THE AVOCADO IN GUATEMALA. 67 
A formal description of this variety is as follows : 
Form elongated to slender pyriform, sometimes curved ; size medium, weight 
12 ounces, length 5J to 6| inches, greatest breadth 2\ to 3 inches ; base narrow, 
rounded, the short, stout stem (2 to 3 inches long) inserted obliquely; apex 
rounded to broadly pointed, the stigmatic point slightly depressed; surface 
quite smooth, uniformly bright green in color, with very numerous minute 
yellowish dots; skin very thin, less than one-sixteenth of an inch, but firm 
and tough ; flesh rich yellow near the seed cavity, changing to light green near 
the skin, firm, or fine texture, free from fiber, and of rich, nutty flavor ; 
quality very good ; seed medium sized, weighing about 1^ ounces, conical to 
slender conical in form, the cotyledons smooth, with the seed coats adhering 
loosely. 
ISHIM. (No. 34.) S. P. I. No. 45562. 
While most avocados in the Antigua region do not ripen their 
fruits until February or March, the Ishim tree matures its entire 
crop by the end of November. It can be considered, therefore, a very 
early variety, and as such is worthy of a trial in California, where 
early varieties of the Guatemalan race are much desired. Its only 
visible defect is its somewhat large seed. The quality is good, and 
the fruit is attractive in appearance. 
The parent tree is growing in a small coffee plantation belonging 
to Ignacio Hernandez, situated on the hillside above San Lorenzo del 
Cubo, a village some 3 miles from Antigua. The elevation is about 
5,500 feet. The tree is about 35 feet high, broad and spreading in 
habit, with a fairly dense crown 40 or 45 feet broad, slightly in- 
clined to droop. The trunk is divided into two main branches, one 
about 1 foot thick at the base, the other 9 inches. The larger branch 
divides 8 feet above the ground into two main limbs. The growth 
seems to be reasonably vigorous and the branchlets are well formed 
and stout. The bud wood appears to be quite satisfactory. 
This location is not sufficiently high to experience very cold 
weather; hence, the variety must be assumed to be of average hardi- 
ness for the Guatemalan race until it can be tested in the United 
States. 
The productiveness of the variety is somewhat in doubt. The 
crop harvested in 1917 was not large. The tree bloomed heavily in 
December, 1917, and was setting a good crop when last seen. The 
season of ripening extends from October to the first of December. 
Probably the fruits would remain on the tree later than December 
if allowed to do so, but as avocados are very scarce at that season of 
the year they are picked as soon as they mature. 
The form of the fruits, pear shaped to obovoid, is attractive, as is 
the deep maroon-purple color which they assume upon ripening. 
The}^ are of convenient size, about 12 ounces, and the flesh is yellow 
and of good quality. The seed is larger than in the best late varie- 
ties, but not unreasonably so. It is tight in the cavity. 
