Calag Archive

The investigations reported in the following article are being conducted through the cooperation of the California Institute of Technology, the Beet Sugar Development Foundation and the University of California College of Agriculture.

Two new varieties of table grapes are being propagated for large sized berries and good fruitfulness.

The composition of Washington Navel orange juice is influenced by fertilizers, as shown in field experiments with Navels on sweet orange rootstock. Effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers—as well as manure and winter covercrops—were studied.

The striking effect that rootstock exerts on bitterness in extracted navel orange juice was apparent at the first sampling period in experiments conducted during the 1947-48 and 1948-49 Washington Navel seasons.

The Return-Stack orchard heater is the only bowl-type heater available at the present time which has been proved by field tests to provide reliable operation over long periods of time without cleaning and without objectionable amounts of smoke, even in mass heating.

Wind machines have permanent value to citrus fruit growers because of their low cost operation and freedom from smoke. This is especially true in the colder areas.

Valencia oranges and Marsh grapefruit showed a remarkable recovery from the effects of the freezes of the winter of 1948-49.

Maximum alfalfa seed yields can be obtained when harmful insects are controlled and pollinating insects are abundant.

The melon aphid,Aphis gossypii Glov. was extremely abundant and widespread in California during the 1949 season. In some areas very large and destructive populations were encountered, and large quantities of aphicides were used to combat the pest. The seriousness of the infestation afforded ample opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of several insecticides in controlling the pest on many varieties of melons including cantaloupe, honeydew, Persian, crenshaw, casaba and watermelon.