Imperial Valley press., 1915-01-06
HOW TO KEEP THE
SOIL PRODUCTIVE

carry on at the site about to be
bought at Riverside for its new citrus
experiment station and graduate
school of tropical agriculture.
Now that Riverside has been def
nitely chosen as the site, after many
months of discussion as to where
the great work can best be done, sew
eral hundred acres are to be bought,
Of as fine orange land as there is in
the state. For this will be spent the
100000 given by the state, added to
bp the people of Riverside. An irri-
cation system and farm and labora-
tory buildings will be provided, and
experimental plots lanted
Here are some of the burning prob
lens to be attacked:
"How can land be cultivated best
under irrigation?"
"How can land in California be
kept permanently at its present unex-
ampled fertility?"
What are the best varieties of
fruits and plants now available and
how can still better types be created 2"
The extremely valuable results al
ready achieved by the University of
California in the seven years it has
maintained citrus experiment station
at Riverside give an idea of the pos
sibilties the future holds.
For instance, the university has
found out how to feed orange and
lemon trees. Seven years ago twenty
plats were planted with six navel or
ange trees, six Valencias, six Eureka
lemons and six Lisbon lemons. Each
OF the twenty plats was fertilized diff
ferently. Now, after seven years, it
has been shown that nitrogen fertili
zation is exceedingly desirable. OF all
the commercial fertilizers, dried blood
gave by far the best results. Phos-
phoric acid, from bone, was found use
full. On the Riverside soil in ques-
ton potash was found unnecessary. 1t
'eo Soi'NiodCu CilC 1cItlllZdllOIl from
the time citrus trees are planted is
probably necessary.
Nothing was found to be least on
plats fertilized with, first, manure and
raw phosphate; second, dried blood.
There was practically no mottling
on plats kept covered with cover crop
such as vetch or Melitlotus clover,
considerable portion of the year, this
crop then being ployed in. This is one
Of the most important discoveries
made in these extremely valuable ex
periments at Riverside, experiments
which are regarded as the most valu-
able fertilizer Investigations ever car
ried On for citrus fruits.
Cover crop experiments were per-
formed on twenty different plots. Aft
er five years it was proved that crops
of corn and potatoes following Melilo-
tus clover and Tangier pears turned
under have much exceeded in yield
crops grown on land where rye had
first been grown and plowed under
plus 1880 pounds Of nitrate of soda.
A good luguminous cover crop plowed
under was shown equivalent to 1,O8O
pounds of nitrate of soda per acre.
Moreover, such treatment introduces
humus into the soil and also greatly
aids the action of the farmers invalu-
able friends, the tiny nitrifying bac
terra in the soil.
+. BESIDES continuing these very valu-
able experiments as to fertilizers and
cover crops and as to the factors
which cause mottle leaf, the Univer-
sity of California will continue at the
new station in Riverside another great
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in plant breed
ing,
The modern farmer breeds his cat
tie with great care and by the Bah
cock test as to the butter fat content
IN milk and by records of milk pro-
duction eliminates the COW which is
unproductive. Following this exam
pie, the University of California wants
to enlist in horticulture the great
force of heredity for the service of
the people Of California. 1t is
pldHIieu " PiaHJ dC h1VefSlQe great
numbers of varieties of many of the
standard fruits and other crops of
California and by selection of the best
individuals and strains, and also by
work in the great field of hybridiza-
ton, to raise up for California new
and improved varieties of the great
est possible productivity and the high
est and best quality. Not only will
new fruits and plants be introduced
into California, but it will be en-
deavored to develop improved types of
each, so that California shall not
merely grow Florida oranges and Ha
waiian avocadoes, but California or
anges and California avocadoes, ideal
ly suited to the climate, soil and eco
nomic and transportation conditions of
California.
The study of frost protection meth
DDS is another field of work which it
is planned to enter upon. Means will
be sought for curing or preventing
various plant diseases and for getting
rid of various insect pests. There will
be experts at the Riverside station in
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