UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
J BULLETIN No. 743 
^Jgr Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry ^ _ 
JfSvvSL WM - A - TAYLOR, Chief SsJ^^JU 
Washington, D. C. 
April 17, 1919 
THE AVOCADO IN GUATEMALA. 
By Wilson Popenoe, 
Agricultural Explorer, Office, of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Importance of the avocado 
Extent of avocado culture in Guatemala 
Popular uses of the avocado 
Climatic zones of Guatemala 
Classification of avocados 
Avocado culture in the Guatemalan high- 
lands 
10 
Page. 
The West Indian race of avocados in Guate- 
mala 36 
The Mexican race of avocados in Guatemala. . 
The coyo 
Select Guatemalan avocado seedlings intro- 
duced into the United States 
42 
IMPORTANCE OF THE AVOCADO. 
Probably no other country possesse3 such an abundance of fine avo- 
cados as Guatemala. Not all Guatemalan avocados are exceptionally 
choice, but scattered throughout the highlands of the Eepublic are 
many trees of unusual merit. A wide variation in characteristics 
exists. Fruits of some varieties are no larger than hens' eggs ; others 
weigh fully 3 pounds. The shapes range from long and slender to 
oblate. The surface is sometimes rough and warty, sometimes 
smooth. The color may be green, maroon, purple, or almost black. 
Many varieties have proportionately large seeds, others small. Most 
important of all, there are numerous varieties whose deep yellow 
flesh is of the smoothest texture and has the richest, most agreeable 
flavor. 
Since the soil was cleared in the lower Motagua Valley for banana 
plantations — now thousands of acres in extent — the production of 
avocados is insignificant in comparision with that of bananas; but 
to the native Guatemalans, especially the Indians, who represent 
more than half the total population, the avocado is still in most 
regions the more important. Bananas are grown mainly for export, 
while the entire avocado crop is consumed locally. 
The abundance of avocados, their cheapness, and the long season 
during which they are available make it possible for even the poorest 
79774°— Bull. 743—19 1 1 
