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



AKBAL. (No. 32.) S. P. I. No. 45505. 



The Akbal avocado is a variety noteworthy for earliness, and it 

 has been included in this collection primarily because of this charac- 

 teristic. It is, however, of very good quality and has no visible 

 defects except a somewhat undesirable shape. Judging by its be- 

 havior in Guatemala, it should be the earliest variety in the collec- 

 tion, but it is not safe to depend upon its retaining this character- 

 istic in the United States, since slight local variations in soil or cli- 

 mate sometimes affect the time of ripening very noticeably, and its 

 earliness may not be altogether an inherent characteristic. 



The parent tree is growing in the grounds of Eulogio Duarte, near 

 Amatitlan. The location is known as Los Rastrojos and is about 2 

 miles from the plaza of Amatitlan, on the road which leads past the 

 cemetery toward the hills. The altitude is approximately 4,200 feet. 

 The tree is about 40 feet high, spreading but of compact growth, the 

 crown being fairly dense. The trunk is about 20 inches thick at the 

 base and branches 10 feet from the ground. According to the owner, 

 the tree is 6 years old, but judging from its size it can not be less 

 than 20. It seems to be vigorous and in good condition. The bud 

 wood which it yields is fairly satisfactory, the growths being well 

 formed though not very stout, while the eyes are vigorous and do 

 not drop quickly. 



This is rather a warm region; hence, there is nothing to indicate 

 that the variety will be unusually hardy. 



The crop harvested in the fall of 1917 was a good one. According 

 to the owner, it was 600 fruits, but it seems probable that it was 

 considerably more. The bearing habit of the tree gives promise of 

 being very satisfactory. The flowering season is in November and 

 December, and the fruit ripens from the following August to No- 

 vember. It is fully ripe and in perfect condition for picking by the 

 middle of October, whereas the average variety of the same region 

 is not mature until January at the earliest. 



In two characteristics this variety does not seem to agree with the 

 Guatemalan race. It has a thin skin and the seed coats do not adhere 

 closely to the cotyledons. A few other varieties showing these same 

 characteristics were seen in the same locality, and it is possible that 

 they may not be true Guatemalan avocados, though in most respects 

 they appear to belong to this race. 



In form the fruit is long and slender, sometimes slightly curved, 

 and sometimes becoming pyriform. It is medium sized, weighing 

 about 12 ounces. The surface is smooth and deep green in color. 

 The skin is thin and surrounds deep-yellow flesh of good quality, 

 without fiber or discoloration. The seed is medium sized, and while it 

 never rattles in its cavity it does not fit as snugly as it does in 

 nearly all other Guatemalan varieties. 



