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AVOCADO FACTS AND FANCIES.
By Ralph D. Cornell,
The avocado, incorrectly called alligator pear, has suffered from much exaggeration and misrepresentation, as do many new industries in their infant stages. A few exceptional cases and seeing clearly a fair test of what the tree will do on a commercial scale, without taking into account that the fruit is now rare and commands a price far beyond that which will be established when it grows commercially, and not considering the fact that the bud wood which now commands a high price will soon be worthless because of its great demand, and since buds are of no value to the orchardist, new, although the buds from the first Washington variety commanded a high price, so will be the case here.
The land dealer who thinks to attract buyers to his land by stating that there are avocados there grown, expropria its virtues. One advertisement reads: "Imagine 50 trees of the Blackman variety yielding an income of $1,000 each per year, planted on citrus land." This same tree has cited as a typical example by some who have had young groves, is not typical. There is decent in the statement, but perhaps not perhaps in actual statement of facts. In the first place, this tree is one of a group of 20 plantings, all planted at the same time, and the only one that has borne profitably or is being quoted. The proportion of the receipts from this tree have been from bud wood, and probably the receipts from this or any other tree approaches in any way the magnitude that has resulted in this first year of fruiting. Again, the price brought $5.00 a dozen, which is more than could be expected from avocado fruits sold on the basis on a commercial basis. The writer knows of individual instances where people are selling their seedling trees with the expectation of realizing an annual total income per tree, as stated above. The truth is, such advertising is false, and more harmful to the industry and to the firms so advertising, can possibly be offset by the immediate profits.
Another fact that is harmful to the industry at large is the promiscuous selling of seedling trees or those budded to inferior varieties, without being careful to see that the tree is a good seedling tree, very apt to fruit poorly, if not at all, and that the mere fact that it is budded does not insure it being a first-class fruit tree. The budded tree comes true to the parent tree from which the bud was taken, and reproduces the characteristics of the parent tree bore small, inferior fruits, so will the young tree. While some of these may be sold at a good price, the injury to future crops and to the confidence of the public is too great to warrant this present gain.
Now let it be known that despite all exaggeration and misrepresentation, the avocado is a splendid fruit and a standpoinf upon which both the grower and the consumer can stand sufficiently firm upon his own feet. Trees have been growing in California for over 30 years, and there are now about 100 fruiting trees in the state. Locally grown fruits have been sold for a number of years, but it is only in the last five years that any attention has been paid to the commercial possibilities of this fruit. One hundred have already been planted to young stock, and efforts have been made to obtain trees for planting for the spring planting. Acreage has either been planted or is contemplated at Vero, Palmetto, Fort Pierce, Sierra Madre and Glendora, and other places.
The avocado will grow anywhere the orange will.
During one very recent cold spell in which much citrus stock was damaged, the avocado has suffered less than citrus trees in the same vicinity, and has shown greater vigor in many cases. Up to the age of three years, the avocado tree will stand less cold than an ordinary citrus tree of equal age, due to the uncommonly rich and luxuriant growth that is made; but after the tree has reached sufficient maturity to form fruit, it will withstand any ordinary California winter, and more cold than an orange.
Another advantage in favor of the avocado is that winter ripening fruits are unfriuged by freezing. The orange is accustomed to kill the foliage and drop the fruit, if it is practically matured, the freezing will injure its qualities for table use. The superabundance of vegetative oil in ripened fruits, undoubtedly is a large factor in determining this condition. If Mr. Beach had raised winter ripening avocados instead of oranges, he might have marketed his crop after the severe freeze, and thus avoided the losses that has befallen so many in this establishment.
At present, there are probably not more than seven or eight recognized commercial varieties that can be obtained in sufficient quantities to warrant their consideration. These are Taffy Dickey, Meserrie, Dickenson, Lyon Harrison, and others listed approximately as to their individual merits. Aside from these, at least three varieties have been introduced into the state, but are not to be had in sufficient quantities to place them on a commercial basis. The demand for budded varieties exceeds the supply and the near future will show a much more rapid development of the industry than has been seen in its remarkable growth of the past three years.
