The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-04-10
New Variety of Alligator Pears

thdt JiIIo dtOCduO Is IUltilU Ill dl
localities from here to Brazil anC
Peru, but it is at home in Contra
America, where it grows at higf
altitude, and is consequently a
dapted to a cold climate, and vii
grow in climate that is too colo
for an orange. The fact that il
grows at different elevations in
Guatemala, affords an adaptable
ty to various climates, and in
sures it against more degrees o1
frost than other varieties. The
Guatemalan has grown in Flori.
da for several years and there are
trees in California that have been
there for 30 years.
The speaker said that he con-
siders the future bright in this
country for the Guatemalan var
iety, and that the best growers on
the East Coast think that the Qua
temalan variety will supplant the
Trapp and other varieties over
there. His advice is to plant a
large number and try them out.
| In regard to returns from these
groves, Mr.. Popenoe knew of one
which had yielded $4,000.
Mr.. Popenoe has visited the
grove of Harry P. johnson at Bo-
keelia, where there are. from 80 to
40 varieties of the Guatemalan,
and some of the trees two years
old. The former thinks this the
proper way to test out the avoca-
do, and stated that johnson s
grove looks to be one of the best
in the whole state.
The Guatemalan is rank feed
er, and needs more feed and water
than many other plants, and more
than the Trapp, which is a weak
feeder. The natural soil in which
this variety grows in Central A
merica is heavy clay loan, or a
volcanic loam, which is almost
cinders, and the tree lives on or
ganic matter. The matter of fer
tilizer when grown in other soils
is therefore a matter to be con-
sidered, and Mr.. Popenoe stated
that he had tried, or seen tried, a
good many, and had arrived at
the conclusion that it is best to
avoid nitrates in all forms, and to
use organic ammonia 1t is also
necessary to use fertilizers more
than in the case Of the mango and
the orange. In this connection,
Harry johnson stated that he
killed 80 out of 140 trees by using
of soda.
Mr.. Popenoe stated that the av-
ocado does not go down very far,
and all agreed that the roots of
the tree must be kept above the
water table or planted in soil
sufficiently thick to be above wa
ter.
AS Guatemala has a rainfall of
l4O inches annually, which is well |
distributed throughout the year, it !
is evident that the tree requires
plenty of moisture, and should
have a deep, moist soil, though as
stated not with the tap roots
standing in water.
In regard to size and type, Mr..
Popcnoe said that Seeding trees
grow as high as 70 feet, with go
feet spread. Ordinarily they are
lbout as feet high, some spread
ng, and some slender and erect.
The budded trees grow about 30
'eet high on good soil, with a
pread of 20 to 80 feet. The seed
ings produce on an average 500 ,
ruits of good size, of not less than
-2-pound each. The value of the
rop varies with the season, as
Turing November it is usually
worth about $3.50 per crate, and
n January $500.
Mr. Popenoe says that most of j
he trees come into bearing too
oon, and there is danger of over {
caring in young trees, rather |
han under production, and the t
oung fruits have to be taken off t
efore they ripen. In packing it t