PROMISING NEW FRUITS. 431 



The dwarfish habit of growth of the tree gave the impression for 

 several years that it, like the Unshiu trees imported at the same time, 

 was on trifoliata stock. This was later found to be an error, although 

 it has since been found to succeed well upon that stock. Correspond- 

 ence with the importer and other efforts to identify the variety hav- 

 ing failed to establish its identity, it gradually became known as the 

 Dugat. It appears to have been first propagated commercially in this 

 country about 1898 l by Mr. K, W. Holbert. Arcadia, Tex. Since that 

 time it has been considerably disseminated through Texas and Florida 

 nurseries. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Form roundish, very slightly ribbed; size medium to large; stem 

 stout, placed in a small wrinkled cavity; apex slightly flattened; 

 surface rather rough; oil cells large, indented; rind tenacious, 

 moderately thick; segments commonly 12, irregular, rather loose, 

 leaving an open center ; seeds plump, variable in size, color, whitish ; 

 flesh yellowish translucent, tender; juice abundant, translucent; 

 flavor sprightly subacid with pleasant bouquet; quality good. Sea- 

 son early, about the first of December in southern Texas. The crop 

 is more uniform in size than Satsuma, and like other true oranges it 

 keeps better than the Mandarin varieties. 



The tree makes a dwarfish, compact growth and is practically 

 thornless. For some time it was thought to be fully as hardy as 

 Satsuma, but the experience of the past six years indicates that it is 

 injured by cold sooner than the Satsuma on the trifoliata stock in 

 Texas. The tree appears to have remarkable recuperative capacit}', 

 however, and when banked to protect the trunk from destruction by 

 frost, quickly renews its top. Under such conditions it is reported 

 to come into fruit again much more quickly than the Satsuma. It is 

 also considered a more regular bearer than Satsuma. Its chief value 

 thus far indicated is for the Texas coast country, where it is being 

 considerably planted. 



The specimen illustrated in Plate XXXYII was grown by Mrs. 

 E. M. Dugat, Beeville, Tex. 



FAMILY AVOCADO. 



[PLATE XXXVIII.] 



ORIGIN. 



The original tree of the Family avocado was found by Prof. P. H. 

 Rolfs, now director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, 

 on a place at Buena Vista near Miami, Fla., which came into his 



1 Letter from G. Onderdonk, January 12, 1911. 



