114 



1917 ANNUAL REPORT 



ity, it is next to impossible to distinguish an immature from a mature avo- 

 cado simply by looking at it. But when it comes to eating it, nothing is 

 easier. A mature avocado can be eaten, and an immature one cannot, — 

 at least no connoisseur will stoop so low as to do it, and the tyro will not 

 do it more than once. I urge upon the consideration of every avocado 

 grower in California and Florida the importance of suppressing this per- 

 nicious custom in the United States before it has obtained a foothold. 



In general, I found the variation in ripening season, due to differ- 

 ences in elevation, to be one month for every thousand feet. Where pecu- 

 liar environmental conditions come into play, such as the protected situa- 

 tion of Panajachel, this rule does not hold good, but in most cases it does. 

 At Senahu, in the Alta Verapaz (3200 ft.) the principal season of ripen- 

 ing is November to February; at Amatitlan (3900 ft.) it is January to 

 April; at San Cristobal Verapaz (4600 ft.) it is February to May; at 

 Antigua (5100 ft.) it is March to June; at Purula, Baja Verapaz (5150 

 ft.) is is March to June; at Panajachel (5300 ft.) it is February to May; 

 at Chimaltenango (6000 ft.) it is April to July, and at Momostenango 

 (7400 ft.) it is May to August. 



We have noticed in the United States that the same variety of avo- 

 cado does not ripen at the same time in Florida and in California. Cli- 

 matic differences prevent it. Judging from the principal ripening season of 

 Guatemalan avocados in these two states, it seems to me that California 

 corresponds rather closely to an elevation of 6000 to 7000 feet in Guate- 

 mala, while South Florida corresponds to an elevation of 3000 to 4000 

 feet. It might be expected, then, that the average variety growing at 6500 

 feet in Guatemala would, if transplanted to California, ripen at approxi- 

 mately the same season, while the average variety from 3500 feet trans- 

 planted to California would ripen much later than it does in Guatemala, 

 but if planted in Florida would ripen at about the same time. 



The majority of avocados in any given section of the Guatemalan 

 highlands ripen at approximately the same season. This would be ex- 

 pected. Considering Antigua, for example, only half a dozen trees were 

 found which commenced to ripen their fruits in October and November, the 

 vast majority not beginning to mature until February. With an occasional 

 exception, the earliest varieties are of inferior quality. They are so scarce 

 that they make no impression whatever upon the market, but from the 

 standpoint of California avocado growers such varieties, if of good quality, 

 are very important, as they may ripen sufficiently early, when planted in 

 that state, to be marketable during the holiday season. This remains to 

 be seen. 



Summing up the question of season, it may be said that variation is 

 due to two causes, first, altitude as expressed in its effect upon temperature, 

 and second, the normal difference exhibited by seedlings. The first factor 

 is of little importance to us, but by giving attention to the second we should 

 be able to obtain avocados which will greatly extend the period during 

 which ripe avocados are available. 



Picking Avocados 

 The Guatemalans have an interesting rule governing the picking of 

 avocados. I do not know that it will hold good in the United States, but 

 as far as I could observe it was fairly trustworthy in Guatemala. They 



