66 BULLETIN -743, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
AKBAL. (No. 32.) S. P. I. No. 45505. 
The Akbal avocado is a variety noteworthy for earliness. and it 
has been included in this collection primarily because of this charac- 
teristic. It is. however, of very good quality and has no visible 
defects except a somewhat undesirable shape. Judging by its be- 
havior in Guatemala, it should be the earliest variety in the collec- 
tion, but it is not safe to depend upon its retaining this character- 
istic in the United States, since slight local variations in soil or cli- 
mate sometimes affect the time of ripening very noticeably, and its 
earliness may not be altogether an inherent characteristic. 
The parent tree is growing in the grounds of Eulogio Duarte, near 
Amatitlan. The location is known as Los Eastrojos and is about 2 
miles from the plaza of Amatitlan. on the road which leads past the 
cemetery toward the hills. The altitude is approximately 4.200 feet. 
The tree is about 40 feet high, spreading but of compact growth, the 
crown being fairly dense. The trunk is about 20 inches thick at the 
base and branches 10 feet from the ground. According to the owner, 
the tree is 6 years old. but judging from its size it can not be less 
than 20. It seems to be vigorous and in good condition. The bud 
wood which it yields is fairly satisfactory, the growths being well 
formed though not very stout, while the eyes are vigorous and do 
not drop quickly. 
This is rather a warm region: hence, there is nothing to indicate 
that the variety will be unusually hardy. 
The crop harvested in the fall of 1917 was a good one. According 
to the owner, it was 600 fruits, but it seems probable that it was 
considerably more. The bearing habit of the tree gives promise of 
being very satisfactory. The flowering season is in November and 
December, and the fruit ripens from the following August to No- 
vember. It is fully ripe and in perfect condition for picking by the 
middle of October, whereas the average variety of the same region 
is not mature until January at the earliest. 
In two characteristics this variety does not seem to agree with the 
Guatemalan race. It has a thin skin and the seed coats do not adhere 
closely to the cotyledons. A few other varieties showing these same 
characteristics were seen in the same locality, and it is possible that 
they may not be true Guatemalan avocados, though in most respects 
they appear to belong to this race. 
In form the fruit is long and slender, sometimes slightly curved, 
and sometimes becoming pyriform. It is medium sized, weighing 
about 12 ounces. The surface is smooth and deep green in color. 
The skin is thin and surrounds deep-yellow flesh of good quality, 
without fiber or discoloration. The seed is medium sized, and while it 
never rattles in its cavity it does not fit as snugly as it does in 
nearlv all other Guatemalan varieties. 
