48 



ANNUAL REPORT 1920 AND 1921 



The Taft has less fiber thaui the others, averaging less than 1.00% ; the 

 Sharpless, the Spinks and the Lyon have betv/een 1.00% and 1.25%. The 

 Blakeman, the Dickinson, the Puebla and the Fuerte average between 1.25% 

 and 1.50%, 



Discussion of the Time of Maturity of the Varieties 



In order to better study the time of maturity, a figure showing the change 

 in fat content has been arranged. A glance at this figure will reveal the fact 

 that the fat content of the avocado increases rapidly as the fruit matures; that 

 after the fruit is matured, the increase is very slight, and that at times there is 

 even cin apparent decrease. Decreases, however, are slight cmd it is probable 

 that they are due to individual variation. 



Considering the graphs of the different varieties, it is seen that the rapid 

 increase in fat in the case of the Fuerte ceases in December. For the three 

 months ending at that time the increase in fat had been approximately 17%, 

 while for the next four months it increased but 2 % . From our notes made at 

 the time of analysis, we find that in November, we were doubtful of the matur- 

 ity of the sample, but in December, the samples had "the general appearance 

 of being mature." It should be remembered that the samples came from a very 

 favorable location at Yorba Linda. 



Unfortunately in the case of the Puebla tree, the wind storms and pilfering 

 had reduced the number of fruits to such an extent that the samples were 

 exhausted in March. From the analytical data, however, it would seem that 

 the increase in fat ceased in February, for the March sample shows a slight 

 decrease. Up to this time, the increase had been steady, rising 1 7 % in four 

 months. Other indications point to the fact that the fruit was not quite 

 mature in December, but had reached maturity at the time the February sample 

 was taken, on the sixth of the month. 



The Lyon sample reached the maximum content of fat in May. From 

 October to May, seven months, there had been an average monthly increase of 

 3% in fat content. After May the samples show slight variation in fat, but no 

 increase over the May sample. From other indications from the analyses and 

 notes, it would appear that the fruit from this location was mature in April, at 

 which time the stored sample contained 23% of fat. 



Unfortunately the Blakeman fruits were removed from the tree before the 

 sampling had been finished, and the data are incomplete. The samples were 

 still increasing in fat when the last one was picked in May. The fruit from 

 this location was not mature in February. There are some indications, however, 

 that it might possibly have been satisfactory to market in March, and there seems 

 little doubt that the May sample was satisfactory. 



The work on the Spinks variety began well in December, but no further 

 samples could be secured until March. Later in the season, the remaining fruit 

 on the experimental tree was stolen, so that the July, August and September 

 samples were from a neighboring tree. The only conclusions which can be drawn 

 from tbe data are that the fruit from this location was not mature in December, 

 but was fairly so in March when the next sample was taken. Other indications 

 also point to maturity at this time. 



The sampling of the Taft b^gan earlier than was really necessary, but 

 was carried out until no doubt of the maturity of the fruit could be entertained. 

 The maximum fat content was reached in May after which there was a sharp 

 decline in the sample taken in June. Indications are that the fruit was fairly 

 mature in April. 



