CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



171 



likely this is to occur. The usual procedure has been to thin the over 

 crop of fruit and this method of handling Avorks quite satisfactorily pro- 

 vided the set-back to the tree has not already been brought about through 

 the excessive bloom. However, the avocado requires a longer period than 

 most fruits between the first appearance of the bloom and the setting of 

 the fruit and it often happens that the damage to the tree has made 

 considerable advance before relief by stripping can be obtained. In this 

 event removal of the entire crop and further careful attention is necessary. 



In an effort to overcome this difficulty, the writer has during the past 

 two seasons, resorted to frequent applications of fertilizer, in order to off- 

 set the heavy drain upon the vitality of the trees during the blooming per- 

 iod. In the spring of 1916, following a season favorable to growth, the 

 avocado trees at Medora Grove began to bloom about the middle of 

 March. Immediately afterward a light application of fertilizer, carrying 

 ammoniates from readily available sources was made. The bloom was the 

 heaviest kno\ATi in a number of years and persisted until about the middle 

 of April. Between April loth and 20th another light application of the 

 same fertilizer was made and this was followed by a third application 

 the latter part of May, when a fertilizer somewhat higher in phosphoric 

 acid, largely derived from low grade tankage, was used. As a result 

 of this treatment a full crop of fruit was set and in most cases carried 

 through to maturity vtdthout damage to the trees. When an over crop 

 was set at first, as a rule dropping took place without a reduction in 

 vitality, until the proper carrying capacity had been reached, and the re- 

 mainder of the crop was matured. In a few cases stripping was neces- 

 sary, but among nearly two thousand trees of varying ages, not more than 

 eight or ten showed any appreciable damage. 



A second problem in regard to fertilization arises later in the season. 

 Avocados of the West Indian type begin to ripen in Florida about the 

 middle of July and the heaviest portion of the seedling crop matures be- 

 tween August 20th and October 10th. At that period the crop from Cuba 

 and other West Indian islands is likewise being shipped and the large 

 quantity of fruit thus thrown on the market, together with the fact that 

 during the summer and early fall the avocado must compete with north- 

 ern-grown fruits and vegitables, tends to force prices so low, that at 

 times it is difficult to dispose of the Florida seedlings with any margin of 

 profit. After the middle of October the price of avocados begins to 

 climb and during November and December very satisfactory figures are 

 usually obtained. For this reason the large plantings of budded trees 

 which have been made during the past few years have practically all 

 been of late maturing varieties such as the Trapp and Waldin. These 

 varieties mature their fruit so that it may be picked early in October if 

 desired, but under proper conditions vdll carry at least a portion of their 

 crop into December and in some cases until well along in January. 



To so fertilize and cultivate the trees that the fruit may be held for 

 this later market constitutes the second problem to which I have referred. 



It has become fairly well established as a fact that of two avocado 

 trees of the same variety, one which is well nourished and kept in growing 

 condition during the entire summer and fall will produce larger finer 



