112 BULLETIN 697, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



are of an undesirable strain; hence, the use of sucker wood for bud 

 wood is probably directly responsible for much of the propagation of 

 trees of inferior strains of the Marsh grapefruit. 



SUMMARY. 



The grapefruit industry in Cahfornia, while of comparatively small 

 commercial importance at present, is growing rapidly and seems 

 likely to become an important factor in the citrus production of the 

 State. Many of the varieties of grapefruit first planted in California 

 proved to be of inferior commercial value. The success of the in- 

 dustry began with the introduction of the Marsh variety. 



The Marsh variety originated at Lakeland, Fla., and was named 

 and introduced there by Mr. C. M. Marsh, of that place, about 1895. 

 Previous to this date, in 1890, before the variety had become estab- 

 hshed in Florida, it was introduced into California by Two good & 

 Cutter, of Riverside. 



Bud variations in the trees of the Marsh variety of grapefruit are 

 of frequent occurrence, and are a great commercial handicap to the 

 growers and consumers. 



Six strains arising from bud variations have been found during 

 these investigations up to the present time. 



The most valuable commercial fruits and those of the best quahty 

 are produced by trees of the Marsh strain. This strain only should 

 be propagated for commercial purposes. 



The undesirable strains which are found in commercial plantations 

 heretofore have been propagated unintentionally through a lack of 

 care in bud selection. 



The Marsh strain can be estabhshed and maintained and variation 

 within the strain reduced to a minimum through bud selection based 

 on individual-tree performance records. 



Healthy trees of undesirable strains can be successfully top-worked 

 by using select buds from trees of the Marsh strain. 



Only fruit-bearing bud wood should be used for propagation, and 

 it should be selected from the most productive and otherwise most 

 desirable trees. A practical method for locating such trees in com- 

 mercial orchards is presented by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture in Farmers' Bulletin 794, entitled "Citrus-Fruit Im- 

 provement: How to Secure and Use Tree-Performance Records." 



ADDITIONAL COPIES 



OF THIS PUBLICATION MAY BE PROCURED FROM 



THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS 



GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 



"WASHINGTON, D. C. 



AT 



20 CENTS PER COPY 



