CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



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muricata), the tamarind (Tamarindus indica), the star-apple {Chr^soph^U 

 lum catnito), and the sapote (Achradelpha mammosa). It is the zone in 

 which all of the commercial banana plantations are found, the zone in 

 which the pineapple is most successful, and in which the mango reaches its 

 greatest development. It will thus be seen that it is never subjected to low 

 temperatures, the minimum being considerably higher than that of any por- 

 tion of either Florida or California. 



The lower limit of this zone is the level of the sea, and the upper 

 limit I would place between 2500 and 3000 feet. This, it will be noticed, 

 corresponds with the range of the West Indian race of avocados. 



The subtropical zone, which may be considered the great horticul- 

 tural zone of the republic, is characterized by such fruits as the cherimoya 

 (Annona cherimola) , the jocote (Spondias mombin), the white sapote or 

 matasano {Casimiroa edulis), and the loquat {Eriobotrya japonica). It 

 extends approximately from 3000 feet to 7000 or 7500 feet. This is the 

 zone of the Guatemalan race of avocados. 



Toward the upper limit of this zone frosts are fairly common, and 

 at about 7500 feet the citrus fruits disappear. The lower levels, between 

 4000 and 6000 feet, possess delightful climates, scarcely excelled any- 

 where in the world. 



The temperate zone is characterized by the fig, and by most of the 

 temperate fruits, which have, of course, been introduced into Guatemala 

 since the Conquest. The ones most commonly grown are the peach, the 

 apple, and the pear. The lower limit of this zone is about 7500 feet, the 

 upper limit approximately 1 0,000, though it might be considered to extend 

 to the summits of the highest peaks. 



The amount of rainfall varies greatly in different parts of Guatemala. 

 In some of the principal avocado regions, such as Antigua, it is 30 to 60 

 inches per annum ; in some parts of the Alta Verapaz, it is as great as 1 30 

 or 140 inches. The avocado appears to make healthier growth in those 

 regions where the rainfall is not over 75 inches. In most parts of Guate- 

 mala the rainfall is not distributed evenly throughout the year, but occurs 

 between the months of May and October. In the Alta Verapaz the rainy 

 season is much longer, March and April being the only dry months. 



Hardiness of the Guatemalan Race 

 The hardiness of the Guatemalan race of avocados is being deter- 

 mined both in California and Florida, and we will soon have excellent data 

 covering a number of varieties. It has been thought, however, that varieties 

 might occur in Guatemala which were much hardier than any yet known 

 in the United States. Everything tends to indicate, that hardiness, in the 

 avocado, is much more a matter of race than of variety. No variety of the 

 West Indian race has yet been found which is nearly as hardy as any of 

 the Guatemalan, and no variety of the Guatemalan has been discovered 

 which will withstand as much cold as the Chappelow or other varieties of 

 the Mexican race. Within the race there is a certain amount of variation 

 in regard to hardiness, but it is not so great, expressed in degrees of tem- 

 perature, as the difference between the Guatemalan and the Mexican or 

 the Guatemalan and the West Indian races in average hardiness. 



Severe frosts are not experienced in Guatemala at elevations lower 

 than 7000 feet. As we desired to find the hardiest varieties obtainable for 



