THE AVOCADO 67 



be very precocious; it is noticeable, in fact, that precocious 

 varieties often fail to make vigorous trees. It is more desirable 

 to have the tree devote itself during the first three years to 

 the development of an extensive root-system and a well- 

 branched crown capable of withstanding the drain imposed by 

 the production of heavy crops of fruit than to have its growth 

 limited and its vitality exhausted by premature fruiting. 

 Thirdly, the fruit itself must be given consideration from a 

 commercial standpoint. Attractiveness, flavor, shipping qual- 

 ities, season, and other important characteristics should be 

 considered in respect to the market it is proposed to supply. 

 Naturally, good shipping quality can be sacrificed to some 

 other point if the fruit is for local use, while it is essential if the 

 fruit is destined for distant markets. The flavor and quality 

 of the flesh should be as good as possible, and the seed should 

 not be unduly large. 



More than one hundred and fifty varieties have been propa- 

 gated in the United States up to the present tune. The larger 

 part of these originated as seedlings in California and Florida ; 

 the remainder have been introduced from Mexico, Guatemala, 

 Cuba, the Bahamas, Hawaii, and a few other regions. 



Of this large number not more than a dozen are likely to be 

 planted ten years hence. Indeed, most of them have already 

 been discarded. New varieties are originating every year, 

 however, and the introduction of promising sorts from foreign 

 countries is receiving much attention. It is only by testing a 

 large number of varieties from all of the important avocado 

 regions of the tropics that the best available kinds for commer- 

 cial cultivation can be obtained. 



It is not desirable to burden such a work as this with descrip- 

 tions of all the avocados which have been propagated. It is 

 sufficient to include the more important ones which are at the 

 present time being planted commercially. For descriptions 

 of minor varieties, and for information regarding the behavior 



