BUD SELECTION IX THE VALENCIA ORANGE 6 
In an earlier publication (I) 1 this variability within the Valencia 
variety is described and typical bud variations and strains are illus- 
trated. Many of the limb variations which were noted were found 
to possess foliage and fruit characteristics similar to those observed 
in entire trees of the different strains in established orchards. In 
order to determine definitely whether or not the characteristics of the 
limb variations were perpetuated through bud propagations, some 
of these limb variations, with others which were found later, were 
propagated in progeny tests at the first opportunity. 
The object of this bulletin is to present some of the data which 
have been obtained from the progenies of these striking limb varia- 
tions, so as to present evidence of the unstable condition of this 
variety and to show the importance of s}^stematic bud selection in its 
commercial propagation. A series of similar progeny propagations 
of limb sports which were found in Washington Navel orange trees 
has been previously reported {2-10). ~ 
IMPORTANCE OF BUD SELECTION IN THE VALENCIA ORANGE 
Twelve strains of the Valencia orange were described in the publi- 
cation already mentioned (1) as occurring in the investigational per- 
formance-record plots in an orchard located near Corona, Calif. 
The characteristics which have been determined as distinguishing- 
one Valencia strain from another have generalty been those exhibited 
by the fruits. Although in some instances the habit of growth of 
the trees, the size or shape of the leaves, or other vegetative charac- 
ters of the trees serve to differentiate the various strains, the quantity, 
shape, size, color, texture, juiciness, or other characters of the fruits 
have usually been the determining strain characteristics. 
The profitableness of the culture of the Valencia orange in the 
Southwest depends upon uniformly high production by the indi- 
vidual trees combined with desirable commercial quality of the crops. 
The isolation of the best strain, in which the trees produce crops of 
the maximum quantity and highest commercial quality, and the 
elimination of the poorer strains are therefore fundamentally im- 
portant factors. The presence of trees of the diverse and inferior 
strains in the orchards lowers the quantity and commercial quality 
of the crops about in proportion to the number of trees of the unde- 
sirable strains in each orchard. 
The practicability of isolating and propagating the Valencia 
strain, the trees of which are the highest yielding and produce the 
most desirable type of fruit, has been demonstrated both experi- 
mentally and commercially. This result has been obtained through 
the selection of buds for propagation from parent trees which have 
been found to bear regular and heavy crops of uniformly good 
fruits for a period of several successive seasons. At the present time 
bud wood for commercial propagation is being taken from the best 
trees in progenies which were propagated from selected trees found 
1 Reference is made by number (italic) to " Literature cited," p. 37. 
2 Shamel, A. D., Pomeroy, C. S., and Caryl, R. E. bud selection in the Washington 
NAVEL ORANGE. VII. PROGENY TESTS OF THE GOLDEN NUGGET STRAINS. [Unpublished 
manuscript.] 
Pomeroy, C. S., and Caryl, R. E. bud selection in the Washington navel 
orange, viii. progeny tests of the yellow strains. [Unpublished manuscript. ] 
