FUMIGATION WHILE FRUIT IS SMALL. 51 



a considerable percentage of the blossoms to drop, yet not enough 

 to lessen the coming crop of frait to any great extent, if at all. 



Experiment No. 3. — During the months of April and May, 25 acres 

 of Valencia and Navel oranges at Glendale, Ca!., were fumigated by 

 an expert under the direction of the Los Angeles horticultural com- 

 mission. While this fumigation was in progress, trees could be 

 found in all stages of blossoming, from those with blossoms just 

 appearing to those in full bloom. The dosage rate used was esti- 

 mated to be from three-fourths to 1 ounce per 100 cubic feet. Of 

 course this rate varied with different trees, since the dosage was 

 estimated after the usual guesswork method. Several examinations 

 of the orchard were made. Although blossoms were injured on some 

 of the trees, the number was so small as in no way to lessen the future 

 crop of fruit. 



Other instances might be mentioned, but the results correspond 

 practically with those in the three experiments already described. 

 Trees in which there were blossom-shoots and tender leaf-shoots 

 side by side would have the leaf-shoots burned back while the blos- 

 soms remained uninjured. Also numbers of cases could be found 

 v/here the tender leaves on the blossom-shoots were burned while 

 the blossoms themselves remained uninjured. This, as well as the 

 heavy dosage which the blossoms will stand without injury, would 

 lead us to conclude that the blossoms will stand a heavier dosage 

 than the tender leaves and leaf-shoots. These experiments also 

 show that fumigation can be safely conducted during the blossoming 

 season, using such dosages as are at present generally employed by 

 fumigators, or are advised in dosage schedule 1 (p. 65). 



FUMIGATION WHILE THE FRUIT IS OF SMALL SIZE. 



Experiments and observations to determine the effect of fumiga- 

 tion on fruits of various sizes, and more especially on small fruits, 

 were made during the season of 190S. Conflicting opinions on this 

 subject are prevalent. 



Experiment No. 1. — On June 16 two Valencia orange trees about 

 8 feet in height, in a healthy condition, and containing young fruit 

 from three-eighths to one-half inch in diameter, were fumigated at the 

 2-ounce dosage rate. Fully 25 per cent of the fruits on these trees 

 were pitted or burned. 



Experiment No. 2. — On June 24 a somewhat unhealthy Navel 

 orange tree about 12 feet in height, with the fruits about one-half 

 inch in diameter, was dosed at the rate of IJ ounces. Fully 50 per 

 cent of the fruits were pitted. Two healthy Valencia orange trees 

 about 10 feet in height, with fruits practically the same size as in 

 the case of the Navel tree, received a dosage at the rate of 2 ounces. 

 About 40 per cent of the fruits were burned. 



