I!) 



Edible Products. 



formal characters. Form nearly spherical ; colour varying from dark green to dark 

 brown or nearly black: skin hard and unyielding, breaking rather than tearing, 

 never less than 2 mm. in thickness, granular in texture ; flesh distinctly differentiated 

 from the skin, often separated from it when fully ripe ; seed as broad as or broader 

 than long, rounded at the apex. The two seed coats are so united as to be 

 indistinguishable, and when fully ripe adhere closely to the seed, except at a small 

 area near the base. When the green fruit is opened the seed coats often leave 

 the seeds and adhere to the flesh, The better specimens of this and the following 

 form are probably the most promising for introduction into Porto Rico, owing 

 to the thick skin, good keeping qualities, and fine flavour. In the warm and 

 extremely moist climate of Alta Vera Paz, specimens of this form were in perfect 

 condition two weeks after picking. Specimens sent by mail from Coban to 

 Washington, while overripe on arrival, showed no outward evidence of decay, 

 and were still in condition to withstand rough handling. 



Thick-skinned oval.— This description was dra wn up to cover two specimens 

 purchased at different times in the market of Guatemala City. Form oval or 

 oblong; surface roughened with knobs: skin thick and unyielding, breaking rather 

 than tearing, granular in texture ; flesh distinctly differentiated from the skin ; 

 seed longer than broad, rounded at the apex, covered when ripe with a mealy 

 substance ; coats adhering closely to the seed and separating from the flesh when 

 ripe. 



Soft-skinned Guatemalan.— Fruit pyriform : surface slightly roughened, 

 shining, skin thick, soft, and yielding, tearing rather than breaking, distinct 

 from the flesh ; flesh free from fibres, firm, not darker near the skin. Seed almost 

 spherical, with the outer coat pi'oduced into an acute point ; seed coats closely 

 uuited to each other and to the cotyledons except at the base and apex. This 

 form can hardly be considered a true Guatemalan type, as it lacks the characteristic 

 hard skin. It resembles the Cuban type in many particulars, but differs from 

 it in having the seed coats adhering closely to the cotyledons over the greater 

 part of the surface and in having the outer seed coat produced beyond the apex 

 of the cotyledons. It more nearly resembles the Costa Rica type. In Guatemala 

 there are at least two other species of Persea that yield edible fruit. These are 

 known among the Indians of Alta Vera Paz by the names " coyo " and " coyocte." 

 Both are generally considered very inferior fruits, though some prefer the " coyo" 

 to the avocado. In Alta Vera Paz the " coyo " and the avocado flower at about 

 the same time, but the fruit of the " coyo " ripens at least a month eai'lier, 

 a fact which may lend interest to the species in efforts to extend the season. 

 In the highlands of Central Guatemala the avocado is found in the regions 

 that are occasionally subjected to temperatures below freezing. The fruit is of 

 good size and quality, and the thorough exploration of this region offers interesting 

 possibilities in the securing of more hardy forms. 



Porto Rico.— The avocados of Porto Rico, although showing great diversity 

 of form, are apparently very closely related, indicating possibly that they are the 

 result of a single introduction. Compared with the types of the mainland thus 

 far studied, their affinities seem to lie with Mexican avocados. From these they 

 are distinguished chiefly by the character of the seed, the Porto Rican type having 

 the two seed coats distinct, the outer usually adhering to the flesh, the inner more 

 or less closely attached to the cotyledons. In this respect this type also differs 

 from all the continental forms thus far observed. From the avocado of Costa Rica 

 it is further distinguished by the texture of the skin, which is much thinner and 

 softer than the Costa Rican type. In this latter regard it is still further separated 

 from the Guatemalan avocados with their hard, almost brittle skins. From the 



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