68 BULLETIN 743, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
Following is a formal description of the variety. 
Form most commonly pyriform, but sometimes obovate; size below medium 
to medium, weight 10 to 12J ounces, length 4 to 5 inches, greatest breadth 2| 
to 3i inches ; base narrow to rounded, the stem inserted obliquely almost with- 
out depression; apex rounded or obtusely pointed, somewhat flattened around 
the stigmatic point; surface almost smooth, sometimes pitted, deep, dark 
maroon-purple in color, with numerous small light maroon dots ; skin unusually 
thin for this race, slightly less than one-sixteenth of an inch, soft, tender, 
peeling fairly readily when the fruit is fully ripe; flesh fine grained, buttery, 
cream yellow T in color, with slight fiber discolorations in some specimens but 
no actual fiber, the flavor moderately rich and nutty ; quality good ; seed large, 
broadly conical to nearly spherical in form, weighing 1J to 2i ounces, tight in 
the seed cavity, with the seed coats adhering closely to the cotyledons. 
KANAN. (No. 35.) S. P. I. No. 45563. 
The Kanan avocado is an early variety (PL XXIII) from the 
Antigua region, of rather large size, desirable form, and excellent 
quality. Although a round avocado, the seed is not large in propor- 
tion to the size of the fruit, but on the contrary is rather small. On 
the whole this seems like a very promising variety. 
The parent tree is growing in a small coffee plantation belonging 
to Ignacio Gonzales, situated on the road to San Antonio Aguas 
Calientes, just beyond the village of San Lorenzo del Cubo. The 
elevation is approximately 5,300 feet. The tree is about 35 feet high, 
with a trunk 30 inches thick at the base, dividing 2 feet above the 
ground to form two main limbs each 1 foot in diameter. These give 
off their first branches about 12 feet from the ground. The bud wood 
is excellent, the branchlets being stout, well formed, with vigorous 
buds conveniently placed. 
The tree did not produce a heavy crop from the 1916-17 blooms, 
but is said to have borne more heavily in past seasons. It flowers in 
December and January and commences to mature its fruits the first 
of the following December. They are not at their best until January. 
The climate of this location is not sufficiently cold to test the hardi- 
ness of the variety ; hence, it must be assumed, pending a trial in the 
United States, that it is of about average hardiness for the Guate- 
malan race. 
In form the fruit resembles the Trapp of Florida, being round to 
oblate. It also resembles the Trapp in size and color, but the sur- 
face is somewhat rough and the skin thick and hard. The flesh is 
cream yellow in color, free from discoloration, and of a rich and 
pleasant flavor. The seed is small and tight in the cavity. 
The variety may be formally described as follows : 
Form nearly spherical, varying to slightly oblate and more rarely to broadly 
obovoid ; size above medium to very large, weight 16 to 20 ounces, length 3£ to 
4J inches, greatest breadth 3* to 4 inches ; base rounded, the stem inserted 
very slightly to one side and almost without depression; apex flattened; sur- 
