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1917 ANNUAL REPORT 



or less extent. The Taft shows a great amount of this, which is mani- 

 fested by the vigor of growth, the size and quahty of the fruits, and its 

 readiness to respond when budded. When buds are properly selected, they 

 rarely fail to grow, and it may be put down as a universal rule that the 

 greater the inherent vitality of the tree, the easier it is to bud from. This 

 does not necessarily mean that such a tree is an early fruiter. The Taft is 

 not. It seems to require at least three years' growth before making any 

 attempt to bear, and in cases of exceptionally vigorous trees, may go more 

 than four years without fruits. My oldest budded tree of the Taft variety 

 bore about 50 fruits in the fourth year. This year it has perhaps twice 

 that number, and is exceedingly full of bloom. Other Taft trees of nearly 

 the same age have already borne sparingly, and at the present time are 

 blooming heavily. 



The time of ripening for the Taft is from May to October. When 

 in best condition to pick, the fruit assumes a somewhat lighter color and 

 acquires a bloom. It is not absolutely necessary to wait for this change 

 in appearance to take place, however. Any of the large fruits may be 

 picked and will ripen up quite satisfactorily off the tree. They may be 

 preferred by some as of milder flavor. 



In addition to the Taft, I have other seedlings of some value and 

 have given them names, to wit: Ultimate, Champion, Brodia, Purple Pro- 

 lific, Beauty, and Rhoad. All of these I have discarded as inferior. In 

 particular, they all have one bad feature which should always be absent 

 in a good fruit. The flesh will not retain its natural color long after being 

 exposed to the air. If served at once, that is, of course, no objection, but 

 it is often desirable to keep the salad or whatever dish it may be for a few 

 hours, and to have it turn dark detracts materially from the appearance, 

 though it may taste the same. The Taft never behaves this way, and 

 twenty-four hours after it is cut, while the flesh m.ay be a little dry, the 

 color is unchanged. 



Another thing I like about the Taft is its shape. Considerable has 

 been said about the round fruit being easiest to pack, and this may be true, 

 but a pear-shaped one is not much more difficult, and it has the great 

 advantage of containing more flesh. The neck is all extra. Of two fruits 

 of equal weight from the same tree, I would always choose the longer one 

 as being likely to have both more flesh and a smaller seed. 



I say right here to those who have planted this variety several years 

 ago and are disappointed because of lack of fruit, that they have the con- 

 solation of knowing that they planted a good kind, the best available at 

 this time and one which will certainly bear sooner than any they could 

 plant this year, no matter what variety. I do not claim the Taft is the 

 best avocado we shall ever have, but I do think it will always be a good 

 commercial variety. Indeed I am quite sure that better varieties may be 

 and probably already have been found. Mr. Knight has gone about it 

 in the best possible way by selecting budwood from the best of the thou- 

 semd varieties in Guatemala, a work which the Department of Agriculture 

 is continuing. Among the many choice seedlings Mr. Spink's is fruiting, 

 there are doubtless superior kinds. I have a few of my own which seem 

 promising; but looking to the not so very distant future, I fancy that the 

 best varieties of all will be from seedlings of those very kinds which are 



