HORTICULTURE 



F. 1. Cridkr. a. F. Kinxisox. D. W. Alhi-rt 



Tliis report covers a short but very active pcricxl in the work 

 of the Department of Horticulture. While no final conclusions 

 have been reached regarding- the main projects under way, some 

 very interesting and valuable data have been obtained and good 

 progress made in the various lines of investigation. The work of 

 the department has been strengthened through the appointment of 

 D. W. Albert as Assistant Horticulturist. 



CITRUS I X VHSTi v^ATlON S 



During the past winter and sirring, preparations were made for 

 establishing an experimental citrus planting on the Yuma Mesa. 

 This made necessary the installation of an individual pumpin.^- 

 plant designed to lift water from the east main canal in the Yuma 

 Valley and deliver through a pipe line on the Mesa, 85 feet eleva- 

 tion. An Allis-Chalmers direct-connected pumping unit, consist- 

 ing of a 5-inch Type S, double suction pump and a 40-horsepower. 

 440 volt, 3-phase, 60-cycle, 6-pole motor, was installed; als(^ a red- 

 wood pipe line 10 inches in diameter and 1050 feet long with an 

 extension cement line 14 inches in diameter and 680 feet in length, 

 which was sufficient to deliver water to the northeast corner of the 

 160-acre experimental tract. From this point the water is carried 

 one-half mile through an open ditch to the citrus planting. 



Other preparatory work consisted of the digging of a service 

 well (fitted with a 6-inch casing and a Myers No. 95>^ pump;, 

 building a corral, securing a team and other necessary equipment 

 for orchard work. 



Water was turned on the orchard land on Ma}' 27, and on 

 June 2 the first planting of citrus was made. Five acres of Marsh 

 Seedless grapefruit were planted, the trees being set 23 x 23 feet 

 apart. One-year-old, bud-selected trees were used and the work 

 of setting very carefully done. Shallow basins were left around 

 the trees and water turned into them immediately after planting. 

 To prevent evaporation and sunburn, paper collars were placed 

 around the bodies of the trees, and the tops whitewashed. 



Cooperative experiments with citrus growers to determine thi 

 effect of difi'erent cover-crops on the growth and production of 

 citrus trees point favorably to vetch as a winter crop and cow- 



