40 



ANNUAL REPORT 1919 AND 1920 



while the largest in Guatemala weigh three pounds. This in spite of the fact that 

 the average fruit of Atlixco is larger than the average of Guatemala. In quality, 

 I am satisfied that the best fruit I tested in Atlixco was not equal to the best ones 

 I found in Guatemala, which latter are represented by several varieties in the col- 

 lection introduced for trial in the United States. The smallest seeds observed in 

 Atlixco (considering the size in relation to that of the entire fruit) are smaller 

 than any observed in Guatemala, v^th possibly two or three exceptions. The 

 thickest skin noted in Atlixco was not as thick as many seen in Guatemala. 



I have not had an opportunity to examine critically many fruits of the Mexi- 

 can race grown in Atlixco, as they were not in season at the time of my visit. I 

 have seen some of them in the markets of Orizaba and Veracruz, however, and I 

 found them to be much above the average of this race. Undoubtedly there are 

 many small, ordinary seedlings, but there seem also to be some which excel those 

 of Queretaro and most other regions. 



THE FUERTE AVOCADO 



Fuerte is at present the most extensively planted and is generally considered the 

 most promising of all the avocados which have been introduced into the United 

 States from Atlixco. My desire to see the parent tree was the principal motive 

 for undertaking the trip of which this paper is a report. I felt that North 

 American avocado growers should know as much as possible about Fuerte; if it 

 was representative of a race or group cultivated in Atlixco, and there were better 

 varieties of the same general character to be obtained, then we should not plant 

 it too extensively; if on the other hand it proved to be unique, and superior to the 

 other avocados of its region, we could enlarge our plantings with greater 

 confidence. 



Perhaps I can most accurately present my observations on this variety by 

 quoting from my Journal entry of December 19, 1918: 



"This morning I went out with Carl Schmidt's notes and diagrams to hunt 

 up some of the avocados which have been propagated in California. 



**Fuerte was the variety I was most desirous of finding. After considerable 

 search I succeeded in locating it. Schmidt gave the name of the owner as Matildi 

 Dion. This is incorrect. The owner is Alejandro Le Blanc, a Frenchman by 

 birth, now a Mexican citizen; Matildi Dion, now dead, was a relative of his 

 and formerly lived on the property, which is situated at No. 2, Calle Manuel 

 Buen Rastro. 



*'The son of Alejandro Le Blanc, a decidedly simpatico young fellow, 

 showed me over the place and told me everything he could about the Fuerte tree. 



"On a small branch I found the copper label put on by Carl Schmidt in 1911. 

 It bore simply the number 15, which is the serial number under which Schmidt 

 sent budwood of the variety to California in 191 1. Le Blanc told me he had 

 been careful to preserve this label, having loosened the wire on several occasions 

 when it was cutting into the limb. 



"In this tree Le Blanc possesses something of unusual character, as well as 

 merit, and he knows it. The family is so fond of the fruit that they always keep 

 the entire crop for their own use. Not only do they consider the flavor unusally 

 rich, but they say that the seed is exceptionally small, leaving an abundance o! 

 meat. In addition, the tree is peculiar in that it ripens its fruits over a much longer 

 period than any other known to them. They call it ''ahuacate verde" because 

 it remains green in color when ripe. They know when the fruit is ready to be 

 picked by the yellowish tinge which it assumes on one side. 



