Edible Product*. 



50 



Cuban type it is separated by the thinner skin, and the fact that the flesh and 

 skin are not sharply differentiated. Form oval or pyriforra. with or without a 

 prolonged neck: colour green, usually light; surface shining and almost smooth: 

 skin thin and soft, tearing rather than breaking ; flesh not differentiated from 

 the skin ; seed spherical, oval, or slightly pointed ; the two seed coats entirely 

 distinct, the outer usually clinging to the flesh and the inner to the cotyledons. 

 One specimen from San Jose, Costa Rica, seems to correspond closely with the 

 Porto Rican forms, the only difference being a slightly thicker and more distinctly 

 differentiated skin. 



Mexico. — The' Mexican vai'ieties show the greatest diversity of form, and 

 also a considerable range of colour. With the exception, however, of three special 

 forms to be mentioned later, they seem to intergrade and form a connected series. 

 They are at least much more closely related to each other than they are to those 

 found in other countries. Although many of the Mexican avocados were of really 

 excellent flavour, none were seen that appeared particularly desirable for introduc 

 tion. The following is a general description covering the more characteristic 

 features of the Mexican type: — Form spherical, oval, oblong, or pyriform ; colour 

 varying from green to almost black ; surface shining and almost smooth ; skin 

 thin and soft, tearing rather than breaking ; flesh not differentiated from the skin : 

 seed spherical, oval, or pointed ; the two seed coats closely united and usually 

 attached to the seed over the greater part of its surface. 



Ta/pachula.—This sort was first observed at Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, 

 where a single tree was found growing in the park. The same or a very similar 

 variety was afterwards found in Costa Rica. Form of fruit obovate or slightly 

 pyriform ; colour bright green ; surface shining and with slightly raised points white 

 at the top ; skin thin and leathery ; flesh but imperfectly differentiated from the 

 skin ; seed nearly round. The tree rather short and spreading. The leaves broadly 

 acuminate, almost transverse at base, the broadest part of the blade usually in 

 the proximal portion. This is apparently one of the most desirable of the thin- 

 skinned sorts. Fully matured fruit was seen neither in Mexico nor Costa Rica ; 

 consequently the character of the seed coats could not be determined. The Costa 

 Rican specimens, while closely resembling the Mexican tree in the shape of the 

 leaves and habit, as well as in the form and peculiar markings of the fruit, differ 

 in having ovate seeds, while in the Mexican specimen the seeds are nearly round. 



Long Neck.— Of the two samples included in this description one is from 

 Tapachula ; the other was purchased in the Washington market and was probably 

 from Cuba. The resemblance is doubtless confined to formal characters. Form 

 elongated, with a very long curved neck ; colour green ; surface shining and some- 

 what wrinkled ; skin soft, tearing rather than breaking ; flesh distinctly differen- 

 tiated from the skin ; seed decidedly longer than broad, rounded at the apex ; 

 seed cavity extending into the neck beyond the apex of the seed ; the two seed 

 coats entirely distinct. The flavour and texture of this form are very good, but it 

 will probably not prove to be a good shipper. 



Clinjst one.— This most aberrant form was found only once in the City of 

 Mexico. It is so very different from the ordinary avocados that it would seem 

 that it must belong to a distinct species. Nothing was learned, however, concern- 

 ing the nature of the tree, and the natives classed it with the other " aguacates." 

 Form elongated ; colour light green ; skin soft and jpliable, the surface somewhat 

 shrunken and wrinkled ; flesh granular in texture and almost tasteless, adhering 

 closely to the seed ; seed narrow and pointed ; the two coats, if they exist, cannot 

 be separated. The oddity of this form is its only recommendation. 



