CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



59 



cado culture. One evidence of this interest is the study now being carried 

 on by the University of CaHfornia, of which this paper is a preHminary 

 report. The purpose of these investigations, as outHned by Dr. H. J. Web- 

 ber, is to bring to light as many interesting facts as possible concerning the 

 history and distribution of the avocado in Mexico; the botanical and horti- 

 cultural classificiation of the various species and races involved; the condi- 

 tions of climate and soil under which these species and races are found; 

 methods of tillage, irrigation, pruning, and so forth, which are employed in 

 connection with their culture; their bearing habits and the character of the 

 fruit under different environmental conditions; and the principal insect and 

 fungus enemies which attack them. 



To investigate thoroughly the subject in all sections of the republic in 

 which avocados are grown would necessitate an immense amount of work. 

 When it is remembered that Guatemala is a country whose total area is 

 less than that of any one of half a dozen Mexican states, and that it re- 

 quired sixteen months to complete the study of Guatemalan avocados under- 

 taken in 1916 and to introduce successfully into the United States the vari- 

 eties selected for trial, it is obvious that the completion of a similar investi- 

 gation of Mexican avocados would require several years' time. The pres- 

 ent investigations have not been planned to extend over such a period, hence 

 it will not be possible to go into such detail in regard to certain features 

 of the work as it was in Guatemala. 



This paper is a report upon the first six months' work. It has not 

 yet been possible to visit Atlixco and certain other important avocado 

 regions, and fruits of the Guatemalan race have not been in season since 

 my arrival in the country; hence it is felt that this must be termed a pre- 

 Uminar^ report, since it cannot cover in a complete or final manner any of 

 the important features of Mexican avocado culture. In preparing it, I have 

 limited myself to an attempt to present certain observations which I believe 

 should be of interest to Californians, and to give an idea of some of the 

 results it is hoped will be achieved before the work is finished. 



History 



We have always considered that the avocado played an important 

 part in the life of the ancient Mexicans. It would be interesting, however, 

 if we could obtain a more definite idea of the extent to which it was used 

 by them as food, and their attitude toward it. Did they esteem it highly, 

 and did it play any part in their intellectual life? The mango, we know, 

 is of such great importance among the inhabitants of Hindustan that it has 

 come to be used in religious ceremonies and to appear in their legends and 

 folklore. 



Two means of investigating this subject suggest themselves to me. 

 One is to study the accounts written after the Conquest, and the other is 

 to observe the extent to which the avocado is used and esteemed by the 

 Indians of the present day. The latter method, while it may at first glance 

 seem to be of no value, appears to me very promising. We know that 

 many of the customs of the ancient Mexicans have persisted down to the 

 present time. There are regions, in fact, where four hundred years of con- 

 tact with European civilization seems scarcely to have made any impres- 

 sion upon the habits of the people. I had particular occasion to observe 



