36 



REPORT OF THE FIRST SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING 



sometimes attacks trees which have made good growth for several 

 years, and are apparently healthy. They commence to die at the 

 ends of the branches, the leaves drying up and the bark turning 

 broAvn, and after a short time the old wood is reached. There have 

 been many attempts to explain this peculiar disease, some blaming 

 it on lack of sufficient plant food, others thinking that it might be 

 caused b}^ the anthracnose fungus (Colletotrichum gleosporioides) . 

 The subject needs further in^■estigation, but it begins to look very 

 much as though it was due to drought more than anything else, 

 for it has been noted to be most prevalent in seasons Avhen there 

 was a shortage of rainfall, and has been much more troublesome 

 on dry sandy soils north of Aliami than on the clay soils around 

 Homestead and Larkin. Is it not probable that the browning of 

 avocado leaves which is so common here in California may be due 

 to the same cause? Perhaps it is the dryness of the atmosphere 

 rather than of the soil which usually affects the trees here, since 

 they are ordinarily well irrigated and the soil is retentive of 

 moisture. 



In most of the Florida groves the trees are planted about 24 

 by 24 feet. Sometimes this distance is decreased to 20 feet, so that 

 the trees will shade the. ground sooner; sometimes it is increased 

 to 26 feet, so as to allow^ more room for ultimate development. They 

 undoubtedly require more room on heavy soils than on light, and 

 for this reason it will doubtless be necessary to plant at greater 

 distances here in California. Experience has shown that the young 

 trees should be kept heavily mulched ; weeds, grass, palm leaves 

 and seaweed are used for this purpose. During the winter season 

 the mulch is sometimes removed, and the surface given very 

 shallow cultivation ; on the approach of summer the mulch is 

 replaced, and cow peas or velvet beans are often planted betAveen 

 the rows. A mulch should be kept around the tree until it is at 

 least 3 or 4 years old, when the shade of its foliage and the accumu- 

 lation of fallen leaves upon the ground may serve as sufficient 

 protection from the sun. 



There is no established practice in regard to fertilizing 

 a\'()cados, each grower having his own ideas on the subject, as a 

 rule. Opinions generally agree, however, that nitogen should be 

 from an organic source, and blood and bone is one of the favorite 

 fertilizers. The first year after the grove is planted five or six 



