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The Miller Amendment to the Pure Food Law—the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938—became law on July 22, 1954, with provision that its enforcement with respect to some of the new pesticide materials be delayed one year. More recently, extensions have been granted in specific instances, but the law will become fully effective October 31, 1955, at the end of the 1955 growing season. However, all other requirements of the amended law are now in effect and subject to enforcement.

Accumulation of large phosphorus reserves in avocado and citrus soils will reduce the availability of zinc and copper in many California soils to the point of deficiency.

A new soil fumigant—vapam—proved to be an effective weed killer in column stocks—Matthiola incana—in Santa Barbara County tests conducted during the fall and winter of 1954–55.

About 20% of the cost of field production of column stocks—Matthiola incana—as cut flowers is for seed because of the techniques required to obtain seed that will produce a satisfactory percentage of double flowers.

Resistance to the Verticillium disease of strawberry occurs in a few varieties such as Sierra, Blakemore, and Marshall, in some breeding stocks, and in some forms of Fragaria chiloensis, one of the progenitors of the present-day large-fruited strawberry.

Almond and peach seedlings are the rootstocks most generally used for the almond and—usually—they are satisfactory except in heavy, wet soils or in areas infected with oak root fungus.

Dense shade from trees can reduce room temperature in houses as much as 20F.

Plant source materials for research on citrus problems are available—in one of the world's most extensive citrus variety collections—at the Citrus Experiment Station at Riverside.

Tests on the effect of potassium and calcium soil fertilization on lemon fruit size—made when the fruit was in the silver stage of maturity—showed that the potassium-calcium ratio in the nutrient was effective in bringing about a marked response in the potassium and calcium content in the peel and pulp. Comparative results obtained with lemon flowers also indicated that the period of flowering and fruit setting can be of considerable importance in setting the pattern of mineral nutrition to be followed in the fruit until maturation occurs.

The Guatemalan Stethorus—a small, black, lady beetle mite predator—is being propagated by the thousand in the insectary at Riverside for release in southern California avocado and citrus groves.