Inventory 67, Seeds and Plants Imported. 



Plate II. 



The Parent Tree of the Carchi Avocado. (Persea Americana 

 Mill.; S. P. I. No. 53185.) 



In the remote Andes of northern Ecuador lies a small region known as the Chota Valley. The 

 Mexican avocado was introduced into this valley at an early day, and through selection 

 and, probablv, crossing with the lowland or West Indian race of avocados, many superior 

 forms have been developed. These remained horticulturally unknown until 1921, when 

 thev were discovered by a representative of the United States Department of Agriculture 

 and several of the best obtained for trial in the United States and other countries. As in 

 other parts of tropical America there are few avocado orchards in Ecuador, most of the trees 

 being found about the homes of the inhabitants or scattered among other fruit trees in small 

 irregular plantings. (Photographed bv Wilson Popenoe, San Vicente, Ecuador, February 

 18, 1921; Pl^iHFS.) 



