1917] Fowler-Lipman : Optimum Moisture Conditions for Lemon Trees 31 



Summary 



In attempting to determine the optimum moisture content of a 



rather heavy loam soil for young Lisbon lemon trees grown in cylin- 

 ders, at the Limoneira Ranch, Santa Paula, California, the following 

 information was obtained in the course of the first two years of the 

 experiment : 



1. A moisture percentage of 20 per cent based on the dry weight 

 of the soil has produced the tallest trees. 



2. Trees grown with 16 and 18 per cent of moisture, while not as 

 tall as those grown with 20 per cent of soil moisture, show better color 

 and more vigor. The differences are not very marked, however. 



3. The foregoing facts seem to show that the range of optimum 

 or nearly optimum moisture percentages for the soil and plant in 

 question is a relatively wide one. 



4. Much more visible damage results to the young lemon trees from 

 moisture percentages in excess of the optimum than from those below 

 the optimum. 



5. Every successive increment of moisture beyond the optimum 

 is accompanied by a sharp depression in growth, color, and general 

 vigor of the trees. 



6. Every successive decrement of moisture from the optimum 

 shows only a relatively slight depression in growth. 



7. The theoretical wilting point and the moisture equivalent for 

 the soil studied are in close accord respectively with the actual wilting 

 point as determined in the soil of the orchard and the optimum moist- 

 ure content as determined in the experiment discussed above. 



The authors wish to acknowledge their sincerest sense of obligation 

 to Messrs. C. C. Teague and J. D. Culberson of the Limoneira Com- 

 pany, who have so kindly cooperated with them in the experimenl 

 above described and who have at all times been willing to place a1 

 their disposal all possible facilities for the prosecution of the work. 



