36 BULLETIN 743, U. S. "DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



daily in the latter State, where it is particularly injurious to the 

 mango. The two other species are Diplodia pcrsecma and an unde- 

 termined species of Fusarium. 



THE WEST INDIAN RACE OF AVOCADOS IN GUATEMALA. 



It is safe to state that 95 per cent of all the avocados in Guate- 

 mala belong to the Guatemalan race. From this it will readily be 

 seen that the West Indian race is of little importance there. Its 

 cultivation is limited to the lowlands, the highest point at which trees 

 were seen being near Sanarate, Department of Guatemala, at an 

 elevation of about 2,500 feet. On the Pacific slope, a few trees were 

 seen at Mazatenango, Coatepeque, and Ayutla. Doubtless they are 

 to be found scattered here and there all along the coastal plain which 

 stretches from Mexico to Salvador. On the Atlantic slope, occasional 

 trees were seen in the Motagua Valley from El Rancho down to the 

 sea ; in the Polochic Valley they were seen at Panzos. The best varie- 

 ties encountered were at Chiquimula; while of good quality, they 

 were not equal to those grown in Florida and Cuba. Guatemala 

 does not appear to possess any varieties of this race worthy of intro- 

 duction into other countries. 



In the Motagua Valley, trees of this race flower in February and 

 mature their fruits from the latter part of June until the end of 

 August. Both the flowering and the fruiting seasons correspond very 

 closely, therefore, to those of the West Indian race in Florida. 



The quantity of fruit produced is by no means sufficient to supply 

 the markets of lowland towns ; hence, fruits of the Guatemalan race, 

 brought from the highlands, are frequently seen in these towns. It 

 is noteworthy, however, that the avocado is not consumed so exten- 

 sively in the lowlands as it is in the highlands ; as previously stated, 

 it is a staple article of diet in the latter regions, while in the low- 

 lands its consumption is limited. 



It is strange that the West Indian race is never seen in such towns 

 as Amatitlan and Antigua. ■ Experience in Florida indicates that 

 the trees will withstand more cold than is experienced in either of 

 these regions, and both of them are only a few miles from the 

 tierra caliente where the West Indian race is grown. It must be 

 assumed that during the long«period in which both races have been 

 grown in Guatemala each has become restricted to the zone in 

 which it is most successful. The West Indian race might succeed 

 in Antigua, but by nature it is much better adapted to the lowlands. 

 The Guatemalan race, as has been noted, is occasionally seen at low 

 elevations, and in some instances may be reasonably successful there ; 

 but only in the cooler climate of the highlands does it appear to be 

 really at home. 



