30 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



land where the water-table is less than three feet below the 

 surface. Krome has observed groves on low rock-land which 

 have been killed or badly injured by overflows, even where the 

 water came scarcely as high as the crown roots and remained 

 there only a few days. In several plantings on marl prairie, 

 however, experience has been quite different. Trees on this 

 type of land have been submerged twenty-four hours without 

 damage to them. On the low islands along the western coast 

 of Florida, salt water sometimes floods the groves, and this 

 has proved fatal to many trees. It is probable, also, that 

 the failure of one or two plantings on this coast can be attrib- 

 uted to the fact that the water which stands about two feet 

 below the surface of the land is saline in character. 



Until more experience has been gained regarding the adapta- 

 bility of the avocado to low flat ground, occasionally subject 

 to overflow, orchard plantings should be limited to lands 

 where the water-table is three feet or more below the surface. 



In California, the best site for the orchard is a gently slop- 

 ing hillside, or level ground adjacent to a slope. If of this 

 character, and well drained but naturally retentive of mois- 

 ture, the situation may be considered excellent. In regions 

 subject to heavy winds, it is well to select a piece of ground 

 which is sheltered by surrounding elevations. 



CULTIVATION 



Regarding the best time to plant avocados in southern 

 Florida, Krome says : 



" I have planted at least a few avocados every year since 1905 and 

 these plantings have been made during every month of the year. 

 When I have the land prepared and the trees available I do not hesi- 

 tate to plant at any season but I endeavor to make my arrangements 

 so that all of my main settings will be between the 15th of Septem- 

 ber and the 20th of October, i.e. during the last month of the regular 

 rainy season, after the hottest weather of the year is past. When 

 avocados are planted in the spring in Florida they have immediately 



