THE AVOCADO IN GUATEMALA. 37 



THE MEXICAN RACE OF AVOCADOS IN GUATEMALA. 



Only two trees of the Mexican race were seen in Guatemala, one 

 growing by the roadside near Santa Maria de Jesus (6,900 feet) in 

 the Department of Zacatepequez, and the other at Chimaltenango 

 (6,000 feet). In the latter place the Cakchiquel Indians have a 

 name for this race, matuloh, distinguishing it from the Guatemalan 

 race, which is called simply oh. Conversation with the Indians 

 brought out the information that a few trees of this race were known 

 in the vicinity of Tecpam (7,500 feet) and Chimaltenango, and also 

 on the slopes of the Yolcan de Agua, but at best the race must be 

 considered exceedingly rare in Guatemala. 



The fruits of the two trees examined were primitive in character, 

 broadly obovoid in form, and scarcely 2 inches long. The pro- 

 nounced anise scent possessed by the foliage, the heavy pubescence 

 on the flowers, and the membranous skin of the fruit left no doubt 

 that they were of the true Mexican race. It is much easier to dis- 

 tinguish this race from the other two than it is to distinguish 

 between the other two, Guatemalan and West Indian, themselves. 



Among the Indians who know this race its fruits seem to be held 

 in very little esteem. This is not strange, in view of the fact that 

 the varieties found in Guatemala are the most primitive imaginable. 

 In the fruits examined the seed was so large that there was scarcely 

 enough flesh to pay for the trouble of eating it. 



Choice varieties of this race, such as some of those which have 

 reached the United States from central and northern Mexico, would 

 be of great value for cultivation in Guatemala at high elevations, 

 where the Guatemalan race is injured by the cold. 



THE COYO. 



It is strange that a fruit so well known in northern Guatemala 

 as the coyo should have escaped the attention of horticulturists in 

 other countries, but aside from a brief reference to the species by 

 Collins in his bulletin on the avocado 1 nothing seems to have been 

 written regarding it. 



While the fruit so closely resembles that of the avocado as to de- 

 ceive one at first glance, the tree is distinct in foliage and flower. The 

 coyo and the avocado are two distinct species of Persea. 2 



The coyo is found in Guatemala both wild and cultivated. Like 

 the avocado, it varies greatly in the form and character of its fruit. 

 Most coy os are very inferior in quality, having large seeds and many 

 coarse fibers running through the flesh, but an occasional one is found 



1 Collins, G. N. The avocado, a salad fruit from the Tropics. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. 

 Plant Indus. Bui. 77, p. 23. 1905. 



2 Nees's description of Persea scMedeana appears to cover the coyo, but his herbarium 

 specimens are not available (they are supposed to be in Austria), and the fact can not 

 now be definitely determined. 



