44 BULLETIN 743, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



rieties are much desired in that State. The tree is exceedingly pro- 

 ductive, and the fruit, though small, is of desirable round form and 

 attractive glossy purple color. The flesh is yellow, free from fiber, 

 and of rich flavor, while the seed is comparatively small for a fruit of 

 round or oblate form. 



The parent tree is growing in the sitio of Victor Garcia, who keeps 

 a small estanco on the road from Antigua to San Antonio Aguas 

 Calientes. just above the church of San Lorenzo del Cubo. The eleva- 

 tion is approximately 5,600 feet. Beneath the tree, which stands on 

 a rather steep hillside, coffee has recently been planted. The soil is a 

 very loose black sandy loam, doubtless of volcanic origin. Judging 

 from the crops grown in the vicinity it must be quite fertile. The 

 age of the tree is not definitely known. Victor Garcia says that it 

 was already of large size when he was a lad, so it may be considered 

 at least 40 years of age ; most likely 50 or more. It stands about 35 

 feet high, with a spreading but rather open crown 35 feet broad. The 

 trunk is 1-J feet thick at the base. The first branches are about 8 feet 

 above the ground. The young growths are stout, shapely, and vigor- 

 ous. The indications are that the variety will be a strong grower-. 

 The bud wood is excellent, having strong well-developed eyes well 

 placed on the round, smooth, clean young twigs. There is no ten- 

 dency for the eyes to drop from the young twigs, as there is in some 

 varieties. The wood is not unusually brittle. 



Varieties growing at this altitude in Guatemala are not subjected 

 to severe frosts, but should be as hardy as the average of the Guate- 

 malan race. 



The flowering season of the parent tree is from the end of October 

 to the first of December. It flowers very profusely and in good sea- 

 sons sets heavy crops of fruit. The crop which ripened at the end of 

 1916 was enormous. It was impossible to make an accurate count, 

 but a conservative estimate would place the number of fruits at 1,500 

 to 2,000. After such a heavy crop, it is to be expected that a light 

 crop will follow. Very few fruits were carried to ripen at the end of 

 1917. Victor Garcia states that at least a few fruits are always pro- 

 duced ; that some seasons the crop is small, while in others it is very 

 heavy, as it was in 1916. This is commonly the case with Guatemalan 

 avocados. 



As already stated, the fruits commence to ripen at the end of 

 October. Maturity is indicated by the appearance of a purple blush 

 on one side of the fruit. At this stage it is considered ready for pick- 

 ing, but its flavor is much richer if left on the tree some months 

 longer until the entire fruit is deep purple in color. Apparently this 

 variety has an unusually long fruiting season, for a few fruits (which 

 had been overlooked in picking) were found still hanging on the tree 

 at the end of April, 1917. As observed during the past harvest, the 



