106 



BULLETIN G97, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ing trees bore approximately twice the crop that was borne by the 

 lowest producing trees. The great difference in production from the 

 trees on the two plats is largely accounted for by the difference in the 

 ages of the trees. The difference in the value of the crops from the 

 highest and lowest producing trees serves to emphasize the desira- 

 bility of propagating only from trees with known records of heavy and 

 valuable production. 



Pffi Cf/VT Of CfiOP BY Wf/G/fT 



S/ZJTS 



22.0 



//2 



2/./ 



/0.9 



S6 



/0.7 



M.4 



80 



/2.5 



/4./ 



64 



/S.6 



/0.9 



48 



/2.3 



8.7 



32 



9.7 



/S.O 



24 

 GRAP£S 



/&/ 



F/Ve LOWEST PROPUC/NG TPffS 

 PfP C£NT OF CPOP BY WF/G/ZF 



64.3 F/RST 67.4 \ 



3/.9 

 5.7 



SFCOND 28.8 

 CULL 6.2 



Fig. 12. — Average annual production by commercial sizes and grades from the five highest and the five 

 lowest producing Marsh grapefruit trees, irrespective of strain, in the investigational performance- 

 record plat B in a grove planted in the fall of 1903. The figures indicate the proportion of each size 

 and grade to the total crop, calculated from their weights during the 6-year period, 1910 to 1915, 

 inclusive, except that the data relating to culls cover only the 4-year period, 1912 to 1915, inclusive. 



COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE STRAINS. 



The Marsh is the most productive and most valuable strain within 

 the Marsh variety. The flattened shape of the fruits, the smooth 

 texture and waxy-white color of the rind, the abundance of juice 

 of high flavor and fine quality, the commercially seedless condition of 

 the fruits, and other characteristics, aU combine to make them 

 of superior value. The regular, heavy production of the trees mider 

 favorable conditions makes this strain one of the most stable and 

 profitable of any of the citrus fruits in CaHfornia. The increasing 

 price paid for ripe fruits of this strain in many important markets 

 during recent years is proof of their superior value. It would seem 

 advisable to eliminate aU other strains and varieties and grow only 

 the Marsh strain in all commercial grapefruit orchards in California, 



The seedy strains are undesirable, and the presence of even occa- 

 sional fruits of this character in the crops is detrimental to the repu- 

 tation of the variety. Because the fruits of the Smooth Seedy strain 



