FOREWORD 



Organization of Association. — The growing of the avocado in Califor- 

 nia is just beginning. It is fortunate that an association has been organ- 

 ized thus early in the development of the industry to guide and direct its 

 development. The semi-annual meetings of the Association, of which three 

 have been held, have all been notable for the numbers in attendance and 

 the interest and enthusiasm manifested. One of the great benefits derived 

 from the Association is the stimulation it gives to the development of the 

 industry. The holding of the Association meetings serves to advertise the 

 industry, and this is also one of the very necessary factors at the present 

 time. 



Exhibits and Demonstrations. — At the second semi-annual meeting 

 held in Los Angeles, April 29, 1916, a much larger number of varieties of 

 the so-called Guatemalan, or thick-skinned types were exhibited than at 

 the preceding meeting. There was also a good exhibit of nursery stock, 

 including budded trees of a large number of varieties. For a discussion 

 of this exhibit the reader is referred to the report of the committee on 

 the classification and registration of varieties. (See page 37.) 



The exhibit in connection with the third semi-annual meeting, held at 

 San Diego, October 30 and 31, 1916, was staged in a special room and was 

 notable from the fact that though held late in the fall it contained ex- 

 hibits of a considerable number of thick-skinned, or hard-shelled fruits. 

 Of these the fruits of the Taft, the Dickinson, and the Sharpless were in 

 prime market condition. 



A demonstration of the methods of serving the avocado was made 

 during the noon hour, and over six hundred people were given an oppor- 

 tunity to test the avocado served in different ways, as sandwiches, salads, 

 and the like. The very enthusiastic comments heard on every side, and 

 the very evident interest manifested, clearly illustrated the great edu- 

 cational value of such demonstrations in the present stage of development 

 of the industry. 



Publications. — The available information regarding the growing of 

 the avocado and the methods of conducting the industry is very meager. 

 Regarding the methods of practical culture in California, almost noth- 

 ing has been published excepting the papers that have been read before 

 this Association. The experience of growers in various parts of the state 

 must form the basis of knowledge on which a rational and successful sys- 

 tem of conducting the industry can be founded. The recording of the ex- 

 periences of growers and the stimulation of growers to make observations 

 becomes thus an important factor in the work of the Association. In 

 making up the program for the third semi-annual meeting, special atten- 

 tion was given to the presentation of papers outlining personal experi- 

 ences. This series of papers included in the present report will be of 

 great value to the industry. 



The report of the first semi-annual meeting, held in Los Angeles, Octo- 

 ber 23, 1915, was published by the Association and copies distributed to 



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