CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



ber; "Avocado Varieties" by Prof. Condit, and "Methods of Pruning'* 

 by Mr. B. K. Marvin, all of which were of such educational value as to 

 call for repetition when reviewed in the light of new information. 



The program of the fifth semi-annual meeting held in the Glenwood 

 Mission Inn at Riverside, October 26th and 27th, 1917, was arranged 

 with reference to a general demand for more time than was ordinarily 

 allowed for discussion. Few papers were presented, two symposia, one on 

 "Irrigation" and the other on "Heat Injury," occupying the bulk of the 

 time. The symposium on "Irrigation" led by Dr. Lester Keller, brought 

 out the fact that he stands, almost, if not quite, alone in his advocacy of 

 the constant drip irrigation which he practices on his nine acre avocado 

 grove. The symposium on "Heat Injury" occasioned by the excessive 

 heat wave of June 1 4th to 1 7th, was carefully planned by Mr. F. O. 

 Popenoe and established the fact of relationship between the injury done 

 to avocado trees due to heat and the lack of timely irrigation. Strong 

 young trees shielded from the sun during the first summer, provided with a 

 generous mulch of straw and adequate moisture, are, other things being 

 equal, the most heat resistant. Other cultural problems might profitably 

 be treated in this way at our meetings as the symposium and discussion 

 bring out a great deal of valuable personal experience and suggestion. 



A special report of the Board of Directors on Avocado Varieties 

 was presented at this meeting. From the beginning your directors have 

 felt that this was the most important problem confronting the new industry. 

 With the number of varieties increasing until some 180 were listed, there 

 would naturally arise hesitation with respect to planting. It was apparent 

 that some action was necessary to stabilize the industry and standardize the 

 fruit. The first president of the Association, Mr. Edwin G. Hart, ap- 

 pointed a committee on the Classification and Registration of Varieties. 

 After thorough investigation of fruit and trees the committee met with the 

 Board of Directors and the whole question was carefully considered, with 

 the result that a list of eight varieties was approved as the best and most 

 reliable for commercial planting in California. The report of the com- 

 mittee as modified and adopted by the Board of Directors is included in 

 the Annual Report for 191 7, cind was published as a circular. The 

 action of the directors was almost unanimously acclaimed and was imme- 

 diately productive of beneficial effects. Planters began top-working and 

 rebudding and nurserymen discontinued carrying many varieties for which 

 there was only an occasional demand. To apply the pruning knife to such 

 a formidable list of varieties as existed was a delicate task courageously 

 performed. It was the most singular contribution which has yet been made 

 toward the standardization of fruit and the stabilization of the industry. 

 But the list of varieties adopted must not be considered as final. It was 

 the recommendation of the committee and the opinion of the directors that 

 the list should be revised periodically and brought down to date to keep 

 pace with advancing knowledge. The directors have therefore provided 

 for the continuance of the committee giving the President power to make 

 such changes in its personnel as may seem desirable. 



The three published annual reports for 1915, 1916 and 1917, which 

 we have briefly reviewed, contain a great deal more than has been men- 

 tioned. There are suggestions of pioneers in the industry which the seeker 

 after knowledge can not afford to pass by. There are articles of general 



