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FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
rather than grow tall, as do most varie- 
ties of this type. Taft is a good fruiter, 
distributing its crop well throughout the 
tree. It is of good flavor and size, aver¬ 
aging in weight about one pound. It has 
a tough thick skin which will stand con¬ 
siderable rough handling, making it an 
exceptionally good shipper. Season Feb¬ 
ruary and March. 
The Taft has been regarded with sus¬ 
picion for various reasons, and in some 
sections I believe they have been well 
founded. The variety is a very poor 
grower in the northern part of this coun¬ 
ty, while with us it is the best grower we 
have. Taft does not come into maturity 
at an early age, usually the fourth year 
after planting. I am satisfied that this 
variety will be one of our standards. 
Taylor .—This variety originated in 
Miami, from a seed that was produced in 
California. It is of Guatemalan race, and 
one of the best fruiters we have. While 
the fruit is rather small in size, I think its 
season of maturity—January to March—• 
will more than off-set the disadvantage. 
The quality is not of the best, but fruit¬ 
ing at a season when Avocados are 
scarce, this variety will bring good re¬ 
turns to the grower for many years to 
come. The tree is a strong vigorous 
grower, having a tendency to shoot 
straight up as do the seedling varieties. 
The fruit has a small tight seed, and a 
thick skin. 
Taylor trees planted in this section dur¬ 
ing the past three years have done excep¬ 
tionally well, and I would certainly con¬ 
sider this variety in making a commer¬ 
cial planting of the Avocado. 
Wagner .—This variety comes to us 
from California, and was produced from 
the same tree that gave us Taylor, being 
of Guatemalan race. Wagner and Taylor 
are identical in growth and foliage, while 
the fruit of these two varieties would 
hardly reveal their close relationship. 
Wagner fruit is almost round, and is 
much larger, weighing from 18 to 24 
ounces. It is of good quality and fla¬ 
vor. This variety like Taylor, is an early 
and exceptionally good fruiter. I have 
seen Wagner grafts 14 months old, that 
were put into an old seedling stump, set 
a crop of fruit that would do justice to 
a three-year-old tree of ordinary fruiting 
qualities. Season of Wagner is January 
to March. This variety has not been 
planted to any extent in this section, be¬ 
ing a recent introduction and having been 
fruited by Mr. W. J. Krome of Home¬ 
stead, during the last three years. The 
color of Wagner is green with a thick 
brittle skin. Wagner has a good future 
as a commercial variety. 
The above races and varieties of the 
Avocado are those found in grove form, 
and have been fruited sufficiently to de¬ 
termine their commercial value. There 
are a great many other varieties being 
tested each year, and as the list grows, 
we find the selection of a variety more 
difficult. 
In setting the Avocado in this section, 
I have found that placing one-half stick 
of 40% dynamite in the center of each 
hole, at a depth of 15 inches, is of much 
benefit during our dry season. In using 
this system I would suggest that the hole 
be filled with small rock and then filled 
in with soil. In doing this your tree will 
