The Florida agriculturist., 1907-12-25
The Avocado Crop.

fruit and the prospects for the future,
the Homeseeker says:
While the crop Of avOcadOs in the
southern portion of Dade county was
not as large as in previous years the
amount of fruit grown was more than
in years past, owing to the fact that
hundreds OF young trees came into
bearing. The growers have received
more money this year from their avo-
cadoes than any other year in the his
tory of the business.
In several orchards the budded trees
bore good crops Of fruit, and the prices
received for them were phenomenal /
indicating that the avocado is highly
esteemed as a fruit in the Northern
cities.
With the better varieties selling IN
New York at from 50 to IS cents each,
and the demand increasing each year,
there can be no speculation as to the
future of this profitable and luscious
fruit
w. E. Marsh, of this city, as has
been noted in the columns Of The
Homeseeker, received net returns Of
$27.oo per crate; and others, who are
fortunate enough to have the choice
budded varieties, received equally as
good prices.
The ordinary avocado seeding found
ready market, ranging from IS cents
to $I.5O per dozen. Even at these
prices there is no fruit grown that
brings the grower as much money to
the acre, as the trees, when given
half chance for life, are liberal bear
erS.
There has been and is an increasing
demand for the known or budded va
rietles, and the seeding fruit has been
carefully Inspected by prOpagators, the
best selected and budded, grated or
marched, and few energetic planters
now have trees in bearing.
George B. Cellon, of Miami, who has
been greatly interested in growing the
finer strains Of tropical fruits, has
spent lots Of money in procuring the
best, and now has the only purely
tropical nursery in the world. John B.
Beach, Of West Palm Beach, has also
taken a great interest in introducing the
budded varieties Of this fruit
The Pollock, which originated at Mi
ami, has been considered one of the
best strains Of the avocado, and has
been budded extensively. The fruit is
large and is known as medium early.
The Trapp, another variety, was origi-
mated at Cocoanut Grove This is
late fruit Of a smaller variety, but on
account of its lateness it is a most
valuable acquisition.
One of the newest avocados is the
Blackman. The tree which bears the
fruit was grown from Philippian seed
and is very unlike the parent fruit.
. In shape it is slightly oblong; in
size large, with the stone Or kernel
firmly embedded in the pulp. The
color Of fruit on the same tree varies.
Some are dark red, others of green
ish hue, with stripes of red, varying
from dark to the brightest and most
beautiful shades 1t is what would be
termed a medium late fruit. The pulp
is soft and melting, being Of the con-
sistency of a rich full-cream cheese,
and in color is delicate yellow, with
no black or dark lines running through
it.
Last year a sample of this fruit was
sent to the Agricultural Department
and tested by experts, who claimed it
to be the best avocado they ever tast-
ed, and named it after the originator.
The tree did not hold a heavy crop
OF fruit this 'season-having perhaps
two dozen. These have been distribut-