590 Thirty-second Annual Report 



large suckers are used. It is too early for the test to show 

 definite results, but the offshoots making the best growth thus 

 far are from the stronger type of parent trees. 



Further work in propagating offshoots has consisted of 

 making four series of plantings, using clean sand as a rooting 

 medium, as follows : 



(a) Planted in 12-inch earthen pots in the greenhouse; 



(b) Planted in 12-inch earthen pots in the open ground; 



(c) Planted directly to the greenhouse bench; 



(d) Planted directly in the open ground. 



The range of temperature to which the offshoots in the 

 greenhouse are exposed varies from 60 degrees F. at night to 

 120 degrees F. during the hottest portion of the day. At the 

 present time eight weeks from planting, a nunibei of the suck- 

 ers show evidence of rooting. 



In connection with this phase of the date project, nine large 

 bearing palms of the Deglet Noor variety (weighing from 1500 

 to 3700 pounds) were transplanted to the Yuma Mesa, having 

 been transported a distance of nine miles from the date (Tchard 

 in the Valley. 



THE OLIVE 



Sterility studies have been conducted with the olive during 

 the past two years, seventeen varieties being available for the 

 test. The results obtained for the two seasons are somewhat 

 at variance, in that some varieties that indicated self-sterility 

 last spring showed an opposite tendency this year. The tests 

 will be continued for further confirmation of results. 



During the blossoming period an attempt was made to de- 

 termine the effect of irrigation upon fruit setting, the work 

 being done at the Yuma Station. The data obtained indicate 

 that a less amount of fruit set on the trees that were watered 

 while in blossom than on those allowed to stand without irriga- 

 tion, but the results are not considered conclusive. 



In tests to determine the effect of pruning upon the growth 

 of trees and the yield of fruit, a difference ii) fruit setting has 

 been observed in the case of five-year-old trees. Trees that 

 were pruned according to the "long" method have set a con* 

 siderably larger amount of fruit than those handled by the 

 "short" method; whereas unpruned trees of this age have a 

 still larger crop. 



