EFFECTS OF FREEZES ON CITRUS IN CALIFORNIA 



255 



THE EFFECTS OF THE FREEZE ON CITRUS TREES AND FRUITS 



Effect an Citrus Trees. One of the first noticeable effects of the 

 cold weather upon citrus trees was the formation of ice in the fruits. 

 The ice formed earlier in lemons than in oranges, and at the same 

 temperature lemon fruits were frozen much firmer than oranges. At 



Fig. 4. Lemons showing characteristic external spotting of fruit and 

 breaking down of tissues caused by freezing. Photo by Smith. 



temperatures at which lemons were frozen so that they were solid, 

 juiceless and brittle, oranges could be pressed out of their natural 

 shape and some juice could be extracted. 



Another effect of the low temperature which made a conspicuous 

 change in the appearance of the trees was the curling of the leaves 

 of the orange trees during the cold. This curling of the leaves, which 

 did not occur on the lemon trees, gave to the orange trees a sort of 

 deathly aspect. It was commonly remarked by growers that the 

 orange trees seemed to be affected worse than the lemons, and many 



DIVISION OF SUBTROPICAL HORTICULTURE 

 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 



nrni/ri cv 



ICftDNIA 



