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1917 ANNUAL REPORT 



one of them has broadened until it has encompassed the whole length and 

 breadth of the country to which he was so loyal, the walnut which he 

 propagated being found in every state in the union where such trees grow 

 and prosper. 



Our friend being of a congenial nature naturally sought out the asso- 

 ciation of kindred spirits and he had the friendship of all of the earlier 

 horticultural dreamers who had imaged California as the home of every 

 plant, shrub, and tree either of usefulness or of beauty. Coming to Santa 

 Barbara in 1867 he made the acquaintance and found fellowship with 

 other plant lovers and no doubt he looked with deep interest on the two 

 little avocados which Dr. Kellog of San Francisco sent to his old friends 

 Mr. Silas Bond and Judge Ord, — the two trees that became the parents 

 of hundreds of avocados now growing throughout the city. A long-time 

 friend, Mr. Taft of Orange, had become enthusiastic over the avocado in- 

 dustry and through him Mr. Sexton obtained in 1911, a number of seed- 

 lings which he planted at his home place in Goleta and which have de- 

 veloped into splendid specimens which have borne abundantly. 



Without question the thrift of these trees and the heavy bearing nature 

 which they manifested stimulated anew the visions in the fertile mind and 

 heart of our friend. He conceived and elaborated a plan whereby the 

 avocado industry of the whole world might be benefited through the intro- 

 duction of new varieties carrying all of the excellencies and few of the un- 

 desirable qualities of those then known. 



He became satisfied that in the Hawaiian Islands were hardy varieties 

 that could be grown in California. And in the fall of 1911 he visited 

 Honolulu for the express purpose of gathering the avocado from the trees, 

 testing out the most desirable varieties, and saving the seeds from those 

 choice fruits with the hope that by planting them in California the much 

 desired improved fruits might be developed. 



From the seeds brought home at that time a large number of thrifty 

 seedlings were grown and potted and were distributed throughout the state. 

 This custom Mr. Sexton followed at periods of two years, and today it is 

 conservative to say that there are a thousand of these trees growing in dif- 

 ferent sections, from which not only can be determined the best varieties » 

 but that equally important fact the sections in which the avocado will find 

 itself at home. The beautiful part of this work was the generous attitude 

 toward the avocado industry, absolutely free from any spirit of com- 

 mercialism. 



True to his natural instinct Mr. Sexton began experimenting with 

 local varieties, hoping thus to improve those that had already made them- 

 selves a place. Into one of his seedlings he introduced a bud from the Dr. 

 White avocado and in twenty-two months from the time of budding he had 

 60 mature fruits and had removed as many more that had definitely set. 

 This tree has averaged two crops a year up to the present time and Mr. Sex- 

 ton often remarked that it seemed likely a tree will be developed which will 

 have mature fruits every month in the year. 



On his return from Hawaii in 1913, Mr. Sexton brought home bud- 

 wood from two choice trees growing in the island, the Nutmeg and the 

 Inezholt. These buds have developed into magnificent trees but what the 



