600 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



In this connection, an investigation of the causes of decay in 

 oranges and lemons in transit from California to Eastern markets 

 is now under way. The losses from this cause are said to have 

 aggregated not less than half a million dollars a year for several 

 years and to seriously menace the future of the industry. As the 

 result of S3'stematic observation of the practice of growers and 

 packers in the handling of oranges it was discovered early in 1905 

 that about one-fifth of the orange crop is made susceptible to decay 

 by improper handling before the fruit is packed. These injuries 

 are caused by the puncture of the skin with clippers used in cutting 

 the oranges from the trees, by punctures from stems left too long, 

 by finger nail cuts in handling and by other mechanical injuries in 

 the handling of the fruit in orchards and packing houses. Experi- 

 ments having demonstrated that from 10 to 50 per cent, of these 

 injured fruits are likely to decay if favorable conditions of heat 

 and humidity develop, growers were notified of the danger, and as 

 the industry is quite thoroughly organized the information was 

 immediately put into practice, with the result that one of the lead- 

 ing growers and shippers of southern California estimated in the 

 spring of 1905 that the Department investigations in that section 

 had saved the industry at least $200,000 on the last crop. Ex- 

 tensive tests in precooling oranges, but in stationery storage 

 houses and in cars on track by blowing cold air through them after 

 they are filled with fruit until the temperature of their contents is 

 reduced to a satisfactory point, have demonstrated that with 

 oranges, as with peaches, quick cooling is an important factor in 

 checking the ripening processes and in preventing the development 

 of rots. 



VITICULTURAL INVESTIGATIONS. 



Under this head a comprehensive study of the relative adapta- 

 bility of phylloxera resistant stocks to soils is being made in 

 California, where nearly, if not quite $100,000,000 is invested in 

 the viticultural industry. Other allied questions are also under 

 stud} 7 there in nine co-operative experimental vineyards located in 

 representative viticultural sections of that state. During the past 

 year a special study of the rotundifolia or Scuppemong type of 

 grapes in the South Atlantic and Gulf states has been begun. It 

 is believed that this native species is capable of quick development 

 into an important cultivated type and that its varieties will be found 

 well adapted to the climate and soil conditions of the South Atlantic 

 and Gulf states where other cultivated grapes are grown with 

 much difficulty and at considerable risk of loss by the grower. 



FRUIT DISTRICT INVESTIGATIONS. 



Under this head a careful field study of the adaptability of va- 

 rieties of orchard fruits to particular soils, elevations, slopes, etc., 

 is being made with a view to determining through actual observa 

 tion as well as through the recorded experience of fruit growers 

 the exact conditions under which varieties reach their highest per- 

 fection and meet the most evident needs of our markets. This work 

 has thus far been mainly limited to the Allegheny mountain region, 

 from Pennsylvania southward, and the Ozark region of Missouri 

 and Arkansas. In connection with it, exact data on the blossoming 



