CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



61 



for them. Finally I had to give up hope of catching the mail. It meant, very 

 likely, the loss of all my budwood, — for there would not be another mail in 

 less than ten days, — and in this case I would have to make a second trip to San 

 Vicente, better timed to catch an outgoing mail. 



I came slowly back to Quito, and upon arrival found that the next mail 

 would not leave for nearly two weeks. The budwood is packed, and lies here 

 in my room as I write these lines. I do not have much hope of its reaching 

 Washington alive, but I shall send it; and then I shall go back to the valley of 

 the Chota and cut more, and if this does not go through in better shape, I shall 

 repeat the procedure ; and I shall fight it out on these lines if it takes all summer ! 



Ladies and gentlemen of the California Avocado Association, this business 

 of hunting avocados is hard work. I do not say this boastfully, nor in a spirit 

 of complaint, nor even to elicit your sympathy: Andean fleas are not afraid of 

 sympathy, nor is Andean mud made m.ore pleasant thereby. I feel — and I 

 hope I am not mistaken, — that this is a work which is worth while, and in doing 

 it I believe I have your moral support. And after all, it is not only a privilege, 

 but a pleasure, to serve the people of our United States of America! 



Quito, Ecuador, WILSON POPENOE. 



March 1, 1921 . 



NOTES ON THE PLANTING AND CULTURE OF 

 AVOCADO TREES 



BY T. U. BARBER. WM. HERTRICH. CARTER BARRETT, S. W. JAMIESON 



1. THE GROWING OF NURSERY STOCK 

 T. U. BARBER 



Selection of Seed. 



The thin skinned Mexican fruits contain the most desirable seed from which 

 to produce root stock and are generally used in California. This type is more 

 resistant to both frost and heat, produces an extremely vigorous root system and 

 has the strongest class of wood to be found in the different types of avocado trees. 

 Seed should be obtained from strong, healthy trees producing fair sized seed. 



Planting. 



The thin skinned Mexican fruits mature during the fall months, therefore 

 it is best to plant the seed in special beds which can be protected with glass or 

 canvas covers during the cold winter nights and heavy rain storms. The most 

 satisfactory soil for the seed bed is a mixture of half sand and half leafmold 

 or rich loam soil. Plant the seed two inches apart, with the pointed end up» 

 cover the tops with a light, clean sand to keep the bed from baking. 



Jrrigaiing Seedbed. 



The seed should be kept moist but will not require heavy watering until 

 the warm days of spring, when the small seedlings are well leafed out. Seeds 

 planted during October, November and December should be three to six inches 

 high in April or May, when they are ready to transplant. 



