 



"Transition from Historia Fisica de Cuba (1845), Vol. XI, p. 186. 



^ Correct for some varieties only. — P. H. R. 



cMartius, Flora Brasiliensis, Vol. V, pt. 2, fasc. 41, p. 159. 



