44 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



54269 to 54281— Continued. 



ascertained by an examination of the tree it is of the Mexican 

 race ; there is a possibility, however, that it may be a hybrid 

 between this race and the West Indian. 



" Tlie fruit is pyriform-obovoid to oblong-obovoid ; weight 10 to 

 15 ounces ; length 4^ to 5 inches ; greatest breadth 3 to 3^ inches ; 

 base broadly pointed, the stem inserted obliquely; apex slightly 

 and obliquely flattened; surface smooth, pale yellow-green, with 

 numerous large cream-colored dots; skin thin, less than 0.5 

 millimeter; flesh yellowish cream color, pale green very close 

 to the skin, with very few and inconspicuous fiber markings, 

 and of smooth oily texture, the flavor rich, not watery, very 

 agreeable, with pronounced nutty character; quality excellent; 

 seed round-conic, relatively small, tight in the cavity or nearly so, 

 the seed coats sometimes separating over a portion of the seed, 

 cotyledons slightly rough. 



" The season of this variety, as of others in the Chota Valley, 

 is difficult to determine accurately. The main crop probably 

 ripens from September to December, but there are a few fruits 

 available at nearly all times of the year." 



54278. "(No. 635. Ibarra, Ecuador. June 16, 1921.) Cuttings of 

 avocado No. 56, Euira. The parent tree is growing in one of the 

 huertas at the Hacienda Carpuela, at an altitude of 5,300 feet. 

 This is a Mexican variety of good size and quality. While not 

 as promising as some of the other varieties in the Chota collec- 

 tion, it is well worthy of a trial in California and in the cooler 

 portions of the avocado-growling region of Florida. It should prove 

 to be fairly hardy. 



" Formal description : The parent tree is about 40 feet high, 

 erect and shapely in form, and apparently a vigorous grower. 

 The foliage when crushed is distinctly anise scented. The trunk 

 is about 15 inches thick at the base and branches at 8 feet above 

 the ground. 



*' The fruit is obovate in form ; weight about 8 ounces, length 

 nearly 3 inches; base pointed, with the stem inserted obliquely; 

 apex thin, as is characteristic of the Mexican race ; flesh cream- 

 yellow, tinged green near the skin, with a few fiber markings; 

 flavor unusually rich and nutty; quality excellent; seed broadly 

 obovoid-conic, rather large, tight in the cavity, with both seed 

 coats closely surrounding the nearly smooth cotyledons. Season 

 at Carpuela not definitely known ; the main crop probably matures 

 between October and January, but there are a few ripe fruits 

 available at other times of the j^ear. It is impossible to predict 

 with accuracy the season at which this, as well as the other va- 

 rieties from the Chota Valley, will ripen their fruits in the United 

 States; the matter can be determined only by trial." 



54279 and 54280. Rubus adenoteichos Schlecht. Rosaceae. 



Blackberry. 



54279. "(No. 623. Ibarra; Ecuador. June 13, 1921.) Plants of 

 Mora comun. From the Hacienda La Rinconada, in the 

 Province of Carchi, at an altitude of about 11,000 feet. This 

 is a very vigorous Rubus, forming large clumps up to 15 

 or 18 feet high. Its stout canes are thickly clothed with 

 short, stiff, bright maroon-colored hairs, while its leaves are 

 formed of five ovate-acuminate to oblong-acuminate, finely 

 serrate leaflets 3 to 4 inches long. The white flowers are 

 produced in large loose panicles sometimes more than a foot 

 in length and are followed by an abundance of oval deep- 

 purple fruits about three-quarters of an inch long. The 

 drupelets are numerous and crowded closely together ; the 

 seeds are moderately large, but not very troublesome in the 

 mouth. The flavor is practically the same as that of the 

 cultivated blackberry of the North, and the quality is good. 

 Because of its productiveness as well as this latter feature, 

 the species is worthy of a trial in the southern and western 

 United States." 



