THE AVOCADO IN GUATEMALA. 61 



with the size of the fruit. In small specimens of any variety the seed 

 commonly appears large. This variety was not studied as thor- 

 oughly as some of the others, but it is considered well worthy of a 

 trial in the United States. 



The parent tree is growing in the cafetal of Francisco Muus, 

 called Chiquitop, in the edge of the town of San Cristobal, Depart- 

 ment of Alta Vera Paz. The elevation is about 4,600 feet. The 

 soil is heavy reddish clay, which is very tenacious when wet. The 

 tree stands among coffee bushes 6 to 8 feet high. It is about 40 feet 

 in height, with the trunk 18 inches thick at the base, branching 12 

 feet from the ground. The crown is broad and spreading, well 

 branched, and dense. The branchlets are rather short, but of good 

 appearance, being well formed and stout. The bud wood is good, 

 but it is difficult to get long bud sticks from the parent tree. The 

 eyes are well developed and do not drop early. 



Varieties growing at this elevation in Guatemala are not subjected 

 to severe frosts; hence, there is no way of telling whether they are 

 hardier than the average until they are tested in the United States. 



The tree probably flowers in late February and March. It is said 

 to fruit heavily, but at the time it was examined in 1917 only a few 

 fruits were left on it. The ripening season is from February to 

 May, which is the main season for avocados at San Cristobal. 



The fruit is round, about a pound in weight, yellowish green in 

 color, with a moderately thick skin. The flesh is yellow, clear, 

 dry, of very rich flavor, and free from any discoloration. The seed 

 is medium sized in large specimens, being rather large in some of 

 the smaller ones examined. In many instances the seed is placed 

 to one side of the center of the fruit. 



A formal description of the variety follows. 



Form obliquely spherical, sometimes slightly narrowed toward the base ; 

 size medium to very large, weight 14 to 20 ounces, length 3| to 4 inches, 

 breadth 3| to 4 inches; base slightly flattened, oblique, the stem inserted 

 obliquely without depression ; apex obliquely flattened ; surface pebbled, most 

 conspicuously so around the base of the fruit, deep green to yellowish green in 

 color, almost glossy, with numerous small russet or yellowish dots ; skin mod- 

 erately thick, one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch, hard and woody; flesh 

 cream yellow in color, without fiber or discoloration, firm, dry, of very rich 

 flavor; quality excellent; seed medium sized, weighing about 2 ounces, some- 

 times excentric, tight in the seed cavity, with both seed coats adhering closely 

 to the cotyledons. 



MANIK. (No. 26.) S. P. I. No. 45560. 



The Manik avocado is a productive and rather early variety of 

 excellent quality. The fruit is medium sized, of pleasing form, and 

 has clear yellow flesh of unusually rich flavor. 



The parent tree is growing in the finca La Polvora in Antigua. 

 The elevation is about 5,100 feet. While it is growing among coffee 



