JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1921. 



43 



52574 to 52580— Continued. 



acterized as a very loose fine sandy loam of volcanic origin. Ttie straw- 

 berry plantations cover an area of at least 60 acres; the plants are 

 never irrigated, and the rainfall is probably not more than 15 inches per 

 annum. Three times a year the fields are cleaned of weeds with a heavy 

 hoe, this being the only cultural attention which thfey rec-eive. The 

 plants do not grow to a large size. The natives assert that the plants 

 when irrigated make luxuriant growth but do not yield abundantly, nor 

 is the fruit large and sweet, and this has, indeed, been observed by 

 me to be the case when plants are grown in the town of Ambato under 

 good cultural conditions. The fruit is harvested once a week throughout 

 the year; there are, however, three seasons when the most abundant 

 yield is obtained, these being in February, August, and December. The 

 method of handling the fruit is primitive ; it is carried to Ambato in 

 kerosene boxes and is there sorted and packed in baskets for shipment 

 by train to Guayaquil and Quito. 



" In form this strawberry is less variable than most of the varieties 

 grown in the United States. It is oblong-conical, sometimes oblong- 

 ovoid, and from 1 to 2 inches long. When fully ripe it is light red in 

 color, with the flesh pinkish white, meaty, juicy, and of mild, sweet 

 flavor. The quality is not so good as that of the finest North American 

 and European strawberries, but the fruit can be shipped much more 

 successfuly because of its firm texture. 



" This is one of the most remarkable and interesting fruits of Ecua- 

 dor. It deserves careful attention at the hands of North Ajnerican 

 strawberry breeders and should be tested particularly in the dry South- 

 western States. I would recommend for it a light, loose, sandy soil and 

 very little water," 



52577. Lycopebsicon esculentum Mill. Solanacese. Tomato. 

 "(No, 532a. Ambato, Ecuador. January 2, 1921,) A small tomato 



from the market of Ambato, Ecuador. The fruits are round, smooth, of 

 attractive color and good quality. Of interest in connection with tomato 

 breeding in the United States." 



52578. Pkunus af^meniaca L. Amygdalaceae. Apricot. 

 "(No. 537a. Ambato, Ecuador.) This fruit is cultivated commer- 

 cially in two sections of Ecuador, at Ambato and in the vicinity of 

 Cuenca. Regarding its behavior in the latter region, Luis Cordero (Enu- 

 meracion Botanica) says: 'This handsome fruit tree succeeds perfectly 

 in our haciendas of rather warm climate, especially in the fertile and 

 beautiful valleys of Paute and Gualaceo. Rare is the year in which the 

 fruit is not abundant, and for this reason the well-known boxes of apri- 

 cots preserved in sirup, so highly esteemed in other parts of the country, 

 are never wanting.' Outside the Cuenca and Ambato regions, occasional 

 trees are to be seen at Loja and northward in Imbabura Province. 



" The ripening season at Ambato is in January and February. Propa- 

 gation is commonly by seed and occasionally by grafting on the peach, 

 apricot, and plum. The varieties grown in Ecuador (seedling forms in 

 the main) are almost invariably small fruited and considerably inferior 

 to the best North American and European sorts. 



" For trial in the United States as a stock plant." 



