All Issues

Processors of certain fruits and vegetables can steam scald, crush, preheat the crushed fruit, extract the juice, and flash pasteurize after screening in one operation by the use of a modified Henze cooker.

The size of oranges is influenced by the nature of the rootstocks on which the trees are budded.

Spraying trials have been conducted in southern California over a period of three years concerning control of the grape bud mite, a physiological strain of the grape erineum mite–Eriophyes vitis– (Pgst.). During this period approximately 55 acres of plots have failed to provide information concerning the prevention by spraying of the injury caused by this mite. This is because of the erratic nature of the appearance of bud mite symptoms.

Growth rate and chemical composition studies of summer squash should help growers to determine the frequency of harvest, and nutritionists to learn more about the relationship of maturity to quality and food value.

A drop in annual production from between 40,000 and 50,000 100-pound bags of broad–fava–beans in San Mateo County before 1920 to a total of 847 100-pound bags in 1949 was caused by the spread of the broad bean weevil, Bruchus rufimanus Boh. through the central coast area from San Francisco Bay south to San Luis Obispo.

More than 2,900 accessions of forage plants–including grasses, legumes, and forbs–have been tested at Davis and at Berkeley in a long-term research program. In 1950, 90 species and varieties were planted which have never before been tried in California. These included 40 strains of subterranean clover.

Greenhouse and field tests carried on for four years have shown that the Loganberry is not affected by Verticillium wilt, the most serious disease of the Boysen and Young varieties. The Logan therefore can be grown on land cropped previously to tomatoes, potatoes or other susceptible crops without danger of wilt losses, and can even be intercropped the first year with tomatoes. The Loganberry is also immune to powdery mildew, a serious disease of the Boysen and Young varieties in the coastal berry growing districts of California.