FORMS AND VAKIKTIKS. 31 



THE IDEAL AVOCJADO. 



Tlu' tivo should 1)0 of siniill or nu'diuni size. So lony- as tlu' supply 

 is liniitod and-the fruit brings faiu-v ])rioi's, tln> cost of jiathcriuji- from 

 tlu' tall-o-rowinu" trees is no sorious obstacle, but much fruit is lost 

 from a tall tree as a result of hiuli winds, which are common in the 

 Antillean region durino- the ripening season. 



The fruit should weigh al)0ut a pound to a pound and a half. This 

 is large enough for persons with an ordinary liking for this fruit, 

 while those who arc extraordinarily fond of it can call for two fruits. 

 Pear-shaped (sec tig. 8) or o1)long varieties (sec tig. 7) should be pre- 

 ferred, as they can be packed readily and transported without n)uch 

 danpcr of bein"* bruised in transit. The seed should not 1)0 loose in 

 the cavity, as the shaking of it in transit pounds the meat into an 

 unsiyhtlv mush. The color of the fruit should be either vellow or 

 scarlet. The fruits that ripen green are considered by the novice as 

 having been picked when too inunature, and those that ripen I)r()wn 

 or i)urple look as if they were in the first stages of decay. A very 

 late variety would undoubtedly be the most desirable, since it would 

 ripen at a time when all the W(>st Indian and ^Mexican avocados were 

 gone, and most of the northern fruits were out of the market. 



USES OF THE FRUIT. 



According to Patrick Brown/' horses, cows, cats, dogs, as well as all 

 sorts of birds, feed on this fruit. 



Much has been written regaixling the manner of serving this salad 

 fruit, but only one or two essential additions have been made in the 

 last two hundred years. No matter how daintil}' it ma}^ be prepared 

 one can scarcely relish it more than when, tramping through the 

 forests, be happens upon a tree with a few fruits fully matured. The 

 traveler is likely to be seated at once, enjo}" his fruit without salt, 

 sugar, or other condiments, and forever after he will rememl)er the 

 deliciousness of that particular fruit, Avhich if eaten with an}^ of all 

 condiments at the most carefulh' appointed table would not have made 

 as strong an inipression on his memory. 



An avocado should not be used until the meat cuts smoothly with a 

 teaspoon and is about the consistency of well-frozen ice cream. No 

 one should attempt to eat the fruit after it has softened; a rancid 

 avocado may well be compared to rancid butter. 



The simplest way of using this fruit is as alread}^ stated. One 

 merely halves the fruit, removes the seed, and dips out the meat with 

 a teaspoon, or to the plain fruit a bit of salt ma}' be added. Some 

 people use pepper in addition. The number of w;avs in wdiich the 



« Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, London, 1789, p. 214. 



