146 



1916 ANNUAL REPORT 



advisable to grow this fruit at all in windy localities without thorough 

 protection by artificial windbreaks. Many avocados have been, and are 

 being, planted on very poor soil. I do not think this advisable, as the 

 tree from which we expect from 300 to 1000 pounds of the richest, most 

 nutritious fruit known, must have an opportunity to feed, or fail to give 

 fruit in paying quantities. I think it is perfectly safe to say that half 

 the trees which have been, and are being set out, will not produce 

 enough fruit to prove profitable. This is, of course, not the exception in 

 the fruit growing industry, but the rule. 



Soil: — I have formed no conclusions as to the soil best suited to the 

 avocado, only that it should be good rich soil. I think it should have good 

 drainage. We see old trees growing well in rather heavy adobe, and also 

 in sandy loam. Perhaps the best growth is to be found on rich, heavy 

 sediment soils. I do not think clay and hard-pan soils worth considering, 

 not that it is not possible to grow avocados on such soils, but I do not 

 think they can stand the competition of groves on better soil. 



Frost and Water: — A frostless location is desirable, for while some 

 of the thin-skinned Mexican varieties will stand a very low temperature, 

 even lower than oranges, the hard-shelled varieties now growing in 

 Southern Cal'^'^rnia will not, and the big freeze of January 7, 1913, cut 

 one year out of the production of most of the old bearing trees in 

 Southern California, and in some instances practically destroyed the trees. 

 An abundant water supply is necessary for the best development of the 

 trees. They will grow with the same or less irrigation than that given 

 citrus trees, but my experience and observation is that they will do best 

 with considerably more water than is usually given citrus orchards. 



Propagation: — My personal experience with the avocado is meager, 

 but our president informed me that he desired personal experiences in 

 order that we might begin to get some conclusions. About six or seven 

 years since, we planted a number of seedlings, partly for experiment and 

 partly for ornament. Later we attempted to work them over to de- 

 sirable varieties by top-grafting, with very indifferent success, — in fact 

 if it were my neighbor's case, I would call it a failure. My first venture 

 in growing an avocado nursery was about five years ago. We began by 

 planting a thousand or so small seedlings in nursery rows. These trees 

 had been sprouted and grown in pots, a method to be avoided, as the 

 small space afforded by the pot often causes congestion of the root sys- 

 tem harmful to the future prosperity of the tree. Avocado seeds should 

 be sprouted in flats from which they may easily be removed to the nur- 

 sery row, where they should be irrigated by a small stream of water 

 immediately after planting. We have not found any best season of 

 the year to bud, the best results seeming to come when the stock and 

 the weather have been most suitable, stock sap flowing well, and the 

 climate warm and moist, rather than hot and dry. With some varieties 

 we have experienced much more difficulty in successful budding than 

 with others. 



Varieties: — I have set out a number of Northrops and Ganters and 

 a Harman or two for the thin-skinned varieties. They each begin to 

 bear at two years from setting. The Ganter has proven the most 



