32 BULLETIN 743, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 
Panajachel, westward from the city of Guatamala some 60 miles, 
has already been mentioned as enjoying a particularly favorable 
situation. Its climate seems to be slightly warmer than that of 
Antigua, though its elevation is practically the same. Its rainfall 
is in general that of Antigua and the city of Guatemala. 
Momostenango (7,400 feet), the highest point at which avocados 
are extensively grown in Guatemala, has a cooler climate than any 
of the other regions which have been considered, but it is not so cold 
as most towns in Guatemala which lie at this elevation, owing to its 
protected situation. Little is known regarding its temperatures, 
since it is a remote spot. A mango tree of good size was seen at 
this place; it is safe, therefore, to assume that it does not get very 
cold. 
Going to the other extreme, Mazatenango (1,150 feet)., on the west 
coast of Guatemala, and Chama (1,000 feet), in Alta Vera Paz, 
are the lowest situations at which Guatemalan avocados were seen 
in bearing. Both have hot climates, typical of tropical lowlands, 
with no cold weather and a heavy rainfall. It is generally believed 
that avocados of the Guatemalan race do not succeed at low eleva- 
tions. The trees seem to grow well, but they are said to fruit very 
sparingly. Judging from the very few instances in which trees 
of this race were found at elevations lower than 2,500 feet, it seems 
that there must be some basis for this belief. 
HARDINESS OF THE GUATEMALAN AVOCADO. 
Severe frosts are not experienced in Guatemala at altitudes lower 
than 7,000 feet. In searching for avocados of the Guatemalan race 
likely to prove unusually hardy in the United States it is necessary, 
therefore, to ascend to 8,000 or 8,500 feet, at which altitude the 
winters are sufficiently cold to injure varieties not particularly frost 
resistant, thus bringing to light the hardiest. 
At 5,000 feet in Guatemala avocados are subjected to a mild, and at 
times cool, climate, but never enough frost to test their hardiness 
severely. At 7,500 feet, the upper limit of orange culture, severe 
frosts are probably occasional, but no meteorological data are avail- 
able to show the minimum temperatures experienced. It seems very 
doubtful whether the temperature goes as low at this elevation as 
it does occasionally in the orange-growing districts of California 
and Florida. 
Above 8,000 feet it is cold t lough to freeze large trees of the Guate- 
malan race, and trees at this elevation which show no frost injury 
after a hard winter must either be more resistant than the average 
or must be grown in a protected situation. (PL X.) 
There are no records of minimum temperatures at elevations of 
8,000 or 8,500 feet in Guatemala, to show how much cold avocados 
