1557 
in regions between 4,000 and 7,000 feet in elevation. 
The city of Guatemala, the largest market in the country, 
draws its main supply from the village of Santa Maria 
de Jesus,: which lies at an elevation of approximately 
6,700 feet on, the slopes of the Volcan de Agua, near 
Antigua. The fruit is common in the markets of towns 
upon the coast as well as in those of the highlands, 
but. production seems to be much greater In the latter 
region. While it is evident that the plant is fairly 
adaptable in its climatic requirements, it appears at 
the same time that best results are obtained in a some- 
what cool atmosphere. 
"Taking, for example, Santa Maria de Jesus as 
representative of the zone in which the chayote flour- 
ishes most luxuriantly, we may observe that the soil 
is a loose volcanic loam; that the annual rainfall is 
between 25 and 40 inches (though this is not signifi- 
cant, since the vines are irrigated artificially), and 
that the temperatures are never high (rarely exceeding 
80° F. and not often falling to the freezing point ). 
Judging, from the character of the vegetation In Santa 
Maria, it-is permissible to assume that minimum tempera- 
•tures of 28° to 30° F. may sometimes be experienced. 
"Amatitlan, another region in which chayotes are 
successfully grown, has a much warmer climate than 
Santa, Maria, with minimum temperatures probably never 
below 40° F . , and maxima as high as 90° F. The soil 
of this region is slightly more compact than that of 
Santa Ma,ria, yet of the same volcanic origin. It is a 
loose black loam, of excellent fertility and good me- 
chanical texture. 
"The Coban region, which also produces good cha- 
yotes, is qui &e different in character , the soil being 
"a clay loam, underlaid with clay, and the rainfall be- 
ing much heavier tnan in central and southern Guate- 
mala,- commonly it is about 80 inches, distributed 
throughout ten months of the year while in central 
Guatemala there is a dry season of at least six months' 
duration. 
"Judging from the behavior of the chayote in Guate- 
mala, one is perhaps justified in asserting that a 
relatively cool climate (by tropical standards) suits it 
best, and that it requires an abundance of water, for 
in regions such as Santa Maria, where rainfall is insuf- 
ficient, the plants are irrigated sometimes as frequent- 
ly as once a day. 
