Imported Varieties of the Avocado 

 for California 



K. A. RYERSON 



ASSOCIATE EDITOR UNIVERSITY OP CALIFORNIA JOURNAL OP AGRICULTURE 



In the development of so promising a commercial enterprise as the 

 culture of the avocado has proved to be, naturally the question of the most 

 suitable varieties is paramount. During the past two or three years, there 

 have appeared many varieties, originating locally, some of which lack little 

 of being classed as ideal commercial fruits. However, no matter how well 

 adapted to the demands of the market these varieties may be, there is still 

 room for improvement. The season in which avocados may be secured at a 

 reasonable cost needs to be lengthened ; we now have varieties that give us 

 fruits almost continuously throughout the year but the quantity is limited. 



The extension of avocado growing into the cooler parts of California 

 depends on the securing of the hardiest types, and this requires the careful 

 exploration of the native avocado districts of the world. But little has been 

 done in this line as yet; we do not know what possibilities lie undiscovered 

 in the highlands of Mexico, Central and South America. Mexico has received 

 the most attention so far. The grower, in the end, will not be satisfied until 

 he has the very best that the world affords. The first steps in this direction 

 have been made for the most part by private concerns, the government having 

 attempted little thus far. The first explorations have greatly increased our 

 number of commercial varieties and have added much to the length of the 

 season in which avocados will be able to be obtained reasonably and plen- 

 tifully. 



It is a recognized fact that the fruit intended to be placed on the ea.stern 

 market must be of the thick skinned type in order to withstand shipment 

 without great loss. Also, in order to compete on an equal footing with the 

 Florida avocado, this type will have to be adhered to. We can not expect 

 a profitable return unless the California product is equal to or better than 

 that of its competitor. The thin skinned type is admirably suited to the 

 local market and to growing for home use, since it is, as a rule, very prolific 

 and somewhat hardier than many of the larger thick skinned fruits in our 

 list at present. Nevertheless, it is not reasonable to conclude that if a choice 

 variety is somewhat more tender than a more inferior variety, the latter 

 should be planted in preference. If it is profitable to protect an orange 

 grove from the ravages of the cold, how much more reasonable to protect 

 fruit yielding far greater returns than the orange. 



It is to the highlands of Mexico, Central and South America that we 

 must look for new varieties of the avocado, that will be suitable to our 

 climatic conditions. Because a variety is rated as a Mexican or Central or 



