1052 
to understand that I consider it a superior fruit to 
avocado. I think I said, or at least I Intended to 
say, that I thought its flavor was really superior to 
that of the avocado. It has some weak spots, of 
course, but I am strongly impressed with its remark- 
ably rich and nutty flavor. Kensett Champney considers 
that its flavor is superior to that of the avocado. 
He seems to think it "wears well" but of course I can 
not state my own experience. I will admit that I am 
somewhat enthusiastic over it. As you know, I have a 
habit of getting enthusiastic over these new things. 
After my second trip to the Verapaz , I will write up 
an account of the eoyo, tempered with as generous an 
amount of conservatism as I can muster, and send it 
up to you. I want to get a little more data than I now 
have. As it grows wild up to 5000 feet or above, it 
must be about as hardy as the Guatemalan avocado. Many 
thanks for Dr. Galloway's notes re the condition of 
my shipment of budwood from the Verapaz. They were a 
great help to me, because of their clearness and com- 
prehensiveness. I regret that I cannot enthuse over 
the Paeaya. I have eaten it several times, under pro- 
test, and unless the inflorescences are very young 
they are bitter. When very young they form an excel- 
lent matrix for salad dressing. The palm is a beauty, 
however, and fairly hardy. It ought to be given a 
wide trial in Florida and California. The work here 
remains fascinating. There is a great deal to be done 
yet before I will feel satisfied to end the search 
for the best avocados, but I am pushing things as 
best I can, and I hope nothing will happen to knock 
us out. I am in the pink of condition. I neglected to" 
mention in this letter that I have found the first 
serious injury done to avocado fruits which I have 
seen in Guatemala. At Panajachel that larva which 
bores in the seeds, and which seems to be the same 
as the one Mr. Sasscer found in some of the seeds I 
sent up, is causing tremendous damage. I have some 
photos of fruits cut open, showing the injury, which 
I will send up soon and which will make the matter 
much stronger than I can do it with words. A large 
percentage of the fruits I examined were infested, and 
many were so badly so that they were not fit to eat. 
This is unquestionably a serious thing, and one we 
must guard against carefully. I have some infested 
seeds in an improvised breeding cage and am going to 
see if I can breed out some of the adult insects." 
