THE AVOCADO IN GUATEMALA. 31 



It is in the Senahu region that the avocado grows almost sponta- 

 neously, springing up everywhere from seeds dropped by the In- 

 dians. The appearance of the trees, however, is not so healthy and 

 vigorous as in San Cristobal, where the rainfall is approximately 

 half as great. 



The distribution of rainfall in Alta Vera Paz seems to be less regu- 

 lar than it is in the vicinity of the city of Guatemala, at least dur- 

 ing the first four months of the year. The rainy season in this city is 

 well defined and nearly the same every year ; the inhabitants are ac- 

 customed to expect the first heavy rains about May 15 and the last 

 ones about October 15. In Alta Vera Paz the " dry season," January 

 to April, is sometimes characterized by a considerable amount of pre- 

 cipitation every month ; in other instances there is almost no precipi- 

 tation for one or more months. 



The climate of San Cristobal, besides being drier than that of 

 Senahu,- is characterized by a greater range of temperature. It is 

 considerably warmer during the first four months of the year (the 

 dry season), and the minima are slightly lower because of the greater 

 elevation of San Cristobal. In neither of these regions, however, are 

 freezing temperatures ever experienced. 



Purula (5,150 feet), in the Department of Baja Vera Paz, is con- 

 siderably cooler than San Cristobal ; much more so, in fact, than the 

 comparatively slight difference in elevation would lead one to expect. 

 It is considered by natives to lie within the "tierra fria," or cold 

 zone, because it grows many peaches, quinces, and apples. It lies in 

 a small mountain valley opening to the west. Judging from several 

 visits to the spot during the coldest portion of the year, it experi- 

 ences lower temperatures than Antigua, but the plants which are 

 grown indicate that it can not ordinarily be subjected to greater cold 

 than 35° to 40° F. Clouds sweep up the valley and hang over the 

 town much of the time, making it a very moist spot, which receives 

 much less sunshine than Antigua or the city of Guatemala. It never 

 becomes very warm. 



Eeturning across the Sierra de las Minas, which divides the moist 

 Vera Paz from the comparatively dry plateau of central Guatemala, 

 the town of Amatitlan (3,900 feet) comes up for consideration. This 

 town lies only a few miles from Antigua, but is separated by the 

 broad slopes of the Volcan de Agua. Its situation is such as to give 

 it a warm climate, since it is in the upper end of a valley open- 

 ing toward the Pacific Ocean and is in close proximity to Lake 

 Amatitlan, a body of water 10 miles or more in length. The pres- 

 ence of the soursop {Annona, muricata) and the mamey {Mammea 

 americana) in Amatitlan shows that it must have a warmer climate 

 than is usual in Guatemala at this elevation. Its rainfall closely ap- 

 proximates that of the city of Guatemala. 



