1080 
t 
gua. As one climbs up the broad slope of the volcano 
the character of the vegetation changes considerably, 
and many of the plants common in gardens at Antigua 
are not grown here because of the cold. Among the 
plants which are conspicuous by their absence are the 
banana, the orange (and other citrus fruits), and the 
tender ornamental plants, such as the royal palm. In 
their stead, the gardens of the Indians at Santa Maria 
are filled with peach trees, chayote vines, granadilla 
vines (Passiflora ligularis) , and vegetables such as peas . 
The hardy Abyssinian banana is a common ornamental 
plant. Among the plants of the lower elevations which 
persist are the cherimoya, the avocado, and the ma- 
tasano (Casimiora) , though I only saw one tree of the 
latter. Grevillea robmta is one of the commonest orna- 
mental trees. It can thus be seen that the vegetation 
is not at all tropical in character, and it must get 
quite cold in winter. The Commandant assures me that 
it goes below freezing, but figures are lacking. This 
avocado has been obtained In the hope that it may 
prove hardier than those from lower elevations, and 
thus of value farther north in Florida than the ma- 
jority of varieties can be grown. In California it 
may succeed in regions which area trifle too cold for 
the average Guatemalan variety. It should at least 
be given a test with this in view. The fruit is not 
yet fully grown, so it cannot be fully described. The 
tree is about 25 feet high, and is carrying a fair 
crop of fruit. It has good large wood and seems to 
be a stronger grower than some I have seen. The fruits 
are almost round, tending toward broadly obovoid, and 
obscurely ribbed. The surface Is very light green, 
almost glossy, with numerous large yellowish dots. 
The skin is slightly over one-sixteenth inch thick, 
and the seed is very small in comparison with the size 
of the fruit. It looks like a good avocado. The season 
of ripening could not be ascertained, but probably is 
not earlier than April." 43487. "Prom the garden of 
an Indian, near the center of the village, to the west 
of the church. This village is situated on the road 
between Guatemala City and Antigua, at an elevation 
of 6850 feet, (according to my barometer.) The prin- 
cipal fruit trees in the garden of the Indians are 
peaches, cherimoyas, avocados, quinces, manzanlllas 
(hawthorns) , and pomegranates. There are are no bananas 
here, and I only saw two or three orange trees. The 
tropical fruits do not succeed at this elevation. The 
variety like 43486 has been selected because of its 
