﻿44 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



to ripen at the end of 1917. Victor Garcia states that at least a few fruits are 

 always produced ; some seasons the crop is small ; in others it is very heavy, as 

 it was in 1916. This is commonly the case with Guatemalan avocados. 



"As already stated, the fruit commences to ripen at the end of October. Ma- 

 turity is indicated by the appearance of a purple blush on one side of the fruit. 

 At this stage it is considered ready for picking, but its flavor is much richer if 

 left on the tree some months longer until the entire fruit is deep purple in color. 

 Apparently this variety has an unusually long fruiting season, for a few fruits 

 (which had been overlooked in picking) were found still hanging on the tree at 

 the end of April, 1917. 



"As observed during the past harvest, the ripening season appears to be as 

 follows : First fruits maturing at the end of October ; most of crop maturing in 

 November and December, but better if left on the tree until January ; a few 

 fruits at least remaining on the tree until March and April. 



" The fruit is uniformly oblate in form, resembling a grapefruit. In size it 

 is small, weighing from 6 to 10 ounces. Under better cultural conditions, how- 

 ever, the weight will probably go up to 12 ounces. The color when the fruit is 

 fully ripe is deep purple. The surface is pebbled, not distinctly roughened. 

 The skin is of good thickness, hard, and brittle. The flesh is deep yellow in 

 color, free from fiber, but with slight fiber discoloration (not, however, of an ob- 

 jectionable nature), of fine texture, and rich, oily flavor. The quality can be 

 considered excellent. The seed is round, not large for a fruit of round or oblate 

 form. It is generally found that fruits of this shape have seeds considerably 

 larger in proportion to the size of the fruit than is common in the good varieties of 

 pyriform or oval shape. As in nearly all Guatemalan varieties, the seed is quite 

 tight in the cavity. 



" Form roundish oblate ; size small to below medium, weight 6 to 10 ounces, 

 length 2f to 3 inches, greatest breadth 3 to 3| inches ; base truncate, the stem 

 inserted squarely without depression ; stem fairly stout,- 4 inches long ; apex 

 flattened, sometimes slightly oblique ; surface pebbled, deep purple in color, some- 

 times almost glossy, with numerous small yellowish dots ; skin one-sixteenth of 

 an inch thick at basal end of fruit, about one-eighth of an inch thick at apex, 

 separating readily from the flesh, rather finely granular, woody, brittle; fresh 

 deep cream yellow to yellow near the seed, changing to very pale green near the 

 skin, quite free from fiber and with unobjectionable fiber discoloration, firm in 

 texture and of rich, oily flavor ; quality excellent ; seed small in comparison to 

 size of fruit, oblate, .about li ounces in weight, sometimes excentric. tight in the 

 seed cavity, with both seed coats adhering closely." (Popenoe.) 



For an illustration of the Kanola avocado, see Plate TIL 



43561. Chorisl\ •ixsignis H. B. K. Bombacacese. 



From Tucuman, Argentina. Presented by Mr. E. F. Schultz. Department of 

 Agriculture, through Mr. W. Henry Robertson. American consul general, 

 Buenos Aires. Received November 6, 1916. 

 " Known throughout this country as Palo torraclw. the* drunken tree." 

 (Schultz.) 

 See S. P. I. No. 42292 for previous introduction and description. 



43562. Pyrus chinensis X communis. Malacea?. Hybrid pear. 



Plants grown at the Plant Introduction Field Station, Chico, Calif. Num- 

 bered for convenience in distribution, November 17, 1916. 



Hybrid pear, P. I. G. No. 6587, tree 3, row 46. Raised by Dr. W. Van Fleet 

 in 1907 and presented to the Plant Introduction Field Station on December 22, 

 1909. 



