18 IMPROVEMENT OF CITEUS FRUITS THROUGH BUD SELECTION. 



in the established groves there is a great lack of uniformity in fruit 

 production. For instance, in the case of one orange grove the best 

 tree produced 432 pounds of fruit, while the average of the grove was 

 about 175 pounds. Similar proportions were observed in all other 

 groves studied. The differences in the } ield of the best and avei-age 

 pomelo trees were even greater than in the case of the orange trees. 

 Conservative growers have frequently estimated that uniform trees 

 like the best ones in their groves would more than double their crops. 

 The yield test for individual trees, like the Babcock test for dairy cat- 

 tle, should discover the " boarders," or worthless trees, that cost just as 

 much to maintain as the productive, profitable ones. There is a cer- 

 tain delinite investment in every tree in the grove which can easily be 

 figured out by the grower, and the loss or profit of the trees can be 

 determined by means of the yield test and the selling price of the 

 fruit. Such information must be of intense interest to every fruit 

 grower and can be secured at little expense of time or money. 



THE VALUE OF RELIABLE SELECT TREES. 



To every prospective planter of citrus trees the reliability and char- 

 acter of trees planted are of paramount importance. The expense for 

 buds is a comparatively small item in the planting of a grove, not in 

 any sense commensurate with their im^wrtance to the planter. It is 

 probable that the additional expense necessary for the production 

 of selected stock will be gladly borne by the planter provided he is 

 assured of its improved value. Performance records from trees 

 which are extra heavily fertilized or favored in any way might prove 

 misleading. Therefore it will be necessary to avoid the error of 

 depending on records that have been secured under unfair conditions. 

 Too much emphasis can not be laid on this point, as dishonest and 

 unscrupulous nurserymen might mislead purchasers of their stock in 

 order to reap a temporary, dishonest reward. The reputation of tlie 

 grower of select buds of trees must be taken into account as well as 

 the performance records of his breeding stock. 



SUMMARY. 



The object of these investigations is the demonstration of methods 

 for the elimination of unprotitable trees in citrus grOves and the pro- 

 duction of reliable select citrus trees for new plantings. 



These investigations, begun in April, 1909, are being carried on with 

 Washington Navel oranges and Marsh pomelos near Kiverside, Cal. 

 If desirable, this work will be extended to other sections of the citrus 

 belt and to deciduous and other fruits as soon as men are provided to 

 conduct the work. 



[Cir. 77.] 



