UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

BERKELEY, CAL.

if. W. HILGARD, Director. BULLETIN NO. 96.

^-SULPHURING IN FRUIT DRYING.

fi-FIG TREES AT THE EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

C-NOTES ON PERSIAN PALMS.

SULPHURING IN

Of late several papers in this State have
discussed the subject of the use of the
sulphuring process in fruit-drying, some
prefacing their articles with the remark
that I had " issued another proclamation"
on the subject. I am unable to remember
having uttered anything in public relating
to the subject since the publication of Bulle-
tin No. 86, eighteen months ago. Since,
however, the articles alluded to bring the
matter forward, and imply a partial miscon-
ception of my views, and of their true basis,
I think it proper to put them on record once
more.

Sulphurous gas, which is formed when
sulphur is burned, is well known, and con-
stantly used as a disinfecting, bleaching and
deodorizing agent, second in virtue only to
chlorine. The fact that it is the agent offi-
cially used in the disinfection of infected

f RUIT DRYING.

houses, ships and individuals is conclusive
on these points. It is therefore idle to pre-
tend that sulphuring does not diminish the
flavor of fruit or of anything else touched
by it. It is perfectly certain that it does so;
and the only debatable question is the ex-
tent to which it may be used for bleaching
fruit without any material detriment to the
flavor.

It is in evidence that a reasonable amount
of bleaching can be done by applying the
gas to the freshly cut fruit without injuring
the flavor to a material degree, since the
flavor will penetrate from the inside out-
ward to a sufficient extent to compensate
for the loss of what naturally belongs to the
bleached exterior portion.

The limit, however, is a narrow one, and
it is so frequently exceeded in practice
(whether intentionally to secure " extra

lteht " color to attract the un wary purchaser

£?h State that produces it and ill cajcu-
lated to insure a permanent demand. Ihia
s especially true of the thinly sliced apples
and pears, which are quickly penetrated by
the gas and assume a greenish-white tint
that, while it may be inviting to equally
" green " purchasers, assures the expert that
the natural flavor is practically gone, lhe
producer himself declines to put them on
his table, but the dealer and the public, as
at present informed, are willing to pay an
extra price for it. This demand for unnat-
urally light-colored dried fruit is a fad
like manv others, which will have its day
but will inevitably give way, in the course
of time, to a preference for the better-
flavored product having the tint which in-
sures its being so. So long as the "fad"
lasts, so long will producers or dealers sul-
phur the fruit to suit the eye rather than
the palate of the consumer. It certainly
seems desirable to hasten the advent of a
more rational state of the public mind on
this point; quite apart from the sanitary
consideration, which, if not of primary im-
portance as regards most of the sulphured
fruit now in the market, has nevertheless
proved sufficiently potent to cause the prac-
tice of sulphuring to be legally prohibited
in the old world, where therefore our fruits
so treated would fall under the ban of the
law. An additional consideration is that

this process permits of rendering third and
fourth cLs fruit equal in appearance to the
best and is therefore easily used for fraudu-

ler 4re P thus seems to me to be abundant
cause for desiring, and working for, he
abatement of the public delusion on he
Set Of light-colored dried fruit which
sacrifices the'substance to the shadow and
is certain, in the end, to inure to the detri-
ment of our dried-fruit trade. The ove -
sensitiveness that has of late manifested it-
self in respect to the maintenance ot my
position in the question seems, therefore, to
be ill-founded.

I hope to find a measurably unobjection-
able substitute for the uncertain process as
now practiced, in the use of a solution of
" bisulphite of soda" (heretofore sold under
the name of " California fruit salt") of
definite strength, into which the cut fruit
can be dipped before drying. In this
process, the same agent (sulphurous gas) is
employed in the liquid form, but so con-
trolled as to the amount used that the
chances of overdoing the sulphuring— now
so great because of the convenience with
which the fruit can be left exposed to the
sulphurous gas for an indefinite time —
would be reduced, to a minimum. The
compound can be produced very cheaply,
and the solution used will be very weak.

The exact strength and time required to
produce the best results with different fruits
will form the subject of experiments at the
station during the coming fruit season.

