1675 
there instead of to China again- (for the 4th time) 
but they are all mad here on Rhododendrons, of 
which they have already twice as many species (or 
so-called species) as they can identify or grow in 
any one garden, but they won't grow on my limy 
soil, so I shall not end my days in a lunatic asylum 
on account of them. 
"You certainly have got some very live and 
enterprising men in your Department, and I only 
wish I could come over again and see more of the 
results of their work." . 
The following is quoted from Wilson Popenoe's 
1921 Report to the California Avocado Association: 
"The incident of outstanding interest during 
the course of the explorations in Costa Rica was 
the discovery, by Oton Jiminez and myself, of a 
wild avocado on the slopes of the Volcano Irazu. 
We found it in fruit, but not in flower: hence we 
have not yet been able to complete' the botanical 
study of the species. ' But basing my opinion upon 
the character of the tree and its fruit, I am in- 
clined to believe that we have at last fallen upon 
the true .wild avocado, the prototype of the culti- 
vated Guatemalan race and probably also of the West 
Indian. 
"The. fruits of this wild avocado are the size 
of small oranges, quite round, and dark green In 
color, the general appearance being similar to that 
of many Guatemalan varieties. The shell is thick 
and hard, and the flesh, which is very scanty and 
of gritty texture, has a strong flavor of anise. 
We sent seeds of this species (Persea sp. , S.P.I. 
No. 50585.) to Washington, and I am Informed that 
about two dozen plants are now growing in the green- 
house there. While this fruit is of little value 
for eating, the plant will be tested as a stock 
for better varieties. It is well known that the 
wild forms of fruits which have under intensive 
cultivation reached a high state of perfection 
often make admirable stock-plants, having more 
vigor than the cultivated varieties." 
