MISCELLANEOUS TROPICAL FRUITS 513 



permanent position in the orchard. They should be planted so that the 

 upper portion of the seed protrudes slightly above the surface of the soil. 

 Best results are usually obtained by planting in pots and transferring the 

 seedlings to the field when they are of the proper size. 



When the trees are not to be grafted the seed should be selected with 

 much care, only the largest seeds from trees that produce the best quality 

 of fruit being used. Even this care will not insure a uniform good quality 

 in the new orchard. Like all seedlings, they seldom come true to the parent 

 stock. Best results are, therefore, obtained by propagating through some 



Method of Budding the Avocado. 1 



form of cuttings, selecting the scions from trees that are prolific and produce 

 fruit of good quality. 



Until recently it has been thought impossible to successfully bud the 

 avocado. Careful study of the subject and numerous experiments have 

 resulted in a successful method of budding, following what is known as the 

 shield budding method. This is similar to that practiced in the budding of 

 citrus trees. The success seems to depend chiefly upon the character of 

 growth from which buds to be inserted are selected. Buds from what is 

 called second flush in growth have been found superior to those in any other 

 stage of development. 



It is often desirable to re-work good-sized trees. This may be success- 

 fully accomplished by budding into new wood forced out for the purpose. 

 The trees are usually cut back severely in the spring and the cut stubs 



1 Courtesy of U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. From Porto Rico Bulletin No. 8. 

 33 



