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



Following is a formal description of the variety. 



Form most commonly pyriform, but sometimes obovate ; size below medium 

 to medium, weight 10 to 12i ounces, length 4 to 5 inches, greatest breadth 2£ 

 to 3& inches ; base narrow to rounded, the stem inserted obliquely almost with- 

 out depression; apex rounded or obtusely pointed, somewhat flattened around 

 the stigmatic point ; surface almost smooth, sometimes pitted, deep, dark 

 maroon-purple in color, with numerous small light maroon dots ; skin unusually 

 thin for this race, slightly less than one-sixteenth of an inch, soft, tender, 

 peeling fairly readily when the fruit is fully ripe ; flesh fine grained, buttery, 

 cream yellow in color, with slight fiber discolorations in some specimens but 

 no actual fiber, the flavor moderately rich and nutty ; quality good ; seed large, 

 broadly conical to nearly spherical in form, weighing 1J to 2\ ounces, tight in 

 the seed cavity, with the seed coats adhering closely to the cotyledons. 



KANAN. (No. 35.) S. P. I. No. 45563. 



The Kanan avocado is an early variety (PI. XXIII) from the 

 Antigua region, of rather large size, desirable form, and excellent 

 quality. Although a round avocado, the seed is not large in propor- 

 tion to the size of the fruit, but on the contrary is rather small. On 

 the "whole this seems like a very promising variety. 



The parent tree is growing in a small coffee plantation belonging 

 to Ignacio Gonzales, situated on the road to San Antonio Aguas 

 Calientes, just beyond the village of San Lorenzo del Cubo. The 

 elevation is approximately 5,300 feet. The tree is about 35 feet high, 

 with a trunk 30 inches thick at the base, dividing 2 feet above the 

 ground to form two main limbs each 1 foot in diameter. These give 

 off their first branches about 12 feet from the ground. The bud wood 

 is excellent, the branchlets being stout, well formed, with vigorous 

 buds conveniently placed. 



The tree did not produce a heavy crop from the 1916-17 blooms, 

 but is said to have borne more heavily in past seasons. It flowers in 

 December and January and commences to mature its fruits the first 

 of the following December. They are not at their best until January. 



The climate of this location is not sufficiently cold to test the hardi- 

 ness of the variety ; hence, it must be assumed, pending a trial in the 

 United States, that it is of about average hardiness for the Guate- 

 malan race. 



In form the fruit resembles the Trapp of Florida, being round to 

 oblate. It also resembles the Trapp in size and color, but the sur- 

 face is somewhat rough and the skin thick and hard. The flesh is 

 cream yellow in color, free from discoloration, and of a rich and 

 pleasant flavor. The seed is small and tight in the cavity. 



The variety may be formally described as follows: 



Form nearly spherical, varying to slightly oblate and more rarely to broadly 

 obovoid; size above medium to very large, weight 10 to 20 ounces, length 31 to 

 4£ inches, greatest breadth 3J to 4 inches; base rounded, the stem inserted 

 very slightly to one side and almost without depression ; apex flattened ; sur- 



