CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



83 



and earlier part of the summer, we have most prominent the Challenge. 

 Blakeman and Dickey A. also Lyon and Spinks. 



We must bear in mind that all varieties are later this year than 

 usual, many growers state 30 to 60 days later. 



The objections brought against the Challenge are its large seed, very 

 low oil content, and only fair flavor with some stringiness, but its beauty 

 places it in the highest grade as to external appearance and the attention 

 it will attract in any market. It averages a full pound or more in weight, 

 it is round in shape, at maturity turns to an attractive deep maroon color, 

 and it comes from a hardy, vigorous, immense in size and enormously pro- 

 ducing tree. Budded trees of the variety come into bearing early and pro- 

 duce heavy crops. 



The Dickey A needs an introduction to a great many of us, not 

 being as well known as the others, perhaps for want of a better name. 

 Neither the original tree nor any of the buds have displayed the weak 

 symptoms of the original Dickey. The quality of the Dickey A is very 

 superior, the seed one of the smallest in proportion to flesh of any variety 

 we have, tlie shape pyriform, and the color red as it matures and then 

 maroon. 



In the past the fruit on the parent tree has averaged a pound or 

 more, but this year, owing perhaps to the very large crop it has carried, 

 it does not average over three-quarters of a pound. 



It and the Challenge are the varieties that have been most promi- 

 nently and continuously on sale during April and May in Los Angeles 

 grocery stores. 



The original Dickey being discarded, it would be a gracious act 

 on our part toward Mr. Dickey, who is one of the members of our 

 Association and who would naturally rather have a good thing associated 

 with his name than a tree failure, if we would agree to drop out the 

 original Dickey variety entirely and transfer the name Dickey to the 

 Dickey A. 



The Blakeman is showing itself to be an exceptionally hardy, vig- 

 orous, and precocious tree. The growth is spreading. To obtain the 

 best form, the young growth in its early state should be pinched back 

 or headed in to promote compactness. A grower who has many varieties, 

 writes about it as follows: 



"As to frost the Blakeman made a particularly good showing this 

 winter ; a little tree in my orchard, 4 or 5 feet high, went through without 

 turning a leaf, Taft and Dickinson in the same neighborhood being 

 badly hit." 



Snow fell in an orchard in another locality, melting nearly as fast 

 as it fell, though remaining as much as two inches thick on the ground and 

 trees for a time. It caused the leaves of the citrus trees to curl up and 

 look for days as they would after a decided freeze, and it browned the 

 leaf edges of some other avocados, but not the Blakeman leaves, which 

 came through bright and shining, showing no sign of anything wrong. 

 This is one of the fruits of high quality, of a green color turning to a 

 yellow shade of green as it matures, form broadly oblique and average 

 weight previous seasons 1 to 1 J4 pounds, but this year only a scant 1 

 pound, owing perhaps to the heavy crop. Budded trees two years from 

 the nlrsery indicate a good setting of fruit and the five years' bearing 



