THE AVOCADO IN GUATEMALA. 67 



A formal description of this variety is as follows : 



Form elongated to slender pyriform, sometimes curved ; size medium, weight 

 12 ounces, length 5i to 6i inches, greatest breadth 2£ to 3 inches ; base narrow, 

 rounded, the short, stout stem (2 to 3 inches long) inserted obliquely; apex 

 rounded to broadly pointed, the stigmatic point slightly depressed ; surface 

 quite smooth, uniformly bright green in color, with very numerous minute 

 yellowish dots ; skin very thin, less than one-sixteenth of an inch, but firm 

 and tough ; flesh rich yellow near the seed cavity, changing to light green near 

 the skin, firm, or fine texture, free from fiber, and of rich, nutty flavor ; 

 quality very good ; seed medium sized, weighing about l| ounces, conical to 

 slender conical in form, the cotyledons smooth, with the seed coats adhering 

 loosely. 



ISHIM. (No. 34.) S. P. I. No. 45562. 



While most avocados in the Antigua region do not ripen their 

 fruits until February or March, the Ishim tree matures its entire 

 crop by the end of November. It can be considered, therefore, a very 

 early variety, and as such is worthy of a trial in California, where 

 early varieties of the Guatemalan race are much desired. Its only 

 visible defect is its somewhat large seed. The quality is good, and 

 the fruit is attractive in appearance. 



The parent tree is growing in a small coffee plantation belonging 

 to Ignacio Hernandez, situated on the hillside above San Lorenzo del 

 Cuba, a village some 3 miles from Antigua. The elevation is about 

 5,500 feet. The tree is about 35 feet high, broad and spreading in 

 habit, with a fairly dense crown 40 or 45 feet broad, slightly in- 

 clined to droop. The trunk is divided into two main branches, one 

 about 1 foot thick at the base, the other 9 inches. The larger branch 

 divides 8 feet above the ground into two main limbs. The growth 

 seems to be reasonably vigorous and the branchlets are well formed 

 and stout. The bud wood appears to be quite satisfactory. 



This location is not sufficiently high to experience very cold 

 weather; hence, the variety must be assumed to be of average hardi- 

 ness for the Guatemalan race until it can be tested in the United 

 States. 



The productiveness of the variety is somewhat in doubt. The 

 crop harvested in 1917 was not large. The tree bloomed heavily in 

 December, 1917, and was setting a good crop when last seen. The 

 season of ripening extends from October to the first of December. 

 Probably the fruits would remain on the tree later than December 

 if allowed to do so, but as avocados are very scarce at that season of 

 the year they are picked as soon as they mature. 



The form of the fruits, pear shaped to obovoid, is attractive, as is 

 the deep maroon-purple color which they assume upon ripening. 

 They are of convenient size, about 12 ounces, and the flesh is yellow 

 and of good quality. The seed is larger than in the best late varie- 

 ties, but not unreasonably so. It is tight in the cavity. 



