BUD VARIATION IN THE EUREKA LEMON. -9 
PICKING. 
The fruits borne by the trees in the performance-record plats were 
picked when reaching a certain size, as determined with the aid of 
metal picking rings, using each month a ring of the same size as that 
used by the regular picking crew in 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 owners 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 ground between picking periods was also included 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 picking, 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. 
