l62 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. XVII, No. 4 



to maturity in minimum time, and those set in August, September, 

 and October required the maximum time. 



Further light on the relation of the time of maturity to the time of 

 setting was afforded by determining their correlation coefficient. Table 

 VII shows the data. February is denoted as the first month in the 

 subject column, since active growth begins in that month ; and January 

 is the last month. 



Table VII. — Correlation between the rnonth in which letnons set and the time required 



for maturity 



r=o.i38±o,043 



The correlation coefficient denotes a positive relationship between the 

 two factors, though its magnitude is not sufficient to warrant much 

 emphasis. We can conclude that the season at which fruit is set in- 

 fluences, but does not absolutely determine, the length of time which 

 will be required for maturity. Thus, fruit set in May had a range in 

 time of maturing from 7 to 14 months, although about half the fruit 

 required 10 months. 



THE R.\TIO BETWEEN BUDS AND FRUIT WHICH REACHED MATURITY 



The lemon may develop without pollination of the flower, therefore 

 the proportion of fruit to buds may be expected to indicate the produc- 

 tiveness of the tree without entire dependence upon the chance of polli- 

 nation as already intimated; however, the productiveness of the tree is 

 greatly influenced by various environmental factors, especially by 

 meteorological factors. Soil environment, as influenced by the applica- 

 tion of fertilizers or water, affects fruit production; but its influence is 

 not so abrupt and does not make itself quite so conspicuous as the former 

 complex of factors. 



An examination of these records may be of interest as an indication 

 of what happens under good commercial culture. These trees stood in 



