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1916 ANNUAL REPORT 



destroyed by a typhoon about 1910. As a matter of fact, the introduction 

 of this fruit by the Spaniards is merely of historical interest as whatever 

 introductions the Spaniards may have made never gained a permanent 

 foothold. All trees now growing in the Archipelago are of American 

 introduction, the first having been made in 1903 by Mr. Lyon, then horti- 

 culturist in the Bureau of Agriculture. This was followed by other intro- 

 ductions during the next few years. The annual importations of from 1000 

 to 3000 avocado seed since 1911 by the Bureau of Agriculture have been 

 made because of the interest in the introduction of this fruit by Mr. O. W. 

 Barrett, formerly chief of the Division of Horticulture, and myself. 

 Travelers from the United States have also brought a few avocado seeds 

 from time to time. All of the above introductions have come from Hawaii. 



In 1912 budwood was received of the Dickinson and Cummins avocado 

 from Mr. F. W. Popenoe, Altadena, California, which was successfully 

 propagated at Lamao. Mr. David Fairchild, Bureau of Plant Industry, 

 U. S. D. A., in 1913 sent a collection of budded avocado plants from 

 Florida to the Bureau of Agriculture, but the plants arrived in weakened 

 condition and nearly all died. Subsequent shipments of budwood sent 

 direct to me during the next year were more successful, and we have now 

 growing at this Station the Baldwin, Family, Largo, Pollock, and Wester, 

 and 24 unnamed varieties, all of South Florida and West Indian origin. 



Of Mr. Lyon's early introductions about 50 plants were set out at the 

 Lamao Experiment Station, a few were planted at the Singalong Experi- 

 ment Station, Manila, and the rest were distributed throughout the 

 Philippines. Those at Singalong proved to be an inferior type and were 

 destroyed. Of those at Lamao only two have been found worthy of 

 asexual propagation, the Lyon and one unnamed variety. Of those that 

 were distributed outside of government institutions, a number of trees 

 have fruited for several years for Mr. E. R. Case, Manila; there is also 

 a tree in bearing in Imugen, Nueva Viscaya; one at Camp Overton, 

 Mindanao; and another at Lipa, Batangas. A large tree also fruited this 

 year for the first time for Mr. W. S. Lyon in Manila. 



The trees from the more recent introductions and distributions 

 naturally have not yet come into bearing. Many have of course perished, 

 but it is probably true that there are now young avocado trees in all 

 except the more remote provinces in the Philippines. 



The growth of the avocado in the Philippines is all that can be 

 desired. 



In the nursery stage the plant has a very serious enemy in a species 

 of Helopeltis, a sucking insect that attacks the tender parts of the 

 plants. There is also a borer that is very destructive, attacking the 

 trunk and larger branches. Some damage is done by a stem borer which 

 enters the small twigs. 



You will note from the above that there is no avocado industry in 

 the Philippines at present. However, the introduction of this fruit may 

 be considered permanent. Just how rapidly it may spread is difficult 

 to say. The Filipinos do not seem to take much interest in the avocado 

 as yet. In this connection it may be of interest to know that though 



