Calag Archive

A poorly drained Coachella Valley vineyard that suffered the loss of half its vines from salt damage has been reclaimed in six years by re-levelling the ground, changing the irrigation practices, and switching from the use of the highly saline Colorado River water to the use of a high-quality well water.

Studies reported in the accompanying article of possible causes of poor drainage (despite tile line installations), have also shown that great care must be taken in the construction and location of observation wells used to measure the water table. Open auger holes may be useful to the farmer in determining the water table at one specific time, but are not satisfactory for repeated measurements, especially in unstable soil. Perforated and wrapped plastic wells are desirable for this purpose. For determining the causes of drain failure, however, a wrapped piezometer is recommended because pressures must be determined at specific points. This article discusses the proper construction and placement of observation wells.

Planting resistant varieties appears to be today's only solution to the closely related Imperial Valley lettuce problems of (I) internal rib necrosis (see photo) which develops in the field during maturity, and (2) rusty rib (see cover) which develops after harvest during cold storage. The popular variety Climax is highly susceptible to both.

GOOD TO CHOICE HEIFERS are discounted from one to three dollars per hundredweight on most U. S. markets. This is true for live weight as well as for wholesale carcasses. On the other hand, Good to Choice ewe lambs and gilts bring the same price as wether lambs and fat barrows of equal grade, for both live animals and for carcasses.

INJURY TO GRAPES by Los Angeles type (photochemical) smog was recognized as early as 1957. The component of this mixture which causes the most damage is ozone. A “stipple” condition of leaves characterized by small brown areas of dead cells develops where smog is heavy, usually in May or early June. As the season progresses these leaves turn bronze and drop. Some conifers develop a yellow mottle on the needles which progresses, with continued exposure to ozone, to severe chlorosis and defoliation. Citrus may develop irregular-shaped brown to black spots on the upper leaf suface.

Population pressures, plus the increased awareness of the need for environmental improvement, are limiting the use of burning as a method for disposing of all agricultural wastes, and rice straw is no exception. Producers are actively seeking alternate methods for disposal, or use, of the four tons of straw produced per acre on an average rice field in California. The summary reported here is from a detailed study of literature on the utilization of rice straw by livestock (available from local Farm Advisors as Agricultural Extension Service Publication MA—1). Further studies are in progress.

STREPTOMYCIN was registered for use in controlling fireblight of pome fruit on the West Coast prior to 1968, however, application was restricted to no later than 90 days before harvest; and cancellation of this use had been under consideration because of insufficient residue data.