436 YEAKBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



thin ; flesh white, soft, fairly juicy ; flavor sweet with the character- 

 istic flavor strongly developed. Season early August at Fresno. Its 

 chief value will doubtless be for drying. Wood light brownish green, 

 somewhat striped, with internodes 3 to 4 inches in length; rather 

 slender. In the first crop, which is the only one of real value, the 

 berries are seedless, but the second and third crop grapes contain 

 some seeds. 



The question of the most suitable resistant stocks for this grape, 

 as well as the methods of pruning, training, and other cultural oper- 

 ations, is being investigated at the cooperative experiment vineyard 

 maintained by the Bureau of Plant Industry at Fresno, Cal. Indica- 

 tions at present suggest that the matter of stocks may be of much 

 importance. 



Cultural methods also call for careful consideration in any de- 

 velopment of the currant industry that may occur in this country. 

 For instance, in Greece it is a common though not universal prac- 

 tice to girdle the vines to increase productiveness. It is understood 

 that in Australia girdling is the usual practice, as light crops are 

 habitual unless this is done. Whether this method or some modified 

 form of it can be effectively or advantageously adopted in this country 

 is as yet undetermined. 



The adaptability of this variety to successful culture, in at least 

 some of the Vinifera grape districts of California, appears to have 

 been demonstrated. Some of the grape growers are already becom- 

 ing interested in it and it seems probable that in the near future the 

 production of it will become of considerable commercial importance 

 in the Vinifera grape districts in this country. 



Ripening early, as it does, before most other varieties mature, the 

 fruit can be handled advantageously with the same vineyard crews 

 that are required later for harvesting the wine and table grapes. As 

 the ripening time in California is during the rainless period, when 

 the climatic conditions are the most favorable for drying fhe fruit, 

 there is everything to encourage its planting by those desirous of 

 producing currants. 



The cluster illustrated in Plate LV was grown at the cooperative 

 experiment vineyard, Fresno, Fresno County, Cal. 



THOMSON ORANGE. 



SYNONYMS: Thomson's Navel, Thomson's Improved Navel, Thompson, Thomp- 

 son Improved, Thompson's Improved NaveL 



[PLATE LVI.] 



One of the remarkable features of the orange industry of Califor- 

 nia is the fact that it has been built up so largely on a single variety, 

 the Washington Navel * or " Bahia," which was introduced into that 



1 For a concise history of this variety, see Bulletin 123, Bureau of Plant Industry, enti- 

 tled " The Decay of Oranges while in Transit from California," p. 0. 



