FOREWORD 



The Reports of the California Avocado Association for 1918 and 

 1919 have been published in one volume, owing to the fact that the 

 prevalence of influenza throughout the country during the latter part of 

 1918 and the early part of 1919 made it practically impossible to hold 

 any meeting of the Association during the fall or winter. The present 

 volume, therefore, contains the reports of two annual meetings. 



Notwithstanding the World War and the epidemic of influenza, the 

 membership has increased rapidly during the last year. More than 100 

 new members have been taken into the Association since May 1st, 1918. 

 It is to be hoped that this growth may continue, and even increase, for 

 many years to come, as the future work and efficiency of the Association 

 depend largely upon the increase in membership. 



Up to the present time the work of the Association has naturally 

 been devoted, in a large measure, to the study of varieties and scientific 

 investigations of the avocado as a food. It is our intention, not only to 

 continue extensive work in these directions, but to take up also the prob- 

 lems of marketing fruit, the susceptibility of the avocado to hot and cold 

 weather, the standardization of pack for shipment, the regulation, as far as 

 possible, of the prices for different varieties, the keeping of individual tree 

 records, the education of the public to a more general use of avocados, and 

 any other problems which may arise as the industry grows. 



W. L. Hardin, Secretary. 



