CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



45 



fruits borae by each tree from year to year; (4) the development of improved 

 methods of propagation in order to control the extent to which undesirable varieties 

 and variations shall enter into the population of future commercial avocado 

 groves. 



PLAN OF RECORD KEEPING 



TTie first step in performance record work is to number each individual tree. 

 The importance of individual tree numbers has been fully demonstrated in our 

 citrus studies not only for keeping individual tree records, but also for giving the 

 trees individual tree care in pruning, fertilizing, irrigating, and other cultural 

 attention. 



The most satisfactory tree number is a compound one consisting of ( 1 ) the 

 number of the orchard or block of trees; (2) the number of the row of trees, al- 

 ways counting from a fixed point as the irrigation head; and (3) the number of 

 the tree in the row. For example, a tree in block one, row three and the fifth 

 tree in the row will have the number 1-3-5. While this number seems to be a 

 complicated one at first thought, in reality it has proven to be the simplest and most 

 efficient one devised as yet for this purpose. 



The tree number can be applied to each individual tree by painting the figures 

 upon the trunk or one of the main limbs, using pure white lead paint for this pur- 

 pose. On very small trees the number must be arranged in a single vertical 

 column on account of the size of the trunks. With trees of sufficient size, usually 

 after the second year in the orchard, I think that the number can be arranged 

 with the orchard or the block number first, the row number just below it and the 

 tree number under the row number. The tree numbers should always be placed 

 in the same relative position on all of the trees in order to assist the observers in 

 finding them. 



This arrangement of the individual tree number enables the grower ( 1 ) to 

 find each particular tree in his orchard at any time without difficulty; (2) to 

 note any tree condition at any time for immediate or future attention; (3) to easily 

 connect a particular tree and its performance; and (4) to give the trees ade- 

 quate and necessary individual tree care. The expense of applying these individual 

 tree numbers is very small. At this time in the citrus it costs about two cents each 

 to number the trees. The citrus tree numbers last for about five or six years after 

 which period it is usually advisable to renew them. On account of the rapid 

 growth of avocado trees it may prove necessary to renew the tree numbers more 

 frequently than is the case with the citrus. 



The second step in securing individual tree records is to adopt forms on which 

 the individual tree data can be kept. The variety committee of this association 

 have drawn up a simple form for this purpose which seems to meet the essentials 

 of this work. From our experience in similar work with the citrus I am of the 

 opinion that these forms should be as simple and practical as is consistent in secur- 

 ing the information desired. With this object in view the variety committee have 

 printed for distribution to members of this association the following form. 



In some cases it v/ill undoubtedly add to the convenience of the user to print 

 these forms in small, durable vestpocket books. The owner's name and address 

 should be plainly printed in a conspicuous place on the cover in order that the 

 book can be easily returned if it is accidentally lost. These small, thin, convenient 

 books may be found to be of real service in securing accurate individual tree 

 records. 