E. W. Hilgard.

FIG TREES ftT TJHE EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

The fig promises to become one of the years, when all the varieties being grown
most important fruit trees of Cilifornia. are in bearing, the comparative value of the
But the culture of this fruit belongs chiefly fruits can be tested. At present the prob-
to the borders of the Mediterranean, espe- lem of hardiness requires attention,
cially Asia Minor, and much less is known

here about varieties and their treatment FIGS AT THE SAN Joaquin station.
than is the case with the more common de- ^ Q December 17th and 18.h I examined
ciduous fruits. The numerous discussions tne growth of the fig trees at the Bail Joa-
upon the fig, in recent years, prove the ex- <l uin Valley station at Tulare. Forty-two

varieties are now represented there, to which
the wild or Capri fig, and several new sorts
imported last year, will be added. The fig
trees are planted in avenue form, and in
the present unsheltered condition of the
station it cannot be said that there is any

istence of a strong and growing interest in
the subject. It was, therefore, decided to
stock the stations with every distinct variety
cf fig, and to observe the growth, hardi-
ness, quality of fruit, and other elements ol
importance.

There are about 50 varieties growing at difference in temperature between different
the various stations, and some additional portions of the avenue. In the course of
sorts are still in nursery rows. The smallest time, when the orchard is fully developed,
stock is at Pomona, but it will be increased the ayenue will be less exposed to the wind
this coming season, to an equality with the But tb ^ Tulare region is subject to as great
stations earlier established. The following f/ange <>* temperature as any other part of
list shows the varieties now growing and the San Joaquin vail »y

growing,

studied in the preparation of this report

Gros Gris Bifere.

Ag n.
Angelique.
Abondance precoce.
Brianzola.
Black Ischia.
Brunswick.
Black Boiirjassotte.
Black Marseilles.
Ba-nasotte Grise.
Brown Ischia.
Brown Turkey.
Black Brogiatto.
White Brogiatto.
California Black.
Col di Signora Nero.
Drap d'Or.
Dalmatian.
Doree Narbus.
De Constantine.
Du Roi.
White Dattato.
Black Dattato.
Early Violet.
Guigliono.
Grossale.

Grizzly Boiirjassotte.
Hirtu du Japon.
Ladora.

Monaca Bianca.

Negra Larga.

OAorne Prolific.

Pasteliere.

Royal Vineyard.

Ronde Noire.

Ronde Violette Hative.

Raby Castle.

Rocardi.

Rubrado.

Smyrna No. 1.

Smyrna No. 2.

Smyrna No. 3.

Smyrna, Wild.

San Pedro.

Sanvito.

Trojano.

White Boiirjassotte.
White Genoa.
White Adriatic.
White Marseilles.

There seems to be
a basin about the lake into which the cold
air settles, and it is doubtful whether rows
of forest trees will be of as much service
here as in some other localities where the
cold is due to air currents that may be
broken.

The fig trees at this station were mostly
planted in the winter of 1888-89. Some
died, having been set in alkali spots, and
were replaced. The worst situations have
now been treated with gypsum, ab ut 10
pounds having been put around each tree.
Owing to the differences of soil, a very great
difference in the growth of trees of the same
age is manifest. This of course is compli-
cated with the difference naturally belong-
ing to the growth of different varieties.
About 12 of the varieties of fiors represented
bore fruit last season (1891.) Du Roi, a new
variety little known in the State, was one of
the best of these, and attracted much atten-
tion.

All the fig trees received some irrigation,
but not a drop of water was allowed them

The first season after the figs were planted after August. The first heavy frosts in No
at the different stations, many differences in vember took off all the leaves. The wood
growth and in adaptation to climate began appeared well ripened in most cases, except,
to be noticed. The varieties showed a as usual, the extreme tips of " water sprouts"
greater range of variation in respect to their and late growths. It was therefore a sur-
power to resist cold than any other semitropic prise to the foreman when some of the trees
fruit. The problem that naturally presented showed the effects of the early December
itself was this: How do the various sorts frosts (temperature 22°). Certain varieties
compare in point of hardiness and relative appear to suffer, and it does not seem to be
endurance? The colder districts of the a question of alkali or cold currents; for, as
State desire to grow figs, if possible, and previously stated, the whole tract is subject
need the varieties that are most hardy, to identical conditions in this regard. Be-
Then, also, we may expect to produce still sides, trees of the same kind, one of which
more hardy seedlings from hybrids of certain stands on sandy soil and the other on
sorts, or by fertilizing the finer table figs "alkali," seem to suffer to a similar extent,
with the wild Smyrna. In a few more Of the older varieties (older in point of

