58 CROPS THAT PAY. 



"The avocado or alligator pear (Persea gratissima) is a well-known 

 vegetable rather than a fruit, which might be extensively cultivated 

 both for home use as well as for exportation. There are two well- 

 marked varieties — the green and the purple, the latter, from its larger 

 size and finer flavor, being generally preferred in the West India Islands. 

 The edible portion of the fruit is the firm pulp, enclosing the single 

 large seed, which possesses a buttery or marrow-like taste and hence 

 called 'subaltern's butter.' The popular names of this fruit are sup- 

 posed to have been derived from the Mexican term 'ahuacatl ; ' the Span- 

 lards corrupted this to avocado, which means an advocate ; and the 

 English still further to 'alligator pear.' A quantity of very superior 

 oil, useful for illuminating and other purposes, may be obtained from 

 the pulp by expression." 



In the Yearbook of the U. S. Department of Agriculture for 

 1901, Mr. O. F. Cook, Botanist in Charge of Plant Investigations, 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, writes of the avocado in Porto Rico, as 

 follows : 



"The alligator pear, also called butter pear, aguacate and avocate, 

 is a tropical fruit now relatively little known, but with every prospect 

 of a gradually increasing popularity. It is a pear only in shape, and 

 might better be compared to the olive, because it serves as a salad or a. 

 reli.sh rather than a fruit in the ordinary sense, and frequently becomes 

 a favorite even with those who do not like it at first. The flesh has a 

 delicate buttery consistency, and is eaten with vinegar, salt and other 

 condiments, or is used as an ingredient of other salad compounds. 

 The promise of agricultural and commercial importance for this fruit 

 lies in the fact that it already has a distinct, if limited, place in the 

 markets for larger cities at from 30 to 60 cents apiece, prices which 

 might be halved or quartered, and still leave good profits for both 

 grower and dealer. Moreover at these prices the supply of flrst-class 

 fruit seems to be unequal to the demand." 



M. S. Burbank, of Florida, a recognized authority on the avocado 

 and a successful propagator, wrote in a recent letter: 



"The avocado is by no means a new fruit. We find it mentioned 

 as long ago as the early part of the 16th century, although only during 

 the last few years has it been cultivated. On account of its great food 

 value, and the many ways the fruit may be used, the avocado promises 

 to become one of the most important orchard products. To-day it is the 

 highest priced fruit in northern markets. The fruit from seedling trees 

 varies the same as with other fruits, except that all avocados are good, 

 the difference being that some are beter than others. We are, of course, 

 propagating only the best, particularly the late varieties, so that we can 

 put fruit on the market when other fruits are scarce, thereby securing 

 far better prices. In my opinion the prices in the north are now too 

 high, but this will be regulated when more fruit is produced and its 

 use becomes popular. We want everyone in the country to have a taste 

 of the avocado — some will need a second taste, it is so entirely different 

 from any other fruit ; but nearly all become passionately fond of It after 

 a time. 



"The avocado thrives here in South Florida and makes a large hand- 

 some tree with abundant foliage of dark green. 



"The fruit ships well and arrives in market in good condition." 



The following extracts from "The Homeseeker," Miami, Flor- 

 ida, give enthusiastic endorsement of the avocado and the business 

 of growing this fruit. The editor, E. V. Blackman, is familiar with 

 the orchard interests of Southern Florida and well qualified to 

 speak with authority on this subject: — 



"A tropical fruit that is meeting with an increased demand every 

 year is the avocado, or alligator pear, grown in Southern Florida. 

 Among the great variety of fruits produced here in Dade County, take 

 it on the whole, there is none that equals the avocado. Our avocados 

 are far superior in quality and flavor to those of Cuba and bring a much 

 better price in Key West than those grown in Cuba, although Key West 

 Is but a few hours' sail from that Island where the avocado is abundant. 



