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Range improvement programs are changing adaptable California brush-lands into grasslands and thereby increasing feed supplies for livestock, improving watersheds, and reducing the hazard of wildfires.

Stock seed of a new watermelon variety, Klondike RS-57, was released to commercial seed producers in the fall of 1957. Commercial quantities are now available to growers.

During a period of abnormally high temperatures in 1954, severe leaf burning occurred in hillside plantings of walnuts in Lake County. Browning and drying of irregular areas in the walnut leaflets were followed by progressive dropping of entire leaflets, starting with the basal pair. The leaf analyses suggested phosphorus deficiency.

Stand density or stocking during early stages of stand development has an important effect on quality and value of the timber because it influences size and distribution of knots. Openly stocked stands tend to develop large, persistent limbs which remain in the logs as knots. Large and numerous knots result in downgrading of logs, thereby lowering their value.

The various deciduous fruit industries in California are attempting to improve quality, flavor, and appearance of their products to attract more consumer dollars to their commodities.

Zinc deficiency has been common in citrus and other tree fruits in California for many years. More recently, it has been observed in annual field and vegetable crops. A study was set up to delineate the extent of zinc deficiency in California, and to develop means of predicting where it might occur.

An apple orchard in the Booneville area of Mendocino County was shown, by leaf analyses, to be low in phosphorus and potassium. Test plots were established in the orchard in 1952, and fertilized with nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. In 1956 potassium sulfate alone was applied. The amounts of phosphorus and potassium were greater than ordinarily used by growers.

Table grapes are subject to two important types of deterioration after harvest—desiccation and decay. Desiccation is aggravated by high temperatures, low humidities and air movement. It affects the stems before the berries, causing them to turn brown and become brittle. Subsequent breakage of these dry stems during handling results in the market loss called shatter. This can be largely prevented by prompt and thorough pre-cooling of the fruit after harvest followed by storage at 31°F to 32°F with a relative humidity of about 90%. Loss can be further reduced by careful handling of the fruit from the time it is harvested until it is sold at retail. If desiccation is severe the berries look dull and lifeless and become soft in texture, serious detrimental aspects of quality.