The productivity of an orchard, a good, thrifty tree when budded, should produce annually about 50 pounds, of which the grower could conservatively expect to sell ten cents each. With 50 trees planted to an acre, this would afford a gross income of $3500 per acre annually, instead of $3500 per tree ($175,000 per acre, per year) as is being stated by some. There is every reason that the avocado will ever be more profitable than the orange, since its fruits retain their flavor longer, according to government reports, and are of decided food value in addition to their superior delicacy; and since the
THE AVOCADO CROP.
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 avocados than any other year in the history 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 75 cents each, and the demand increasing each year, there can be no question as to the future of this profitable and luscious fruit.
W. E. March, of this city, as has been noted in the columns of THE HOMESEEKER, received net returns of $2700 per crate; and others who are fortunate enough to have the choice budded varieties, received equally as good prices.
The ordinary avocado seedling found a ready market, ranging from 15 cents to $1.50 per dozen. Even at these prices there is no fruit grown that brings as much money to the acre, as the trees, which have a half chance for life, are liberal bearers.
There has been and is an increasing demand for the known or budded varieties, and the seedling fruit has been carefully inspected by propagators, the best selected and budded, grafted or inarched, and a few energetic planters now have trees in bearing.
George B. Cellou, of Miami, 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 Miami, has been considered one of the finest varieties, and has been budded extensively. The fruit is large and is known as medium early. The Trapp, another variety, was originated at Coconut Grove. This is a late fruit of a smaller variety, but on account of its lateness it is 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.
The shape 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 a greenish hue, with stripes of red, varying from dark to the deepest and most beautiful shades. It is what would be termed a medium late fruit. The pulp is soft and melting, being of the consistency of a rich full-cream cheese, and in color is a 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 twenty experts, who claimed it to be the best avocado they ever tasted, named it after the originator.
The tree did not hold a heavy crop of fruit this season—having perhaps two dozen. These have been distributed among those who have made a study of the avocado, and the universal opinion of all has been "that it is the best yet."
We gave one fruit to Mr. and Mrs. W. E. March, who are interested in growing avocados (in fact, Mr. March was the first to put out large numbers of the budded varieties), requesting them to test and give us their opinion as to the quality of the fruit. In return we received the following letters from Mr. and Mrs. March:
E. V. Blackman, Miami, Fla.
Dear Ms. BLACKMAN—I am very much indebted to you for the important specimen of the Blackman avocado.
I have never sampled an avocado that was its superior in thickness of meat and delicate nutty flavor.
Mrs. March's letter reads as follows:
GREEN TREE Inn, Miami, October 31, 1907.
E. V. Blackman, Miami, Fla.
My Dear Ms. BLACKMAN—We have just eaten the beautiful, large Blackman avocado you so kindly sent us.
It was perfectly delicious; I think in flavor and quality the finest of any I ever tasted, and wish we might have them to serve our winter guests, as they certainly would please the most fastidious.
Yours very truly, MINNIE E. MARCH.
There have been several other seedlings discovered which will make a most valuable acquisition to the avocado products of this southern country. The avocado is the coming fruit of this section, and will prove for more profitable than oranges, grapefruit or other citrus fruits.
THE AVOCADO CROP.
On the whole the avocado-crop is a good one and prices for good specimens of seedling fruit are bringing the growers good prices. A few budded avocados have been brought in, but they were not mature, yet they sold at $35 each. Good specimens of the seedlings are sold readily at $1.20 per dozen. When the Pollock, Trapp and other budded varieties are matured, they will bring from $4.00 to $6.00 per dozen.
A CHOICE NEW MANGO.
The friends of John B. Beach were again called together at his house Monday to sample another choice variety of mango. This time it was a Fernandez grown by Mr. Beach. This fruit while not large in size is one of the choice of the mango family. It weighs about average, four ounces and has a beautiful purple bloom like a concord grape. This bloom also covers the extremities of the branches, making the tree very handsome. The fruit has scarcely any fiber at all, the seed is small and flat, the flesh of a firmness similar to the Mulgoba. In flavor the Fernandez is delicious, and reminds one of the non-acid variety of the Williams' Favorite apple grown in the North. Mr. Beach is accumulating a large variety of mangoes and is doing splendid work in the development of the popularity of this magnificent fruit—Tropic Sun, W. P. B.
