THfi MONTIJLY BUliLETIN. 213 



localities conipai-al)le U) the climate of Florida and also to that of 

 northern ]\Iaine, and it is a well known fact that seed potatoes from 

 Florida differ in value from seed potatoas grown in northern IMaine. 

 This is evidenced from tlie fact that seed stock from nortliern Maine 

 is shipped to points throughout the Atlantic seaboard and even into 

 Texas. Potatoes normally thrive best in cool, short season, temperate 

 climates ; and seed stocks taken from such localities will grow faster 

 and produce earlier crops than seed grown in localities where the 

 climate is warmer. Therefore, where earliness is a factor in securing 

 better prices for the crop, as is usually the case in early potato-growing 

 sections, it is advisable to use for part of the crop seed which has been 

 grown far north or at a high altitude. It is a common belief that 

 potatoes will "run out" when planted year after year in the same 

 locality. This is doubtless true where no attempt is made at selection 

 of the best hills, and is especially true in warm localities where it is 

 difficult to carry potatoes over from one year to the next. Potatoes will 

 retain their vigor for a greater number of years in a cold, rigorous 

 climate than in a mild or warm climate. 



Seed potatoes also require quite a long period of rest or dormancy 

 after being harvested before they will naturally germinate and produce 

 a new crop. It is because of this fact that growers who desire to pro- 

 duce two crops in a single year often have difficulty in securing a 

 stand by planting early-crop seed for a fall crop. Not only does a con- 

 siderable portion of the seed fail to germinate, but the yield from the 

 plants which do grow is usually considerably smaller than where the 

 seed has had an opportunity to "rest" for several months. 



People who use certified seed potatoes must, therefore, understand 

 their local conditions and secure such seed as will meet the require- 

 ments of their own peculiar circumstances to best advantage. It miLst 

 not be taken for granted that, because seed potatoes are "certified," 

 no further thought need be taken to secure such stocks as will meet the 

 particular needs of a particular locality. 



THE CAUSES OF UNNECESSARY DECAY IN LEMONS,* 



By R. L. WiLLiTS of Corona, California. 



The work wherein the causes of unnecessary decay in the lemon may 

 occur can be divided into three heads : the growing, picking and packing. 

 No one can hope to establish a reputation in the markets of this 

 country for firm, good-keeping lemons if there be lack of care in any of 

 the three branches of this work. It has been fully demonstrated to the 

 satisfaction of the shippers of the packs that bring full prices that the 

 trade is willing to pay a good price for careful, intelligent and con- 

 sistent work, and it has also been demonstrated to the dissatisfaction 

 perhaps of the careless ones that poor work will be discounted, so that 

 it is more expensive in the end than good, careful work. 



When all the operations employed in the growing, picking and pack- 

 ing of lemons are organized, and checking methods put into practice so 

 .that the responsibility for every part of the work is definitely fixed, the 



*Address before State Fruit Growers' Convention, San Bernardino, California, 

 February, 1916. 



3— 23t)u0 



