140 ANNUAL REPOHTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



mercial orchards, where sprouts from the trifoliate orange root are 

 likely to become infected with canker, which in turn infects the sur- 

 rounding trees. 



In view of the difficulty in determining the canker resistance of 

 citrus hybrids in this country, a testing station has been established 

 in cooperation with the agricultural college of the Philippine 

 Islands at Los Banos, on the island of Luzon. At this station, in a 

 climate somewhat similar to that of Florida and the Gulf coast dur- 

 ing the rainy season, it is possible to determine within a few months 

 the relative canker resistance of any of the hybrids under test. 

 Evidence has already been secured that there is a great variation 

 in the canker resistance of hybrid citrus fruits, and there is every 

 reason to look forward to the successful outcome of the breeding 

 experiments now under way. 



GRAPES. 



Hybridization with other types of grapes, pollen of which was 

 sent to the Muscadine-grape experiment vineyard from the De- 

 partment's experiment vineyards in other parts of the United States, 

 yielded the most successful results so far obtained, and from the seed 

 secured an exceedingly valuable collection of hybrid seedling grapes 

 has been propagated. A collection of the hybrid seedlings propa- 

 gated during the previous year was planted in the experiment vine- 

 yard. From those seedlings in the breeding block of the experiment 

 vineyard which have been developed to the point of bearing fruit, 

 important results from breeding work have been obtained. Among 

 the seedlings coming into fruit during the year there are many of 

 the new hermaphroditic progeny which are self-fertile and of higher 

 quality than the first hermaphrodites produced. The multiplication 

 of this new and most valuable type of grape and its improvement 

 are the most important results from breeding work during the year, 

 A new hermaphrodite seedling of parentage distinct from those 

 previously produced has been secured and is already being used for 

 breeding purposes. 



Until the past season, work with Muscadine grapes has been pri- 

 marily with problems relating to production and breeding. During 

 the past year the investigations previously begim in the utilization of 

 Muscadine grapes, which covered only the making of sirup from 

 the juice, were broadened with a view to working out other prac- 

 ticable methods of utilizing the fruit. These activities have included 

 a study of methods of preparing sirup, grape juice, jelly, canned 

 grapes, spiced grapes, catsup, conserves, preserves, marmalade, jam, 

 and a number of other products. 



The results are important, not only because they have set forth 

 methods of preparing very palatable products but from an economic 

 standpoint their special value rests in the fact that heretofore the 

 different ways of using Muscadine grapes have been very limited ; 

 these results therefore mean a very much broadened scope of iftility 

 for this type of grape. 



BUD SELECTION OF CrPRUS FRUITS. 



The work carried on in California in the improvement of citrus 

 fruits through bud selection has made marked progress during the 



