. -2- 



with the average minimum above freezing. When v/e arrived here in early February 

 aLnonds were beginning to bloom. Several varieties are about in full bloom now 

 (February 20). Apricots vri.ll reach full bloom shortly, vri.th peaches close behind. 

 No need for anti-freeze in the car, 



Althougithey ,tiay get heavy rains during the winter the large majority of the 

 fruit acreage in California must be irrigated during the hot dry late spring and 

 summer months, A great deal of this irrigation water is obtained from v^ ells. 

 These wells may be 200 - 300 feet deep but a good well, I am told, is capable of 

 delivering 1000 gallons per minute. 



The soils in many of the fruit areas are very deep and fertile. Fruit trees 

 apparently root to great depths (10 - 1^ feet or more) even though some of the 

 soils may be rather heavy loams luhich by Eastern standards v:ould not be considered 

 ideal for best tree performance. Soils are sufficiently fertile and deep in some 

 areas at least so that pear trees in some demonstration orchards have failed to 

 respond in yield to nitrogen applications over the past five years. In other v\rords, 

 trees receiving no nitrogen for the past five years have, iii some cases yielded 

 as vrell as adjacent rows of trees receiving soil or foliage aoplications of nitrogen 

 for the past five years. Also, Bartlett pears in some a3reas, bear very well virhen 

 planted in solid blocks with no provision for cross-pollination. Most of the 

 Bartlett fruits in such blocks are seedless or nearly so. 



Everyone here at Davis has been very cordial and hospitable, Th^have pro- 

 vided me Trith office space and stenographic help. Their staff is willing and 

 anxious to show me around and they have got plenty to show, 



F, W, Southv/ick 



//////////////// 



SPECIAL CIRCUURS RECEL'ITLY REVISED 



The follOTiing circulars have been revised and are available to anyone wish- 

 ing a copy. 



Special Circular 7f212-D Varieties of Strawberries for Massachusetts, 



Special Circular #212-E Varieties of Blueberries for Massachiisetts, 



Special Circular #212-F Varieties of Raspberries and Blackberries for 



Massachusetts, 



Special Circular #189 Chemical Thiiming of Apples and Peaches, 



Address requests to either the Department of Pomology or the Mailing Room, 

 University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, 



— W, J, Lord 

 //////////////// 



