195 



the first time. I refer to the *Alphonso, Gordon, Latlirop and 

 Mulgoba varieties, which promise to be far superior to any of 

 our common seedHng- stock. It is stated that the Cambodian 

 mango, which is a distinct species, breeds true to seed and is of 

 fine quahty. If so, it is a great boon, since the process of in- 

 arching the mango on a large scale is tedious work and not alto- 

 gether satisfactory. 



The people of Florida feel that in the Trapp avocado they 

 have a prize. This variety holds its fruit until late in winter 

 when the price is enormously high. Ordinarily our avocados 

 ripen in late summer and fall. This tree, now growing in Cocoa- 

 nut Grove, Florida, probably came originally from Cuba via 

 Key West. 



The avocado is ordinarily called the alligator pear, but is it 

 not time to drop such an inappropriate name? It is not a pear 

 and the word alligator in this instance is nothing more than a 

 bad corruption of the Mexican avocado. 



Speaking of names, we have been calling the sapodilla by its 

 wrong scientific name. The name Achras Sapola belongs to an- 

 other plant, and according to Coville Sapota Zapodilla by the 

 rules of botanical nomenclature is now its botanical title. The 

 Mexicans call it sapote. Why do we call it "sapodilla," which 

 is merely the diminutive of sapote? So far as I know there is 

 no big and little sapote, in fact, the only other sapota is the 

 white sapota or ''sapote bianco," which is very unlike and dis- 



* The following description of varieties here named are quoted from 

 Mr. HifTgins' recently published Bulletin on the Mango. The numbers 

 refer to those in Mr. Higgins' list : 



35. The Alphonse, Alphoos, or Alfoos, This is one of the most 

 noted of the India mangoes. Size, medium to large ; color, greenish 

 yellow on the unexposed side and running to yellow on the exposed side, 

 which is overlaid with light red; peeling qualities excellent; texture excel- 

 lent, may be readily eaten with a spoon ; flavor unique, with a peculiar 

 mingling of acidity and sweetness in the bright colored fruit. 



Z7- Mulgoba. Form roundish, oblique, reniform; size, large, weighing 

 from three-quarters to one poinid ; surface smooth and undulating ; color 

 yellowy beautifully blushed with red and faintly dotted with numerous brown 

 dots ; skin thin, tough, tenacious ; seed reniform, oval, rather large ; fiber 

 scanty, fine and tender ; flesh rich, apricot yellow, very tender, melting 

 and juicy, sw-eet, rich, fragrant; quality very good. 



42. Cambodiana. A very choice variety recently introduced from the 

 Section of Seed and Plant Introduction of the United States Department 

 of Agriculture. 



