CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



47 



seems to be about midway in hardiness between the West Indian 

 and the Mexican. There is a shght difference in hardiness among- 

 the different Guatemalan varieties. 



The fruits of this type have a thick skin, frecjuently woody 

 and brittle. The surface is usually more or less rough, sometimes 

 covered with wart-like protuberances around the base, but in a few 

 cases nearly smooth. The flesh is usually free from fiber, and of 

 good flavor. It is scarcely as rich and oily as the average fruit of 

 the Mexican type, but is very pleasant and of satisfactory quality 

 from every point of view. The seed is usually not large in propor- 

 tion to the size of the fruit, and is almost never loose in the cavity. 

 The keeping and shipping qualities are remarkably good, and I be- 

 lieve this type to be the true commercial fruit. 



3. The MEXICAN type. This is the hardiest type in cultiva- 

 tion and at present the only one we have which ripens during late 

 fall and early winter. It Avas introduced to California from Mexico, 

 where it appears to be by far the commonest and most abundant 

 type. Some varieties are of unusually rich flavor and excellent 

 quality; in others there is an objectionable amount of fiber in the 

 flesh. The oil content runs as high as 33%, and averages consid- 

 erably higher than in any other type. 



The tree is usually vigorous of growth, very hardy, Avithstand- 

 ing in some instances temperatures as low as 18 or 20 degrees with- 

 out injury. As the fruits are usually under one-half pound in 

 weight, the tree is able to carry an immense number of them, 4000 

 sometimes being produced in a single crop. The fruits are usually 

 oval or pear-shaped, ranging from 3 to 10 ounces in weight, and 

 green or dark purple in color. The skin is about as thick as that 

 of an apple. The seed is sometimes loose in the cavity, with loose 

 seed coats. 



The plant is characterized by an anise-like odor, which is some- 

 times found even in the ripe fruit. 



If picked at the proper time, fruits of this type can be shipped 

 reasonable distances without difficulty, but they do not hold up so 

 well in market as do the thick skinned sorts. They are excellent 

 fruits for home use, and as they ripen at a season when no other 

 type is in market, they must also receive attention from a commer- 

 cial standpoint, in a limited way. 



The tree comes into bearing earlier than that of the other 



