CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



67 



and the trees planted accordingly. If the land is sloping, as will fre- 

 quently be the case, large, spreading trees of this sort may require 

 four or more basins at different levels. In such cases the basins might 

 possibly be better put in when the trees are planted or at least while 

 the trees are still young, so that no large roots may be injured by 

 leveling the soil in the basins. 



The majority of groves that have thus far been planted are irrigated 

 by the furrow method, as in the case of most citrus orchards. Much 

 difficulty will certainly be experienced with this system, as the trees 

 attain maturity, because the soil cannot be satisfactorily wetted under 

 wide spreading trees by this method. If furrow irrigation is to be used, 

 it would seem that permanent furrows that would not be disturbed by 

 cultivation would require to be run under the trees. 



Considerable has been said of the drip system of irrigation, where 

 the water is supplied by a faucet placed near each tree, from which a 

 small stream of water is allowed to run continuously and sink into the 

 soil. This method cannot give a uniform moisture condition over the 

 large area covered by the roots of the tree and will probably be found 

 to give a very ununiform root development. In a deep, loose soil, the 

 water from a single faucet dripping in this way would probably produce 

 noticeable effect only on a comparatively small portion of the soil. 



Every subject concerning the avocado that we introduce for dis- 

 cussion is a new one on which little information is available, and the 

 problems discussed by the writer are introduced primarily to show again 

 how little we know about them and to emphasize the importance of all 

 growers recognizing that they are conducting an experiment that is of 

 interest to their fellow growers. Every grower should keep careful notes 

 of every operation performed in his groves and observe and record the 

 results. Every grower should consider it has duty to co-operate with 

 the other members of the Association by fui-nishing periodically carefully 

 prepared statements regarding his evperience and findings. By such co- 

 operation we shall soon reach a condition of understanding where now 

 we are in doubt. 



"THE HOTEL AND THE AVOCADO" 

 Thos. H. Shedden, Monrovia, Cal. 



Mr. President and 



The Lady and Gentlemen friends of the Avocado: 



I frankly say that I take earnest pleasure in addressing you upon 

 a subject appropriate to the occasion, and yet, around which hangs a 

 reminiscent aroma of the dining room; being, so far as known, the only 

 hotel "has been" yet budded on to — or "butted into" — the avocado, the 

 new and fascinating industry now developing in the two Eden lands of 

 our country, Florida and California. 



The topic is practical, for I believe that the popularity of the 

 avocado as a splendid food, proven by the savants of the University of 

 California to be of the highest value, will come directly via the hotel 

 table and the Cafe too, of course. 



