All Issues

Grape varieties can be changed at a high level by a simple procedure for grafting dormant T-buds on fruiting vines.

Previous research results have clearly demonstrated that early walnut harvest provides for the maximum quantity of light-colored kernels as well as the minimum amount of navel orange-worm damage.

An inordinate number of invading insect pests have been detected during the past 11 years in southern San Diego County. The first was citrus white-fly in 1966, then woolly whitefly later in 1966, the Japanese beetle in 1973, and the Oriental fruitfly in 1971 and 1974 (along with occasional captures of Mexican fruitflies in McPhail traps).

California produces more than 95 percent of the nations apricot crop and this versatile tree fruit is also a favorite for home orchards. Limb dieback is a major cause of premature tree decline and death in the northern part on the state. The causal fungus, Eutypa armeniacae (impf. Cytosporina), spreads by means of spores carried in the air during rainstorms, and, when the spores find their way into fresh pruning wounds, the disease begins. Unpruned apricots are not affected.

Decisions regarding high, medium, or low density orchards must include consideration of present and future mechanization. Tree size, shape, spacing, and pruning methods in established orchards limit the selection of new methods for performing cultural and harvest operations. Every effort should be made to plant and train new orchards so as to make them as adaptable as possible to new technology but also suited to present methods. Many tree crops will be harvested by hand labor for some time; yet we cannot afford to invest in new plantings without considering mechanization. The wisest plan is to consider hand operations now and mechanized operations in the future.

Partially exposed root system of Northern California Black walnut rootstock growing in a deep river-bottom soil.