THE AVOCADO 73 



sometimes i inch, thick. This characteristic, together with 

 the texture of the surface, is variable, occasional forms being 

 found which have the skin scarcely thicker or rougher than in 

 the West Indian race. It is usually harder, however, and more 

 coarsely granular in character. The seed completely fills the 

 cavity. The cotyledons are nearly or quite smooth, the seed- 

 coats thin, closely united, and adherent to the cotyledons 

 throughout. The flowers, more finely pubescent than in the 

 Mexican race, are similar in character to those of the West 

 Indian. They appear much later than those of the Mexican 

 race, usually beginning to open in late spring, about the time 

 those of the W r est Indian race (in Florida) are setting fruits. 

 Unlike both the other races, the fruit does not ripen in the en- 

 suing summer, but is carried over into the following autumn, 

 winter, or spring; while in California, fruits which develop 

 from flowers appearing in June may remain on the tree until a 

 year from the following October. The ripening season in general 

 is winter and spring in Florida, somewhat later in California, 

 where the earliest varieties at present cultivated begin to ripen 

 late in January or in February, and the latest ones hang on the 

 tree until October. 



Blakeman. Form broad pyriform to obconic, oblique, broad at 

 the basal end ; size above medium to very large, weight 14 to 20 

 ounces, length 4 to 4f inches, greatest breadth 3 to 3| inches ; base 

 rounded, the long stem inserted obliquely in a very shallow cavity; 

 apex broadly rounded, obliquely flattened or slightly depressed on one 

 side, with the stigmatic point raised; surface slightly undulating 

 to roughened, but not so rough as in many other Guatemalan varieties, 

 dark green with numerous large yellowish or reddish brown dots ; skin 

 thick and woody, separating readily from the flesh, brittle, granular ; 

 flesh fine-grained, firm, deep cream-yellow in color, tinged with green 

 near the skin, free from fiber or discoloration ; flavor rich, pleasant ; 

 quality very good ; seed broadly conic, medium sized, fitting tightly 

 in the cavity with both seed-coats adhering closely. Season April to 

 August at Hollywood, California. 



Originated at Hollywood, California; first propagated in 1912, 

 under the provisional names Habersham and Dickey No. 2. 



