Akizona AcKicri/nR ai. Rxi'Kkimknt Station 441 



last year's report. While no detinite results have been secured, 

 quite a difference in the behavior of summer orchard cover crops 

 was noted on the Yuma Mesa. The lack of a sufficient water sup- 

 ply prevented the planting of large areas, but small plots of cow- 

 peas, garavanza, tepary beans, peanuts, and velvet beans were used. 

 The cowpeas proved far superior, making a larger growth and 

 withstanding drouth to a greater degree than any of the other 

 crops. In the matter of ground-cover during summer the peanuts 

 ranked next to the cowpeas. The velvet beans made very little 

 growth during summer, but grew rapidly in early fall, climbing onto 

 the trees to the extent of precluding their use as an orchard cover 

 crop. A notable feature in connection with the experiment is the 

 fact that the orchard cover crops grew on absolutely virgin soil, 

 the land between the tree rows not having been cultivated or irri- 

 gated previous to the planting of the crops. 



Variety plantings of citrus were made at the Salt River Valley 

 Farm and the Yuma Date Orchard and Horticultural Station during 

 the past spring; also plantings to determine the best methods of 

 pruning the Washington Navel Orange and Marsh Seedless Grape- 

 fruit. 



With the added land and equipment for citrus investigation 

 that is now available it will be possible to broaden the citrus inves- 

 tigational work very materially next year. 



NEW FRUITS 



With a view towards testing the value of fruits other than the 

 standard sorts, a number of the newer kinds that show promise are 

 being tested at the Salt River Valley Farm, the University Farm, 

 and at the Yuma Date Orchard and Horticultural Station. Among 

 these are white sapote, jujube, feijoa, avocado, guava, paw paw, and 

 hovenia dulcis. The sapote, feijoa, and jujube made a most satis- 

 factory growth during the past season, having withstood a winter 

 temperature of twenty degrees at Tucson. The avocado trees were 

 badly acected by the hot, dry weather of summer and another 

 attempt will be made to grow them by supplying temporary shade 

 during the season of severest heat. 



In this connection an introduction garden has been established 

 at the Y^ima Date Orchard and Horticultural Station where new 

 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants from the De- 

 partment of Agriculture and other sources will be tested. 



