ROEDING'S FRUIT GROWERS' GUIDE 



75 



California are facing at the present time is the question 

 of varieties." Why do I contend that the culture of 

 the avocado is going to be confined to a prescribed dis- 

 trict? It is simply because I realize from my personal 

 investigations that with very few exceptions 'the avo- 

 cado is more tender than the lime, and that.it is going 

 to reach its greatest perfection where as a rule there is 

 very little danger during the winter months of any 

 great extremes of cold. The alluring accounts which 

 have gone the rounds of the great profits to be derived 

 in avocado culture should be taken with a good sized 

 grain of allowance. To succeed well the avocado must 

 not only have an abundance of water but a good, deep 

 soil, and in addition to this a climate where the air is 

 tempered by the ocean breezes. 



It is quite possible that this culture may be carried 

 on successfully in the foothill districts of the interior 

 valleys, but I would advise those who have the fad to 

 exercise considerable caution in their efforts. Far 

 better to plant fruits the success of which has been 

 demonstrated by years of actual trial, than to be in- 

 duced to engage in the growing of a fruit of doubtful 

 value from a standpoint of making money. 



STOCKS 



The hardier Mexican types have been used for this 

 purpose. As to what will finally prove to be the best 

 stocks for the avocado is up to the present time just as 

 chaotic as the numerous list of varieties. That ulti- 

 mately there will be varieties having points in their 

 favor for stock there can be no question. The seedlings 

 are easily grown. They are placed in pots with the 

 blunt end down and with the apex slightly exposed. 

 After they have attained a growth of a foot they are 

 transferred to larger receptacles and when the plants 

 have attained a caliper of three-eighths to one-half inch 

 they are budded. The trees make such a very rapid 

 growth in nursery rows that nurserymen are finding it 

 far more satisfactory to produce the trees by raising 

 them in boxes than by planting the seedlings out and 

 balling the trees when they are ready for sale. The 

 trees transplanted from boxes not only start out more 

 quickly when planted in orchard form but in addition 

 to this they can be trained to much better advantage. 



DISTANCES APART AND PRUNING 



The avocado is a rank growing tree and is also in- 

 clined to be of a very spreading habit, therefore the 

 trees should not be planted too close together. Thirty 

 feet apart is a good distance. In planting the boxed or 

 balled plants observe the instructions given for planting 

 balled citrus trees, and also the statements made under 

 the heading of watering and irrigating. Each tree 

 should be staked when it is planted, using a coast red- 

 wood stake 2 inch x 2 inch x 6 feet long. The tree should 

 be trained to at least four feet from the ground before 

 it is allowed to branch. Great care should be exercised 

 not only *o whitewash the body of the tree but also in 

 addition to this to wrap it with burlap or use a tree pro- 

 tector to prevent sunburn. As the tree is very sus- 

 ceptible to sunburn every precaution should be exer- 

 cised to prevent it. As usual, the old story that the 

 avocado should never be pruned is going the rounds of 



the press. This has as much foundation as the 

 recommendations which have been circulated 

 throughout California in reference to the pruning of 

 many other fruit trees. It is quite true that it is neces- 

 sary to use proper precautions in the pruning of the 

 tree and that it would be dangerous indeed to follow 

 the course recommended for pruning deciduous trees, 

 but nevertheless shaping is essential. There is a ten- 

 dency on the part of most of the varieties to grow 

 downward and it is no uncommon thing to have 

 branches lying on the ground and loaded with fruit. 

 It seems to be the very nature of the tree to do this. 

 This is why it is necessary to start the framework 

 branches high and allow them to droop to the ground 

 rather than to permit them to shoot from the body of 

 the tree close to the ground. The pruning should be 

 done with a view of promoting a*n upward growth to 

 bring about a series of elbows in the trees and to prevent 

 the development of long straggling branches. Pruning 

 and shaping should only be done when the tree is in its 

 most active state of growth, and when a cut is made it 

 should be carefully waxed or painted, otherwise there is 

 a tendency toward die-back. 



GATHERING 



Under favorable conditions it is going to be possible 

 to gather avocados at all seasons of the year. There are 

 two distinct types: those with thin skins and the so- 

 called hard-shells. The former must be very carefully 

 gathered and picked when they have reached their size 

 and before they commence to get soft, otherwise they 

 will deca}/ very quickly. Whenever they show an indi- 

 cation to soften somewhat (a condition which is readily 

 determined by pressing between the fingers) they are 

 ready for consumption. The thick-skinned varieties 

 may be shipped long distance with every assurances, if 

 picked when they have reached their size, that they, will 

 keep for several weeks in the very best of condition. 



EATING THE AVOCAB% 



This fruit has well been named the po&r man's food. 

 In the countries of South America, Mexico and other 

 tropical countries where it grows wild, the very fact that 

 the trees are such abundant bearers and that the fruits 

 possess all the food ingredients to sustain the human 

 body, are the combinatiors which have caused this fruit 

 to be so designated. The fruits sell with us at very 

 high prices, and it is more than likely they will continue 

 to do so for many years to come. Many people must 

 acquire the taste for the fruit, but once having done so 

 it is difficult indeed to resist the longing for this most' 

 palatable and really wonderful fruit. There are many 

 ways of preparing it for the table, but the usual method 

 in vogue is to halve it, remove the seed, pour a little 

 oil or^rinegar (lime juice is better), add a little table 

 salt and pepper, and it is ready to be egjpfi- 



IRRIGATION 



Instructions given on this point for the citrus fruits 

 are adaptable to the avocado. 



MERITORIOUS VARIETIES 



Azusa, Carton, Fuerte, Harman, Lyon, Meserve, 

 Northrop, Sharpless, Spinks, Taft. 



