8 



G. P. IV. Collection. PlATE 1 I . 



Persea gratissiuia. 



AVOCADO. 



This spreading evergreen tree is a native of the West Indies. 

 In the Hawaiian Islands, the first trees of its kind were said to 

 have been planted in Pauoa Valley, Oahu, by Don Marin. It at- 

 tains a height of from 10-40 feet, and is adverse to drought. Its 

 leaves are elliptico-oblong, from 4-7 inches in length. The flowers 

 are greenish-yellow and downy. The fruit, which ripens from 

 June until November, is a round or pear-shaped drupe, covered 

 with a thin, rather tough skin, which is either green or purple in 

 color. The flesh is yellow, firm and marrow-like, and has a 

 delicious nutty flavor. The seed-cavity is generally large, con- 

 taining one round or oblong seed, covered by a thin, brown, 

 parchment-like skin. The quality of the pear is judged, not only 

 by its flavor, but by the presence or absence of strings or flbre 

 in the meat, and also by the quantity of flesh as compared to the 

 size of the seed. Innumerable variations as to size, shape, and 

 quality have been produced from seedlings — some of which may 

 be seen in the accompanying illustration. The Avocado is easily 

 reproduced by budding and grafting, and the best varieties may 

 be obtained in this manner. 



