CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



35 



Of the Guatemalan race I do not believe there are more than 500 trees in 

 the huertas encircling the base of San Miguel. The Mexican race is more ex- 

 tensively grown than the Guatemalan. I have estimated the number of trees to 

 be at least four times that of the latter, or 2,000. These figures are, of course, 

 only rough estimates, since I did not have time to take an accurate census. 



I have obtained no definite information regarding the history of avocado 

 growing in this region. It is reasonable to assume that the Mexican race was 

 known here before the Conquest. As to when the Guatemalan was introduced, it 

 is idle to venture a guess without more data than I have at present. It is interesting 

 to note that this race is not generally grown throughout this part of Mexico. I 

 have seen avocados from other regions, e. g., Ozumba and the state of Guerrero, 

 which appeared to be Guatemalans, but it seems that the race is not common north 

 of Atlixco. I know it to be grown in Oaxaca, and further south in the State of 

 Chiapas. One is, perhaps, justified in suggesting that it has reached Atlixco from 

 some region to the south, and it appears that this is the northernmost point in Mex- 

 ico where it is cultivated extensively. However, I have not been able to visit 

 every part of the country and consequently do not feel safe in making generaliza- 

 tions of this nature. 



The distinction between the two races is not clearly made by the people of 

 Atlixco. They classify avocados as primera and segunda c/ase, first and second 

 class. The first class includes all of the larger fruits, which are Guatemalans 

 with the exception of a few large-fruited varieties of the Mexican race. In the 

 second class fall the smaller fruits, including most of the Mexicans and a few in- 

 ferior Guatemalans. In the local market prices are quoted on avocados accordingly 

 as they are first-class or second-class fruits. 



In addition to this commercial classification there is another commonly, 

 though loosely, used. This consists of the following groups: ahuacate de China; 

 pahua; and ahuacate chico or ahuacate corriente. 



The term ahuacate de China is of indefinite application. In general it im- 

 plies fruits of good size and quality, especially those which are smooth and com- 

 paratively thin-skinned. Most of the fruits known under this name are Guate- 

 malans, but the largest Mexicans also pass as ahuacates de China. The name is 

 said to have reference to the character of the skin; **papel de china'' is the term 

 commonly used for tissue paper, hence its apphcation (abbreviated to China) to an 

 avocado indicates that the latter has a skin as thin as tissue paper, — figuratively 

 speaking. This explanation of the name does not seem to be characterised by logic 

 in a high degree, but it is the only plausible one I attained, after making numerous 

 inquiries. 



Pahua, from the Aztec pauatl (meaning fruit) is the name applied to thick- 

 skinned avocados of the Guatemalan race. According to some growers, only those 

 fruits which are round or oval in form are pahuas, the rest being ahuacates de 

 China ; according to others, the pahua is characterized by a sweetish, watery flavor, 

 and is lacking in richness. In any event, it is evident to me that the name pahua 

 connotes to the Atlixcan mind a fruit of rather inferior quality, hence a grower 

 will rarely describe any of his own fruits as pahuas, all of them being ahuacates 

 de China; while those grown by his neighbor are (to his mind) all pahuas. When 

 you visit the neighbor in question, however, he reverses the classification. 



The term ahuacate chico or ahuacate corriente (small ahuacate or common 

 ahuacate) is applied to small-fruited varieties of the Mexican race. This in- 

 cludes the great majority of the trees grown in Atlixco. The largest fruits of the 

 Mexican race are called ahuacates de China. The probable hybrid, Fuerte, is 