introduction to this State), the California
Black is not to be ranked as high in the
matter of hardiness as was to be expected.
It can only be called "medium"; the White
Ischia stands somewhat better; the Dalma-
tian does fairly well; the Black and White
Marseilles, which unfortunately are rather
small for table use or for drying, do even
better than the Dalmatian. The San Pedro,
a fine table variety much liked by growers,
suffers greatly, even branches of half an
inch thickness being frozen. The two
Smyrna varieties have stood the frost well.
The Brown Ischia has suffered more than
the Black California. The three Bourjas-
sottes, black, white and green, together with
the White Adriatic, are able to withstand
the cold.

Among the newer varieties, the Du Roi,
previously alluded to, is one of the most
hardy. Ladora, an excellent fig, is badly
frosted, but not enough to justify discarding
it as yet. Col di Signora Nero is so much
frozen that it must be cut back nearly to the
ground next spring. One of the worst cases
in the avenue is that of the Gros Gris Bi-
fere, which is certainly not hardy enough
for the station. Ronde Violette Hative is a
fine fig, but slightly frosted, and probably
safe when older. De Constantine and Drap
D'Or have done well. Abondance Precoce
suffers a little; Royal Vineyard ranks but
medium. The most hardy fig at the station,
and the only one that shows no sign of frost
anywhere, is the Doree Narbus, one of the
new importations. There are two trees of
this variety in different parts of the grounds,
ore in alkali, the other (near the orange
trees) in sandy soil. It has compact growth,
hard, dark bark, short joints and small
buds. The leaves are dark and rather
small. It has not yet fruited, hut if it proves
to bear well and to be of fine quality, it
can be recommended for frosty situations.

To sum up these observations, there are
two or three sorts being tested that seem
unlikely to stand the climate. Possibly ten
sorts show appreciable loss of young wood.
All the others, except the Doree Narbus,
show some slight effect of frost upon the
soft, late growth, but not, except as above
noted, enough to effect their orchard value
to the region.

FIGS AT POMONA STATION.

The fig experiment at the Southern Cali-
fornia Station, near Pomona, is less ad-
vanced than any other, since trees were
only planted there last spring. It was
hoped that all the varieties would prove
hardy at Pomona, and at first it .appeared
that they would do so. But this month,
January, many varieties have suffered from
frost. The complete comparison with Tu-
lare and Paso Robles cannot yet be made,

for the list of varieties is incomplete at Po-
mona. But the following sorts proved
"hardy:" Du Roi, Monaca Bianca, Hirtu
du Japon, Agen and Col di Signora Nero.
This shows that more varieties out of the
complete list of 51 will thrive at Pomona
than at Tulare or Paso Robles. Twelve va-
rieties, mostly new, and very small trees
with immature wood sent to the station for
growth for a year in nursery rows, were se-
verely frozen, in some cases M nearly to the
ground." This, however, is not evidence
against future success with many of these
varieties. The following trees suffered much
from frost, and are probably unreliable in
that part of the valley; Grosse Grise Bi-
fere, Grizzly Bourjassotte, Ronde Violette
Hative, and Negra Larga.

FIG TREES AT PASO ROBLES.

At the Southern Coa3t Range. Station,
near Paso Robles, where the same varieties
of figs are growing, the problem is further
complicated by the fact that there is much
difference in the soil and location of the
trees, the avenue passing through a low
swale that is much more frosty, and has a
more compact soil, than the rest of the
tract. Most of the trees were planted at
the same time as those at the Tulare station.
They received no irrigation. Those in the
most exposed positions were wrapped in
straw to protect them. January 4th the
straw was taken off so as to make a thorough
examination, and put back again.

Among the tiers on the high land were the
Black and the White Bourjassottes, the two
varieties of Smyrna, Ronde Noire, Bruns-
wick, Col di Signora Nero, Angelique,
White Ischia, Agen and Pasteliere. All
did fairly well, except the White Ischia,
which was badly frosted. At Tulare also
the White Ischia was more tender than the
Bourjassottes. The only marked difference
between the two stations in this group was
in the case of Col di Signora Nero, which
nearly escaped frost at Paso Robles, but was
very badly frosted at Tulare.

