60 



1916 ANNUAL REPORT 



sort that is attracting considerable attention, is a large fruit, possibly too 



. large to serve best the 



market conditions, and 

 has not yet been fully 

 tested. As summer and 

 fall varieties we have the 

 Taft and the Dickinson, 

 both of which are among 

 the best known and test- 

 ed varieties. The Taft, 

 season. May to October, 

 is probably the best prov- 

 en of all of our avocado 

 varieties and may be 

 recognized as a standard 

 sort. The Dickinson, 

 which is a very fine qual- 

 ity fruit, with thick, brit- 

 tle shell, has retained a 

 large part of its fruits 

 this year in good condi- 

 tion up to the first of 

 October, and a number of 

 fruits have been preserv- 

 ed in good condition up 

 to the last of October 

 and are now, October 31, 

 on exhibit in our fruit 

 show. The Walker, or 

 Walker prolific, should 

 probably also be mention- 

 ed in this class. It is very prolific but not of very high quality. It, 

 however, could scarcely escape mention, owning to the fact that the 

 original tree has been one of the best paying trees in the state up to 

 the present time. 



As a late fall variety, the Sharpless has this season assumed a promi- 

 nent place. The original tree has this year produced a fine crop, and a 

 large part of the fruit has held on the tree in good condition well into 

 December and some of it into January. It is a large fruit, averaging 

 about one pound in weight, and of very good quality, with a comparative- 

 ly small seed. The flesh shows some fiber, but not sufficient to be ob- 

 jectionable, and the skin is thick and brittle. As this fruit ripens, it 

 gradually becomes a dark purple in color. 



In the case of the Mexican types much advance has also been made, 

 but the season covered is as yet more restricted. We now have the 

 Chappelow, season, July to October; the Northrop, the Carton, the Topa- 

 Topa, and other midseason sorts ripening from September to November. 

 The Ganter and Harman are catalogued as having the period of ripening 

 extending into December. From the few observations I have been able 



Figure 4.— Trunk of original tree of Northrop 

 avocado, showing good arrangement of the 

 branches. (Photo by Vaile and Webber) 



i 



