BUD VARIATION IX THE KTREKA LEMON. 9 



PICKING. 



The fruits borno ])y the trees in tlie performance-record ])lats were 

 picked when reaching a certahi size, as determhied witli tlic aid of 

 metal picking rings, ushig each month a ring of the same size as that 

 used by. the reguhir picking crew hi the orchard. While the sizes of 

 rings varied somewhat with different pickings, all of the fruits of each 

 picking were measured with a ring of the same size, so that the pickings 

 from the individual trees were comparable. Particular care was 

 taken that no mixing or loss of fruits from the individual trees occur- 

 red. The fruits from all the trees picked during the day were studied 

 the same day, after which they were sent to the packing house to be 

 included with the remainder of the crop. The clippers used by the 

 pickers, the picking sacks, and the field boxes were all regularly 

 inspected, in order to prevent as far as possible mechanical injuries 

 to the fruits, which frequently lead to decay. Every effort was made 

 to arrange the picking and handling of the fruits from the perform- 

 ance-record trees so as to cause the least possible inconvenience and 

 loss to the o\vners of the orchards. 



ASSORTING. 



The lemons from each of the performance-record trees at each pick- 

 ing were assorted into three grades, viz. Green, Tree-Ripe, and Cull. 

 In the Green grade both the light and dark green fruits were included ; 

 the, Tree-Ripe grade included the yellow ripe fruits, and the Cull 

 grade included unmerchantable lemons. The Green grade was made 

 up of the valuable commercial fruits. The Tree-Ripe grade was made 

 up of mature or prematurely ripened fruits, usually of small size with 

 thin rinds and an abundance of juice which was lacking in acidity. 

 Fruits of the Cull grade were frequently extremely coarse, rough, or 

 malformed, rendering them unfit for the market. Fruit which 

 dropped to the gromid between picking periods was also mcluded in 

 the Cull grade. 



After the fruits from each tree were assorted, each lot was weighed 

 and the number of lemons counted. These data were recorded in the 

 field-note forms, as shown in Table IV. 



The variable fruits in each picking from each tree were sorted and 

 classified, after the other performance-record data had been recorded. 

 Frequently, samples of fruits were saved for photographing or for 

 special studies. In some cases photographs and notes of the trees 

 were taken, showing their habits of growth, the characteristics of 

 the foliage or flowers, and other phases of tree behavior. 



At the time of each pickmg, one fruit of the Green grade, one of the 

 Tree-Ripe grade, and one of the Cull grade were selected from the crop 

 of each tree and examined for seeds. The fruits were cut, the seeds 

 carefully removed, counted, dried, and reserved for further study. 



