102 



1916 ANNUAL REPORT 



many others. In this orchard is the most healthy tree of the Dickey 

 variety that I have ever seen. It is excellent in form, vigorous of 

 growth, and at present carries a crop of 80 fruits. This variety, as 

 many of us know, is almost impossible to grow because of an unde- 

 termined trouble which usually kills the budded tree during the first 

 two years of its growth. It may be well to state that the Murrieta, 

 Royal and Dickey have produced very unhealthy growth in Florida, and 

 in most cases have finally died. Other plantings showing interesting 

 growth are those of Mr. H. M. Haldeman, Beverly Hills, Mrs. J. T. 

 Stewart, San Fernando, and Judge Charles Silent of Glendora, who has 

 the best demonstration of the Dickinson variety. Mr. Wm. A. Spinks 

 of Duarte, has more interesting new varieties fruiting than any other 

 grower in California besides most of the varieties of local origin. Mr. 

 Spinks also has fruiting, the only budded Florida or Hawaiian trees 

 that have so far come into fruit in California. Among these is one 

 specimen of the Trapp. The West India Gardens; Mr. C. P. Taft of 

 Orange and Mr. C. E. Utt of Tustin all have important demonstrations. 



In a recent letter, Mr. Geo. B. Cellon of Florida states that they 

 have fruiting this season on top worked trees the Sinaloa, Schmidt, 

 Grande and Fuerte. It is his expectation that these will mature several 

 months earlier than in California. This question of season is an important 

 one. It seems as though some of the California fruits have been picked 

 before they were entirely mature. For instance, the Dickinson variety 

 has always been picked during April and May until this season, when 

 the crop of 450 fruits from the original tree was marketed through the 

 months of July, August and September, and those picked during the 

 latter part of September were delightfully rich in flavor and in perfect 

 condition. Those on exhibition today are the very last of the crop and 

 have been in cold storage since October first. Another change of sea- 

 son is that of the Sharpless. Mr. Sharpless picked nearly all his fruits 

 last year before October first — today, October 31, 1916, he still has 

 about half the crop of 700 fruits on the tree and hopes to hold some 

 for the Christmas trade. 



Seldom in the history of fruit growing, if at all, do we find any 

 branch of that important industry fortunate enough to possess a cooper- 

 ative association of growers to guide its development through the early 

 and experimental years, as is found in the California Avocado Associa- 

 tion. We are indeed favored to have the assistance and guidance of 

 so many scientific and practical people as those who are to be found 

 among our members. 



In closing I must call your attention again to the valuable oppor- 

 tunity which we have through our Association to collect, compare and 

 finally disseminate through our publications and semi-annual meetings 

 authoritative information covering every stage of this interesting branch 

 of fruit growing. 



Let every grower do his small part by keeping correct records cov- 

 ering the behavior of his trees, such as fruiting and growth habits, 

 pruning, frost and wind resistance and the results of general cultiva- 

 tion methods and help to increase the essential knowledge by sending this 



