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The proper livestock diet utilizes natural vegetation and cultivated feed-stuffs to maintain continuous animal growth.

A die-back disease affecting primarily the Boysen and Young trailing blackberries was prevalent in nearly all berry-growing regions of California during the winters of 1947—18 and 1948—19. It did not occur, or was much reduced in severity during the 1949-50 and 1950-51 winters.

Codling moth investigations in 1951 resulted in a reduction of the recommended standard lead arsenate in mixtures applied by conventional sprayers.

Vineyard pruning-time studies in southern California—for the season of 1950 and confirmed in 1951—have shown a relationship between pruning time in head-pruned vineyards and the incidence of so-called bud mite injury. This term was adopted in California following general acceptance of a diagnosis in which the grape bud mite, a physiological strain of Eriophyes vitis (Pgst.), was designated as the causal agent of certain growth abnormalities and crop losses in vineyards.

An article on Cattleya Flower Breaking and Cymbidium Mosaic was published in the January, 1952, issue of California Agriculture.

The citrus rootstock problem in California has changed since the recent advent of quick decline and must be re-evaluated.

The citrus-root nematode—Tylenchulus semipenetrans—appears to affect the growth of young citrus trees in four ways: it may injure the bark of the roots; remove plant nutrients during feeding; impair the normal growth and functioning of the roots; and possibly inject a toxic material into the tree. Recently, investigations were undertaken to determine the effects of the nematode on young lemon and orange trees growing under controlled conditions, and to establish the causal relationship of the nematode to the frequent failure of young citrus trees to grow satisfactorily when planted on old citrus soils.

Cantaloupe fruit set may be increased by removing competing fruits from the same vine, and by relying on insect pollination.

The pink bollworm is the most serious insect threat to the production of cotton in California.