32 



THK AVOCADO IN FLORIDA- 



avocado may be .served is as varied as the possible salad eouibinations. 

 One should not, however, deliio-e this rich fruit with oil nor overpower 

 with condiments its mild, nutty Havor. Salt, pepper, and vinegar are 

 often used; if to this enough sugar ))e added to take off the sharpness 

 of the vinegar, it will be an impro\'einent. Lime juice or lemon juice 

 mav ))e substituted for the vinegar with advantage. The avocado is 

 sometimes served as a dessert with sugar and sherr}' . 



Another distinct method of using this fruit is to remove the meat 

 from the skin, add the condiments desired, and theii stir the w-hole 

 into the form of a salad and serve either alone or on lettuce leaves. 

 Some chefs cut the meat into small cubes of about a half or one-third 

 of an inch in si/e and serve it with condiments, as in minced salad. 



The use of the avocado as an ingredient of lobster or other shelltish 

 salad is said to have become (piite general in lociilities wdierc the fruit 

 can be obtained, as it gives the salad a pleasing nutty after flavor not 

 otherwise secured. 



Another use is in mixed pickles. For this purpose the fruit should 

 be selected before it has become soft, yet after it is no longer hard and 

 brittle. The fruit is pared, the seed taken out, and the meat cut into 

 pieces not over a half inch thick. This is then prepared in the U!?ual 

 manner for cucumber pickles, etc. 



DISEASES. 



LEAF DISEASE. 



While the avocado has recently been introduced into cultivation, it 

 has some severe diseases, which, however, can be handled without 

 nuich dilHcult}' if taken in time. One of the most prominent and 

 common diseases noticed is due to a Ghi'osjxn'ni m ^ prol)ably an unde- 

 scrilx'd s[)ecies. This almost invariably attacks the leaf at the tip, 

 and gradually works ))ack from this point into the blade. By the time 

 the h'iif has become two-thirds or three-cpiarters diseased, it usually 

 falls otf, and in this way the fungus may defoliate the entire tree. 



lu'iiirih/. — S[)raying with Hordeaux mixture" should be begun on 

 the lirst appearance of the trouble. If spraying is delayed until tiie 

 tree has been partially defoliated, success will be attained with much 

 greater difliculty. 



"Bordeaux inixtuic iiki\ he pri-parcd hy disHolving 6 pounds of l)luest()nc in 25 

 fjallons of water. This may be done readily by j)lacing the ])hiefstone in a feed sack 

 and sn.^peniling it near the; surface of tiie water. Slake (5 pound.s of Hnie with just 

 enou^ih water to cover it. When this lias been thoroufrhly slaked, dilute with 25 gal- 

 hjn.sof water. Strain the slakecl lime into the tank of the spraying machine through 

 coarise sacking, to remove all jtarticles which might cl<»g the spraying machine. INiur 

 the dissolved hluestone into the lime water, stirring vigorously for two or thit-e min- 

 utes. Apply at (»nce. 



