CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



103 



data regularly to the California Avocado Association, care of The Citrus 

 Experiment Station, Riverside. 



THE AVOCADO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 

 Joseph, Sexton, Goleta, California. 



I have not had as much experience as some with the avocado. My 

 oldest trees are five summers' growth. I have a small experimental 

 orchard of over ninety varieties. 



I have nearly all of the good and some of the poor varieties that 

 have originated in Southern California. I have secured a great many of 

 the Mexican varieties that have been imported by different parties 

 from Mexico, also the best varieties imported from Guatemala, and 

 fifteen varieties of those they consider best in the Hawaiian Islands. 

 Some say that it is foolish to try things from the Islands. My oldest 

 tree is three summers' growth, and so far it grows as well and stands 

 the winter as well, as any in the orchard. It has not bloomed yet, but 

 there is plenty of time for that. 



My trees are from all climes and we must not expect them all to 

 grow and thrive in Southern California. That is why I am experi- 

 menting. Some are dwarf and others rapid growers in their native 

 places, and we should expect the same here. 



Difference in Growth of Varieties. — Now let me give a few illustra- 

 tions to show you how the varieties from different sections differ in 

 growth. I have a Mexican variety, the Atlixco, planted in the spring 

 of 1913, that measures 18 feet 4 inches high, and has a 13 foot spread 

 of branches. 



Twenty feet from the Atlixco, planted the same day, is a Florida 

 Trapp, measuring 5 feet 6 inches high, and with a spread of 6 feet. 



Twenty feet from the Trapp in the same row is a Taft, one year 

 younger than the Trapp, measuring in height 9 feet and with a spread 

 of 10 feet. 



Eighty feet from the Atlixco, in the same row, and planted the same 

 day is the Mexican variety, Redondo, measuring 3 feet high with a 2 foot 

 6 inch spread of branches. This tree looks as though it wanted to grow, 

 but makes poor progress. Later I think I will give it a change of climate. 

 I have heard the Redondo spoken of as a good grower in some sections. 



Needed Experiments. — If we experiment with many varieties, and 

 throw out those that do not grow satisfactorily, then later throw those 

 out that do not produce a good quality of fruit, we shall soon have 

 fewer varieties and fruit of a better quality. 



Another experiment we want to work on is the season of ripening. 

 After getting a good quality of fruit, then select those that ripen the 

 fruit early, medium and late. I believe if this is followed up we 

 can have fruit on the table every day in the year. I have seventeen 

 different varieties of budded avocados fruiting this year, and some of 

 these for the first time. There are several others of the younger 

 trees that bloomed but dropped their fruit when small, and some that 

 never set. Some of my oldest trees have bloomed every year since they 



