1082 



is very small in proportion to the size of the fruit, 

 rather a rare thing in an avocado of round or oblate 

 form, for as a rule fruits of. this shape have large 

 seeds. The skin is thick, and the flesh clear, of 

 good color and texture and the quality is good for an 

 early fruit. An early variety of the Guatemalan type 

 is much needed for California, since none of the va- 

 rieties so far tested in that state ripen in time for 

 the holiday season. The tree from which this budwood 

 was taken stands on a rather steep hillside, the soil 

 being a loose sandy loam. The trunk of the tree is 

 about a foot and a half thick, and the crown spread- 

 ing, 35 feet in diameter and about the same in height. 

 The foliage is rather scanty, especially so at the 

 present time, as the tree is coming into flower. The 

 crop of fruit is enormous; it is impossible to make 

 an accurate count, but the number of fruits is cer- 

 tainly well above 1000 and may be nearer 2000. Next 

 year it will probably bear a comparatively small crop, 

 for according to the avocado growers of the Antigua 

 region, practically all of the trees bear a heavy crop 

 one season followed by a very light one the next. With 

 good culture the fruits would probably be larger than 

 they are on this tree; it seems reasonable to expect 

 that they will weigh 12 ounces. Fruit roundish oblate, 

 size below medium, weight 8 to 10 ozs., length 2| to 

 3 inches, greatest breadth 3 to 3^ inches, base trun- 

 cate, the stem inserted squarely without depression; 

 stem fairly stout, 4 inches long; apex flattened, 

 sometimes slightly oblique; surface pebbled dull pur- 

 ple in color, with numerous small yellowish dots, skin 

 one sixteenth inch thick at basal end of fruit, about 

 one eighth inch at apex, separating readily from the 

 flesh, rather finely granular, brittle; flesh deep 

 cream yellow near seed, changing to very pale green 

 near skin, quite free from fiber discoloration, firm 

 in texture and moderately rich in flavor; seed small 

 in comparison to size of fruit, oblate, 1 5/8 inch 

 broad, lj inch long, tight in the seed cavity with 

 both seed coats adhering closely. Season at San Lor- 

 enzo del Cubo commenci'ng about the middle of October, 

 but not all the fruits are mature until several weeks 

 later. This variety is particularly recommended for 

 trial in the avocado districts of California, where a 

 variety which will mature early in the winter is much 

 needed. It may not ripen quite so early in California 

 as it does in Guatemala, due to the difference in 

 climatic conditions." 43602. "From the patio in the 



