CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



47 



A discussion of the data naturally divided into two phases: first, a compar- 

 ison of the composition of the varieties, and secondly, a discussion of the time 

 of maturity of each. 



Composition of Varieties 



In comparing the varieties, it is hardly fair to take the averages of all the 

 samples examined, as where the trees contained a large number of fruits, the 

 analyses were started earlier in the season than where the fruit was scarce. The 

 averages from fruit of these trees would for this reason be lower than where 

 the work began later in the season. Neither is it thought best to compare only 

 the data obtained from samples which we judged to be commercially mature, as 

 this to some extent would be a matter of personal opinion. If, however, the data 

 for comparison are taken at the time of maximum fat content of each variety, 

 then each will be thoroughly mature and probably at its best. 



Table X 



Summarizing the data given in the first eight tables, we find: 



In weight, the varieties ranked as follows, when considered with regard to 

 size alone: Sharpless, Spinks, Blakeman, Lyon and Fuerte, Taft, Dickinson and 

 Puebla. The ranks were not changed when the heaviest samples only were con- 

 sidered. The Sharpless samples ranged close to a pound and a quarter to one 

 and a half. The Spinks ran very close to a pound each, as did the Blakeman 

 samples. The Lyon and Fuerte samples were about the same size, varying 

 around thirteen ounces, although both varieties reached a pound in size at times. 

 The Taft and the Dickinson were only slightly smaller than the Fuerte and the 

 Lyon, and both at times also reached a pound in size. The Puebla samples 

 with one exception were less than half a pound in size. 



In percentage of edible matter or pulp, the Fuerte and the Sharpless 

 outrank the other varieties, both having about 80 % , and both having a maximum 

 close to 85 % . The Lyon, the Blakeman, the Puebla, the Spinks and the Taft 

 average above 70%, while the Dickinson, owing largely to its thick skin, has 

 but 65%. 



The Puebla and the Fuerte both have very thin skins, less than 7 % . The 

 Blakeman, the Spinks and the Sharpless are next in rank, having less than 10%, 

 while the Taft and the Lyon are shghtly above that amount. The Dickinson 

 has close to 20 % of its weight in skin. 



The Sharpless, the Fuerte and the Dickinson have smaller seeds than the 

 other varieties, averaging between 1 % and 13%. The Lyon, the Blakeman 

 and the Taft average from 1 5 % to 1 7 % seed, while the Spinks runs close to 

 20% and the PueWa slightly above that figure. 



The Lyon, when mature, contains considerbly more protein than any of 

 the other varieties, averaging above 2.50% and having a maximum of over 

 4%. Hie Spinks, the Puebla, the Fuerte and the Blakeman when mature 

 contain over 2.00%, while the Sharpless, the Dickinson and the Taft are below 

 that figure. 



The Fuerte ranks first in oil content, having a maximum of nearly 30%. 

 The Lyon and the Puebla both have over 25 % , while the Blakeman is slightly 

 over 20%. The Taft, the Spinks and the Sharpless have between 18% 2ind 

 20% fat, and the Dickinson below 15%. 



