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Pomona College Journal of Economic Botany 



TYPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA 



Broadly speaking, the avocados which have fruited here so far may be 

 divided into two classes; those of Mexican origin, which include all the 

 smooth and thin skinned varieties, and those of Guatemalan origin, which 

 are easily distinguished by their very thick skins and rough exterior. This 

 is not saying, of course, that all avocados can be divided into these two 

 classes. 



Figure 1. At left the parent tree of the Blake Avocado, growing at Pasadena, age 

 eight years; this tree would be of good form if topped. At right, parent 

 tree of the Walker Avocado growing at Hollywood, age fourteen 

 years, the tree showing a very bad form 

 for a cultivated Avocado. 



Of the Mexican type many trees may be found scattered all over the 

 southern end of the state, most of which have been grown from seed ob- 

 tained from Monterey and other points in northern Mexico. The famous 

 Chappelow tree is the oldest and best known of the lot. 



Most of these Mexican varieties produce fruits of small size, dark purple 

 in color, but of good quality, and are preferred by many to the large green 



