345 So. Main Street, Los Angeles, California 
59 
Avocado or Alligator Pear 
The Coming Tropical Fruit of Southern California, 
Destined to Become the Most Profitable of all the Orchard Crops 
Four-year-old Budded Avocado Tree 
AVOCADO. (Persea gratissima.) "Alligator Pear." 
"Aquacate." This splendid tropical fruit has attracted 
much attention of late in Southern California since it 
has been found that it can be grown successfully in 
sections where the orange and lemon thrive. It will, 
no doubt, be planted on a large scale, and become one 
of the best paying orchard crops. The trees now bear- 
ing have yielded high returns, many of them netting 
the owner from $100 to $200 per tree, and in one case 
$400 for one season's crop. It is the most wholesome 
and nutritious of all fruits, and in countries where 
grown extensively is a staple article of food. On ac- 
count of the limited number of trees now bearing in 
California the fruit commands a very high price, good 
specimens selling as high as 75c each, and consequent- 
ly only enjoyed by the more wealthy classes. Being 
as easy to grow as other fruit crops it will without 
doubt be planted on a large scale, the prices of the 
fruit will necessarily be lower but will be within the 
reach of everyone, and it will become a staple article 
of food. As the fruit stands shipping well the market 
is almost unlimited, and it is destined to become one 
of the best paying fruit crops for Southern California. 
The tree is of rapid growth, and particularly hand- 
some with large, deep green leaves. It succeeds best 
in a deep loamy soil and attains a hight from 20 to 
40 feet. 
DICKINSON. Fruit oval to obovate, dark purple, thick 
skin, 7 to 12 ounces. Flesh greenish yellow of good 
flavor. Of vigorous growth and very prolific. Ripens 
June to October. Balled 3to 4 feet. Each, $5.00. 
FBERTE. Considered by many the best Avocado yet 
introduced. The fruit weighs a trifle under a pound 
and are smooth and green in color. The flavor Is 
very rich. In the laboratories of the University of 
California this variety was found to contain 30.72 
per cent of fat or oil which places it among the 
very best varieties for quality. The trees are very 
hardy, of vig-orous growth and come into bearing 
much sooner than most varieties and produce a 
very heavy crop. Ripens from January to March, 
the time of year when Avocados bring the highest 
price. Boxed, 2 to 3 ft. Each $5.00. 
P U EB LA. Fruit obovate, dark purple, skin thick, nearly 
smooth; 10 to 12 ounces. Flesh yellow of rich flavor. 
A rapid grower and very prolific. Ripens December to 
February. Balled 3 to 4 feet. Each $5.00. 
SHARPLESS. Fruit large, averaging a pound to a 
pound and a half in weight. Skin thick and coarse, 
purplish black; flesh of rich flavor. A strong grower 
and prolific bearer. December to April. Boxed, 2 
to 3 ft. Each $5.00. 
SPINKS. Fruit nearly spherical, purplish black, thick 
skin; 16 to 20 ounces. Flesh cream-colored, of rich 
flavor. A prolific bearer. Ripens June to September. 
Balled 3 to 4 feet. Each $5.00. 
Fruit of the Avocado 
