CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



155 



strong growing trees. Some of the Harmans first planted were headed 

 out at 48 inches, which is entirely too high. Of course, trees only 18 

 to 24 inches high when planted will have to be taken care of in the 

 orchard. 



It is a serious mistake in my judgment to plant out any number of 

 avocado trees, expecting to water them through the weir once per month. 

 On heavy soil, well cultivated after each watering, one can raise the 

 strong growing kinds, but when they come into bearing if not watered 

 every week or ten days during warm or hot spells in the summer, they 

 will drop their fruit. 



Of the thin-skinned varieties, the Harman has proved the most 

 vigorous grower and the most symmetrical tree, but practically all of its 

 fruit matured to date has had the skin cracked open in several places. It 

 furthermore has quite a large seed for the amount of edible matter. I 

 will bud them all over just as quickly as a first class, winter-bearing 

 fruit shows up. 



The Queretaro is a strong, upright grower and a good fruiter for its 

 age, but the fruit is smaller, 6 to 10 ounces, and the seed is larger than 

 one had a right to expect from the description published in the Associa- 

 tion's official booklet. 



Of the thick skinned varieties, the Fuerte and the Taft are the best 

 growing and spreading trees. The spread almost equals the height. 



The Fuerte and healthy Dickeys are the best fruiters up to date. 

 Of the 50 Fuertes planted, all are fruiting with from two to 54 fruits 

 per tree at the time of writing, October 10, 1916. The 16 healthy Dickeys 

 have from six to 80 fruits. I planted 50 Dickeys, have dug out 25, and 

 there are nine more that may have to go, as they have a slight tinge of 

 yellow, but of the 16 healthy trees one could not ask for a better grower 

 and fruiter at their age. 



The Grande is making a good growth, and of the two trees I have, 

 each has one fruit that will now weigh close to one pound. 



Most of the Tafts blossomed, and quite a number set fruit. One 

 tree had over 60 fruits from the size of a pea to that of a cherry, but 

 they all dropped off except four, two on one tree and one each on two 

 other trees. 



Of the hardshell varieties, the Rey, Linda, Queen and Knight are 

 all making good growth for the time set out. The Knight is an extra 

 good grower, and its new foliage is a beautiful bronze, different from 

 any of my other varieties. The Linda has the drooping habit, the same 

 as the Grande and practically all other trees bearing large fruit. 



The following table shows all varieties planted: 



