BUD VAEIATION IN THE MAESH GRAPEFRUIT. 5 



Hnmpi states ^ that "under Florida conditions, the fruit of the Marsh 

 variety "has not the distinct, pronounced flavor of the typical fruit, 

 but the quality is good, and the fact that it is so nearly seedless is 

 a very desirable feature." The effect of climatic and, perhaps, 

 other conditions in California has been such as to produce in the 

 fruits of this variety the highly developed grapefruit flavor desired. 



A similar illustration of the effect of chmatic and other conditions 

 on the quaHty of citrus fruits is found in the behavior of the Wash- 

 ington Navel orange. In the tropical region at Bahia, Brazil, these 

 oranges lack the highly developed flavor which the fruits of this 

 variety possess when grown in California. 



In California the trees of the Marsh grapefruit normaUy bloom in 

 March, and the fruits from this bloom ripen from May to September 

 of the foUowing year. Owing to this condition, the trees frequently 

 support two crops, both young and nearly mature fruits, at the same 

 time during the spring and summer months. 



The trees of this variety in California are usually more productive 

 than the trees of the Valencia or Washington Navel orange varieties 

 under the conditions of soil and climate best suited to the develop- 

 ment of the finest quality of grapefruit; i. e., a fertfle, coarse or sandy 

 loam sofl, and the same climatic conditions which are most favorable 

 for the production of the highest flavor and quality in the Washington 

 Navel orange. 



VARIABILITY WITHIN THE VARIETY. 



Bud variation in trees of the Marsh variety of grapefruit occurs with 

 about the same degree of frequency as is the case with the Washington 

 Navel orange and other varieties of citrus fruits which have been 

 studied in the course of the investigations for the improvement of 

 citrus fruits through bud selection. The variation of the fruits is of the 

 most importance from the commercial standpoint, and for this reason 

 this phase of the problem has been given most study. Variations of 

 the habit of growth of the trees, foliage, and flower characteristics are 

 probably of as frequent occurrence as those of fruit variations, but on 

 account of the smaller commercial importance of these characteristics 

 they have been given comparatively little attention up to the present 

 time in these investigations. No doubt there are weU-defined correla- 

 tions of fruit, foliage, and flower characters, and when these correla- 

 tions have been fully worked out they may be of importance in de- 

 termining the character of the trees and their value for fruit pro- 

 duction. 



One of the most valuable groves of the Marsh variety of grapefruit 

 in California at the present time was planted near Riverside in 1898. 

 A preliminary individual-tree census study of this grove made by the 



1 Hume, H. H. Citrus Fruits and Their Culture, ed. 5, p. 120. New York, 1913. 



