28 



ANNUAL REPORT 1918 AND 1919 



an onion is more than I can comprehend. I again recommend the special- 

 ist. Surely the avocado should not be introduced to the beginner by an 

 onion. Most anything would taste as well under such circumstances. 



How should you eat them? Why, most any way so you get the taste 

 of the avocado. Eat them with your other food ; eat them with your meat ; 

 eat them in your ice cream or eat them on your pie. It can be served nicely 

 with any course from soup to nuts. I prefer mine spread on my bread about 

 like my mother used to spread jam when I was a small boy. Add a pinch 

 of salt if you please, but make the pinch small. 



The Guatemalan porter does not offend his stomach by covering his 

 avocado with condiments of all sorts. He breaks off a small piece of his 

 tortilla and scoops out a bite of fruit, eating them together. I envy him. 



Professor Jaffa, of our own State University has made a very exhaust- 

 ive study of the food value of the avocado, as all of you well know who 

 have had the pleasure of hearing him at former meetings. It is high in pro- 

 tein and mineral salts, while its greatest food value is in the large amount 

 of oil. Fats are now scarce and it is doubtful if they will ever be plentiful 

 as they have been in the past. While vegetable oils may not take the place 

 of £inimal fats entirely, we feel that the avocado comes nearer it than any- 

 thing else. 



So far I have never heard a complaint about the avocado being indi- 

 gestible but have heard many comments on how easily digested it was. I 

 have found it agreeing with the most delicate stomach. I am positive it is 

 mildly laxative. I should select it as an article of diet in wasting diseases 

 such as tuberculosis. I should consider it of great value in diabetes. While 

 I am not in practice in California and have( had no opportunity to test it, 

 I should not hesitate to give it in moderation even in typhoid fever. I look 

 forward to no great distant day when it will be recognized as a great food 

 for invalids, the overworked, the neurasthenic and the dyspeptic. This will 

 be particularly true at the vegetarian sanitoriums. Vegetarians will wel- 

 come it as a great addition to their food list. 



A few days ago a gentleman came to look over my place and he 

 said, "If I were as enthusiastic as you I would set out a large orchard, but 

 I have seen enough avocado groves in the last week to supply the United 

 States and I feel there will be no market for them at a profit." 



I told him he reminded me of Col. Harris of Kentucky who sent 

 his crop of tobacco to New York for sale. The report from the broker as 

 to market conditions gave him some uneasiness and he took it upon himself to 

 go to New York to see about it. His first place to visit was the warehouse. 

 He had never seen so much tobacco in all his life as he saw piled up there. 

 The quantity appalled him as he did not know there was so much tobacco 

 in existence. When he consulted his broker he was told that the market 

 was a little "off" but was coming better and he advised holding for a higher 

 price. His reply was "sell that tobacker and sell at once." He started for 

 his hotel, but as he wanted to see the city he concluded to walk. He met 

 many people and as he did not know one of them he concluded there were 

 a good many strangers in town. His night was rather restless and being 

 an early riser was waiting at the door when the broker appeared for his 

 day's business. His first question was, "Have you sold that tobacker?" 

 The broker said he had not but would attend to it the very first thing. 

 "Hold it, hold it," shouted the Colonel rather excitedly. The broker a 



