28 THE AVOCADO IN FLORIDA. 



In color of meat the fruits of different varieties vary. Immediately 

 under the epidermis it is green, sometimes for only a fraction of an 

 inch; in other varieties it may be green three-quarters of the way 

 through the meat, the remainder being either whitish or yellowish, 

 or the green color may extend almost to the seed. Some of the 

 finest varieties have a cream-colored meat. In texture some avocados 

 have rather watery meat, with a number of strings running through 

 it, and are decidedly inferior to fruit with firm meat and no strings. 



SEED AND SEED CAVITY. 



The variations in the seed cavity are of importance from a commer- 

 cial standpoint. In some fruits the seed is lodged firmly in the meat; 

 in others it occupies only a fraction of the cavity (compare figs. 6, 7, 

 8, and 9), and variations occur anywhere between these extremes. 

 Obviously, the best shipping fruit is that with a seed cavity so small 

 that the seed can not be shaken about, since in handling the fruit in 

 transit the seed in a large cavity so bruises the meat as to cause rapid 

 deterioration. This point should be borne in mind in selecting varie- 

 ties for propagation. 



In the shape and size of the seed marked variation occurs. The 

 shape does not necessaritv conform to that of the fruit, while the size 

 may vary from one-half the bulk of the fruit down to one-tenth or 

 even less. (Compare figs. G, 7, 8, and 9.) One tree that bears seedless 

 fruit has been discovered in Florida. Since the formation of seeds is 

 the greatest tax on the energies of the plant, it is important for the 

 grower to produce fruits with as small seeds as possible; these the 

 buyer will also prefer, as to him the seed is of no value. 



SHAPE OF THE TREE. 



The manner of growth of avocado trees differs exceeding^. Some 

 trees grow with a slender shape, like the Lombardy poplar; others 

 spread out in the form of an American elm, while the greater number 

 take on the compact shape of a fruit-bearing tree, making an outline 

 somewhat similar to that of a haycock. (Compare Pis. I, II, and III.) 

 This last mentioned form is, of course, the most desirable of the diff- 

 erent shapes. It gives the tree a chance to withstand gales, and per- 

 mits the fruit to sway on slender branches, thus keeping it from 

 being blown off during storms. 



FORMS AND VARIETIES. 



The species Persea gratissima Gartn., or what is popularly known as 

 avocado, is well defined from the other species of the genus, but 

 inside of the species as at present understood it is exceedingly vari- 

 able. Some attempt has been made to separate this species into vari- 

 eties, but so little has yet been done in the v?ay of perpetuating 



