Calag Archive

Forage production on improved dry-land pastures fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus was increased tenfold over untreated pasture during the mid-winter period of feed shortage, in a recent study with sheep at the Hopland Field Station.

By mid-May 1955 the populations of the yellow clover aphid—Therioaphis trifolii (Monell)—in alfalfa fields in the desert areas of California had dropped off to such an extent that many fields did not require treatment.

Field observations on the yellow clover aphid were made in southern California during the past year to determine the status of the predators that attack the aphid and the presence or absence of internal parasites. No internal parasites were found.

Under conditions of high populations, the yellow clover aphid—easy to kill by insecticide applications—is difficult to control because of rapid reinfestation.

The Principles of genetics—basic to scientific plant breeding—are to be applied in a project in the Imperial Valley to develop a strain of alfalfa resitant to the yellow clover aphid and adapted to the growing conditions in the desert areas of the southwest.

Harvesting 400,000 tons of California's fresh prunes—to make about 160,000 tons of dried prunes—requires an estimated total of 195,000 man-weeks of labor. Peak labor requirement in early September is over 30,000 seasonal workers in addition to family and regular labor.

An ordinary grain combine—when equipped with either a rasp-bar or angle-bar cylinder—is suited for shelling ear corn under California conditions.

Corn picker field tests made in Kern and Los Angeles counties in 1954 show that ground speed and snapping roll adjustment are the most important factors determining picking losses.

Temperature differences may be so great between relatively nearby areas as to cause hybrid corn varieties to perform in widely different ways.