CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



39 



will drop. Sometimes they are picked only a day or two before 

 they would drop, and in such cases they are certain to ripen up in 

 transit and reach the market in an over-ripe condition. To prevent 

 this Mr. Cellon tells me it is his custom to lay aside any doubtful 

 fruits as soon as picked and leave them 24 hours ; if at the end of 

 this time they are still firm he concludes that they w^ill stand 

 shipment. 



The standard package for avocados in Florida is the tomato 

 crate, which measures about 12x12x24 inches. It is sometimes 

 used with a partition in the center, sometimes without. Excelsior 

 is used above and below each layer of fruits as a cushion. Some 

 growers wrap each fruit in tissue paper, but it is coming to be 

 generally believed that it is better not to wrap them at all. The 

 fruits seem to heat more quickly when wrapped, and as heating 

 greatly hastens the ripening process it must be avoided as much as 

 possible. 



Now as to varieties and types. Trapp is the only one which 

 is at all extensively grown, as has already been mentioned. There 

 are several others, however, which deserve a word or two. Trapp 

 commences to ripen in late September, at the time when most 

 varieties are just about going out of season. Many of the fruits 

 must be picked in October or November or they will drop. A 

 few hang on until New Year's, and an occasional one until Feb- 

 ruary. Several other varieties have appeared in Florida which 

 show the same tendency to carry their fruits very late, but as yet 

 none of these has assumed any prominence. I believe we may 

 obtain a seedling one of these days, however, which may prove to 

 be ji'ist as late as Trapp, of fully as good or better quality, with a 

 smaller seed, and of a stronger constitution. We will probably 

 have to depend upon the South American type to furnish varieties 

 for fall and early winter, after which the Guatemalan type will 

 hold sway. Pollock ranks next in importance to Trapp, yet the 

 total number of trees grown in the vicinity of Miami is small. It 

 is a magnificent fruit ; large, attractive and of as good quality as 

 any Florida avocado I have eaten. Though it ripens in late sum- 

 mer, Mr. Cellon has found that it sells well in northern markets, 

 bringing a sufficiently higher price than seedling fruits to more 

 than ofifset the small crop which it produces. It shows a strong 

 tendency to fruit in alternate years, and never bears very heavily. 



