240 



Pomona College Joirnal of Economic Botanv 



fact that this fruit has been in cultivation for but a few years, and that in this 

 time no effort whatever lias been made to obtain sujierior forms by either selection 

 or breeding, shows that it is as yet practically in the wild state, and the question 

 of varieties is still in an embryonic stage. 



Andre did not, apparently, consider this question. At the time his plant 

 came into bearing it was the only bearing specimen in Europe, so that no oppor- 

 tunity was given for comjiarison witli others, and he makes no mention of having 

 observed any marked variation among the |)lanLs in South America. Yet later 

 writers have stated that among the wild plants in Uruguay there is a wide range 

 of differences in form, quality and other characteristics. 



Among the bearing plants in Europe it is possible to distinguish between 

 two entirely distinct forms, and the minor variations exliibited by individual 

 plants are almost innumerable. The only discussion of this subject, so far as 

 known to the writer, is that made by Viviand-Morel ( Lyon-Horticole, XXXII, 

 1, p. 16) in which he calls attention to the marked differences exhibited in a 

 basket of fruits sent him by Abel Gorre of Menton, and discusses the subject at 

 some length, but his data was not sufficient to enable him to reach any definite 

 conclusions. 



Of the first introduction to Europe, that of Dr. Andre, at least one hundred 

 seedlings have been grown and fruited. Tliese seedlings all exhibit the dis- 

 tinguishing characters of the parent to a greater or less degree, and even in 

 the second and tliird generation these characters are maintained by tlie majority 

 of individuals. Allowance must be made for an occasional "break," or departure 

 from the type, but these seem to be less frequent than with most other fruits. 



The second imjiortation that was made to Europe was tliat of Besson freres 

 of Nice, and consisted of seeds from Montevideo, Uruguay. This stock has 

 proved to be of a distinct type from that of Andre, the seedlings uniformly exhib- 

 iting one or two characters that render the type immediately distinguishable from 

 that of Andre. 



In California, apart from the seedlings of the Andre type, which maintain 

 their distinguishing characteristics here as well as in France, the only other 

 distinct tj'pe, so far as known to the writer, is that originating in an importation 

 of seed from Argentina made by H. Hehre of Eos Angeles. Among the seedlings 

 grown by Mr. Hehre, which were, in the main, not unlike those of the Andre 

 type, was one which exhibited a peculiar characteristic, consisting of a marked 

 departure in form from the normal. This variety has been named the Hehre. 

 As yet it is impossible to say whether this characteristic is going to be transmitted 

 to the progeny or not, but the variety appears to be much more vigorous than 

 any other forms grown here thus far. 



It is thus seen that three separate importations from South America have 

 produced different types of fruit. 



In general, it may be said that seedlings perpetuate the characteristics of 

 the parent. But the fact that different types exist in South America shows that 

 the species is as variable as most other tree or shrub fruits, and the matter of 

 varieties must be given attention. Among the seedlings grown in California and 



