250 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



" Frencn Breakfast proved inferior to Cardinal Globe as a forcing variety. 



''Planting seed selected l>y sifting out the small seeds (nearly one-third of the 

 whole) made no perceptive difference in either quality or quantity of the crop. 



'■ Very little difference in yield, weight, or time of the maturing of the crop can he 

 ascribed to differences in the quantity of fertilizers used. Good results were obtained 

 by adding to the mixture of coal ashes and peat, for each 100 sq. ft. of bench space, 

 2.5 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 2.4 lbs. of dissolved boneblack, 1.4 lbs. of muriate of 

 potash. This sufficed for 3 crops of radishes. 



"The total yield of radishes (3 crops) from all the plats filled with coal ashes and 

 peat was, for 100 sq. ft. of bench space, 388 bunches (10 in a bunch), or 57 lbs. (tops 

 ijicluded). 



"The average composition of these radishes was: Water, lost in air drying, 94.35; 

 nitrogen, 0.24; phosphoric acid, 0.062; potash, 0.233. 



"According to this year's tests, 1,000 bunches of radishes weigh 147 lbs. and take 

 from the soil 5.6 oz. of nitrogen, 1.4 oz. of phosphoric acid, and 5.4 oz. of potash." 



Effects of fertilization on citrus fruits, G-. E. Colby and E. W. 

 Hilgard (California Sta. Bpt. 1895-1897, pp. 163-181).— This is a con- 

 tinuation of work previously reported (E. S. E., 8, p. 691). A number 

 of orange trees at the southern California substation have been 

 selected for experiments with fertilizers. Analyses of 1 dozen fruits 

 from each tree before fertilizers were applied are reported for future 

 comparison. In regard to the variations in the composition of the 

 fruits of given varieties the report says: 



"In the Washington Navels there is a difference of 1.41 between the highest and 

 lowest sugar percentages, and in the Magnum Bonum it is 2.20 per cent. In fact, in 

 all of the varieties but the Homasassas the difference is above 1 per cent. In acid 

 the variation is proportionally about the same. In amount of ju^ce the differences 

 vary from 1.5 per cent in the Mediterranean Sweet to 9.9 per cent in the Parson 

 Brown. In percentage of rind the greatest difference, 10.6, was observed in the 

 Washington Navel. In weight the differences between the averages of the several 

 trees of the same variety was very small in several cases, while in the Pineapple 

 there was as much as 94 grn." 



Analyses of oranges from fertilized trees at North Pomona in 1895 

 are reprinted from the previous report and compared with analyses of 

 fruit from the same place in 1896. After a discussion of the results 

 obtained the report says : 



"In general, then, it maybe said that the differences shown in the proximate 

 composition of fertilized and nonfertilized fruits in the Richards grove [North 

 Pomona] are not such as may properly be attributed to fertilization, but fall within 

 the limits of normal variation, as shown by the unfertilized fruit of the station 

 orchard." 



In regard to the ash of oranges that have received different fertili- 

 zers the following summary is given : 



"Nitrogen. — The lowest percentages were found to be in those lots either unferti- 

 lized or to which no nitrogen fertilizer had been applied. It was lowest of all in 

 that on which potash alone had been used. The results indicate that nitrogen was 

 needed in the soil. 



" Total ash. — The minimum amount of ash was found in the unfertilized lot; next 

 in that fertilized with potash alone ; while the highest percentage of ash was 

 obtained in the fertilization with superphosphates. 



