36 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



53177 to 53217— Continued. 



colored, tinged green in a narrow zone close to the skin, with a 

 few fiber markings but no tough fibers, the flavor rich and 

 pleasant; quality good; seed relatively small, obovoid in form, 

 tight in the cavity, with both seed coats rather closely surrounding 

 the rough cotyledons. Principal season at San Vicente probably 

 January and February. 



" Because of the absence of well-defined seasons in the Chota 

 Valley, where this and the following varieties are grown, avocado 

 trees do not limit themselves to one* crop during the year, but 

 flower and fruit more or less continuously. For this reason it 

 is not possible to calculate even approximately the season at which 

 the Chota avocados will ripen in California or in Florida. This 

 matter will have to be determined by trial. 



" This variety is one of the most promising of the set obtained 

 in the Chota Valley and is strongly recommended for trial through- 

 out the avocado-growing regions of California and in the northern 

 part of the avocado zone of Florida. It will probably prove to 

 be hardier than the West Indian varieties." 



53183. " (No. 575. Hacienda San Vicente, Province of Carchi, Ecua- 

 dor. February 17, 1921.) Budwood of avocado No. 49. Egos. 

 The parent tree stands in one of the huertas at the Hacienda 

 San Vicente, about half a mile north of the house. This is a 

 Mexican avocado, of much the same general character as Puebla, 

 but having a relatively smaller seed than the latter. The fruit 

 is broadly obovoid, 8 to 12 ounces in weight, and glossy maroon 

 purple when fully ripe. The skin is of average thickness for a 

 large-fruited Mexican avocado, the flesh devoid of fiber and of good 

 quality. The seed is tight in the cavity ; in some specimens it is 

 very small, in others, medium sized. The parent tree is a very 

 old and large one and is said to be very productive. 



" Formal description : Parent tree 60 to 70 feet high, with the 

 trunk 6 feet thick at the base and giving off a number of large 

 branches 6 feet above the ground. The crown is broadly oval, 

 fairly dense, and the foliage when crushed has a faint aniselike 

 odor. 



" The fruit is obovoid to broadly obovoid ; weight from 6 to 12 

 ounces ; length, 3^ to 4 inches ; greatest breadth, 2i to 3 inches ; 

 base broad, with the stem inserted somewhat obliquely in a 

 moderately deep cavity ; apex flattened obliquely, though not con- 

 spicuously so; surface smooth, glossy, deep-maroon purple, with 

 very small light-maroon dots ; skin thin, not very tough ; flesh 

 cream colored, devoid of fiber and with only very faint fiber 

 markings, the flavor rich and pleasant ; quality good ; seed small 

 to medium sized, broadly ovoid to almost oval, tight in the 

 cavity with both seed coats closely surrounding the nearly smooth 

 cotyledons. Season, December to February at San Vicente, with 

 a few fruits maturing at other times of the year because of the 

 peculiar climatic conditions of the region. 



*' Not as promising as avocado No. 47, but worthy of trial in 

 California and Florida." 



53184. "(No. 576a. Hacienda San Vicente, Province of Carchi. 

 February 17, 1921.) Budwood of avocado No. 50. CJwta. The 

 parent tree stands in one of the huertas of the Hacienda San 

 Vicente, about half a mile north of the house. This is a fine 

 large Mexican avocado of attractive and convenient form, having 

 a small seed and flesh of rich, pleasant flavor. The form is 

 broadly elliptic to nearly round, the color deep purple when the 

 fruit is fully ripe, and the seed tight in the cavity. This may 

 possibly be a hybrid between the Mexican and West Indian, but I 

 can see no deflnite indication that such is the case. 



" Formal description : Parent tree 50 to 60 feet high, the trunk 

 3 feet thick at the base, branched at 10 feet above the ground. 

 The crown is round, fairly dense, and the aniselike odor of the 

 crushed leaves is fairly pronounced. 



