Notes made at the time of collection (1917):
    From Guatemala. Collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe. Agricultural Explorer for this Department. Received November 17, 1917.

    This is a variety noteworthy for earliness, and it has been included in the set primarily for this characteristic. It is, however, of very good quality and has no visible defects except a slightly undesirable shape. Judging by its behavior in Guatemala, it should be the earliest variety in the collection, but it is not safe to depend upon it retaining its characteristic in the United States, since slight local variations in soil or climate sometimes affect the period of ripening very noticeably, and its earliness in Guatemala may not be altogether an inherent characteristic.

    "The parent tree is growing in the property of Eulogio Duarte, near Amatitlan. The location is known as 'Los Rastrojos', and it is about two miles from the plaza of Amatitlan, on the road which leads past the cemetery toward the hills. The altitude is approximately 4200 feet. The tree is about 40 feet high, spreading but of good compact growth, the crown fairly dense. The trunk is about 20 inches thick at the base, and branches 10 feet from the ground. According to the owner, the tree is six years old, but judging from its size it cannot be less than 20. It seems to vigorous and in good health. The budwood which it yields is fairly satisfactory, the growths being well formed though not very stout, while the eyes are vigorous and do not drop quickly.

    "This is rather a warm region, hence there is nothing to indicate that the variety will be unusually hardy.

    "The crop harvested in the fall of 1917 was a good one. According to the owner, it was 600 fruits, but judging from its appearance while still on the tree it must have been considerably more than that. The bearing habits of the tree were only under observation for one season, but they give promise of being very satisfactory. The flowering season is in November and December, and the fruit ripens from the following August to November. It is fully ripe and in perfect condition for picking by the middle of October, whereas the average variety of the same region is not mature until January at the earliest.

    "In two characteristics this variety does not seem to agree with the Guatemalan race. It has a very thin skin and the seed coats do not adhere closely to the cotyledons. A few other varieties showing these same characteristics were seen in the same locality, and it is possible that they may not be true Guatemalan avocados, though in most respects they seem to belong to this race.

    "In form the fruit is long and slender, sometimes slightly curved, and sometimes becoming pyriform. It is medium sized, weight about 12 ounces. The surface is smooth and deep green in color. The skin is thin and surrounds deep-yellow flesh of good quality, without fiber or discoloration. The seed is medium sized, and while it never rattles in its cavity, it does not fit as snugly as in nearly all other Guatemalan varieties.

Variety:
    "Form elongated to slender pyriform, sometimes curved; size medium, weight 12 ounces, length 5-1/2 to 6-1/2 inches, greatest breadth 2-1/4 to 3 inches; base narrow, rounded, the short, stout stem (2 to 3 inches long) inserted obliquely; apex rounded to broadly pointed, the stigmatic point slightly depressed; surface quite smooth, uniformly bright green in color with very numerous, minute, yellowish dots; skin very thin for this race, less than 1/16 inch, but firm and tough; flesh rich yellow near the seed cavity, changing to light green near the skin, firm, of fine texture, free from fiber and of very rich, nutty flavor; quality very good; seed medium sized, weighing about 1-1/2 ounces, conical to slender conical in form, the cotyledons smooth but the seed coats not adhering to them very closely."

Notes made at the garden:
    Budded 11/14/23. Gottfried stock.
Source: Amatitlan, Guatemala, Winson Popenoe November 17, 1917, Budwood.
Fruit yield poor, size very good, matures November and December in Miami.