127 



2 000 and then keep statistical record to see how near they 

 were correct. These were lemons. After careful consider- 

 ation they selected 100 individuals as the best in the block, 

 giving due regard to such factors as type, shape and size 

 and number of thorns and foliage and description of the 

 fvuit, including its shape and smoothness, the thickness of the 

 rind and the number of seeds and the various other factors 

 which go to constitute a first class lemon. A grading record 

 was established for the trees as the final measure ©f value, 

 the number of fruit which came ripe at a certain time, 

 whether they were green, or light green or ripe, and also 

 sufficient data was kept in regard to the methods of irriga- 

 tion and the times, the cultivation and fertilization, with the 

 idea of determining whether such had any influence upon 

 the bearing. In other words, all the factors which they 

 could conceive as entering into the problem were considered. 

 During the first year the special trees selected averaged 

 13.45 field boxes, 45 pounds each; while the average for the 

 rest of the section, all misses and young reset trees having 

 been eliminated from the count, was 10.25 boxes; in other 

 words, there was an average difference of over 150 pounds 

 to the tree. This striking difference, however, does not 

 necessarily prove that the first choice of trees was perfect- 

 or sufficient for bud selection, for the special trees them- 

 selves varied from 15.4 boxes to 10.1. The fact that this, 

 large variation exists shows the possibility open to success- 

 ful bud selection, for the difference between the orchard 

 run and the special trees shows an average increase of at 

 least 100 packed boxes per acre or about 30 per cent. The 

 records for the second year were not complete but they 

 brought out several interesting points. The average for 

 the special tree was 5.5 boxes, while the orchard run was 

 4.5, but 11 of the special trees fell below 4.5 average of that 

 season and 5 of the 11 were below the average orchard in 

 the first year's record; in other words, 4 of the trees out of 

 these 11 were consistently poor. It is also interesting to 

 note that out of the 5 highest trees, number 9, 14, 70, 93 and 



