CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



65 



Figure 6.— Trunk of original tree of 

 Lambert avocado with 4 main 



similar in shape to the Taft. In 

 some cases, as in door-yards, the 

 tall, upright habit of growth may 

 be a decided advantage, and trees 

 of this shape can doubtless be grown 

 closer together in grove plantings 

 than spreading trees. Other peculiar 

 characters may be exhibited by cer- 

 tain varieties. As an illustration, 

 the Atlixco shows marked tendency 

 to develop spreading candelabra-like 

 branches. It is too early to say 

 which of such characteristics are de- 

 sirable or undesirable. It is import- 

 ant that growers carefully study 

 such characteristics exhibited by the 

 different varieties. 



The shaping of the young tree 

 is apparently a very important mat- 

 ter and is certainly largely within 

 bhe control of the grower. A study 

 3f the branching of a considerable 

 lumber of trees including that ex- 

 ^libited by various original seedlings 



branches springing from one point representing varieties has led the 



about 7 feet from ground. (Photo by . . 



H. J. Webber) writer to the conclusion that the 



most desirable shaped tree is very 

 wide, spreading, and low in height. The most satisfactory branches, it 

 has seemed to me, are those that originate low down on the trunk and 

 spread out at a wide angle. Such branches are easily supported by 

 permanent props from the ground, and the fruit is borne near the 

 ground, where is can easily be picked. Fine branches of this kind are 

 observable on a number of old trees in the state, and particularly 

 on the original Taft tree. 



An almost ideal heading or primary branching, as shown in an old 

 tree, is illustrated by the trunk of the original Northrop tree (See 

 Fig. 4). This begins to branch about 2 feet above the ground, and the 

 main divisions of the trunk are all within 5V2 feet of the ground. The 

 original tree of the Royal (Fig. 5) splits into two main trunks almost at 

 the surface of the ground, and one of the main trunks branches again 

 low down, while the other reaches a height of about 10 feet before 

 branching again. The original Lambert, while a well shaped tree, shows 

 heading rather too high, the four main branches springing from one 

 point about 7 feet above the ground (Fig. 6). A very strong low-branch- 

 trunk is shown in Fig. 7, which is a tree in which the branches 

 have sprung from inserted buds. The original tree of the Sharpless has two 