Continuing along the avenue toward the
swale, under less favorable conditions,
White Adriatic, as at Tulare, proves fairly
hardy, and grew well. A small tree
planted in 1890-91 suffered somewhat. The
Dalmatian was only a little touched with
frost. Drap d'Or, on quite low ground, suf-
fered much. De Constantine, as at Tulare,
made a strong growth and nearly escaped
frost. A Smyrna planted in the swale in
1890 gave an opportunity for comparison; it
was considerably frosted, but not nearly as
much as some other varieties. The Black
Marseilles, which did well at Tulare, was
"cut right down" to the ground with the
cold. California Black, as at Tulare, was
not in the front rank, only "of medium har-

Brown Ischia, as at Tulare, must
be placed below the Black Californian.
Early Violet, which did fairly well at Tu-
lare, was severely frosted here. Doree Nar-
bus, the most hardy of all at Tulare, "with-
stood the frost," though in one of the lowest
and most exposed situations, but "has grown
little." Hirtu du Japon was also hardy.
Grosse Grise Bifere, which was one of the
most badly frosted sorts at Tulare, was also
very severely frosted here. So was the San
Pedro and the Monaca Bianca. The last
three were on adobe soil.

The foreman, Mr. R. D. Cruickshank,
writes as regards the general subject that
''some varieties are on adobe, some in the
swale and some on the higher and drier
land," as before stated. He adds: u The
kind of soil they occupy has much to do
with the maturity of the shoots in autumn
and their ability to withstand the frost. I
notice that those on the hi^h ground have
always suffered least, while none of them
have been very severely frosted this year."
The thermometer went down to 18 degrees
one night this season and to 20 degrees on
another. The figs have been touched regu-
larly with frost every spring and fall since
they have bet n planted, and on the whole
have not done very well: " They do not oc-
cupy a very good piece of land, and at first
had a hard struggle with the gophers." For
this reason it has been decided to remove
from the swale thore varieties that do not
withstand the frost there and plant them
on higher land.

The result of the experiment can be
summed up in a few words. The fig is not
an entire success in this region unless the
location is carefully chosen. It must be
high and protected from severe frosts.
When the swale on the station tract is more
fully underdrained, figs will do better there,
but it is not the place one would choose for
a fig orchard. A tract 200 or 300 feet
higher would give better results. For fam-
ily planting it would seem that the Smyrna,
White Adriatic, Doree, Narbus and several
others to which allusion has been made are
here among the more hardy sorts.

CLIMATIC OBSERVATIONS.

This portion of the Coast Range is sub-
ject to greater fluctuations of temperature
than has been heretofore supposed. The
mean monthly temperature can never be
used as conclusive evidence of any climate.
Nothing could be more misleading in refer-
ence to the climate under consideration — a
climate representative of many higher val-
leys in the California coast ranges. The
station is situated 80 feet above the Salinas
river, about 800 feet above the sea level and
forty miles due east of Estero bay, with a
high mountain chain — the Santa Lucia —

between. There are many places in the dis-
trict where the thermometric variations are
even more sudden than at the station. The
following table, compiled from Mr. Cruick-
shank's weather reports, will show some of
the peculiarities of the climate. Especial
attention is called to the great daily varia-
tion of temperature; also to the sudden
changes in relative humidity. The greatest
atmospheric dryness in October and Decem-
ber occurred when a north wind was blow-
ing. The hvgrometer was exposed on the
north side of the house, so that the condi-
tions were favorable to extreme indications,
but in any case the record is an extraordi-
nary one. So far as human sensations are
concerned this very atmospheric dryness
serves to soften materially the impressions
of the temperature variations.

METEOROLOGICAL TABLE SOUTHERN COAST RANGE
STATION.

December.

CM O CO CO CO O CM v -'.

November-

o«>oco m to :

CO lO CM CM CO O ;

oi c> oi * .-I co -*t< co © :

CM SN CN lO C? W O -<J* CM CO ]

29.31
'.9.42
29 10

60 15

59
5')
21

35 93

co o cm

lO CO f— i l'—

September.

29 26
29.40
19 10

.30

68.C8

104

36.16

lO Ci CM to

29.20
29.30
29.12
.18

75.96

108

63
53
35

45 41

«f(COO
tj<©CN^

July

r-CMl- CM
CM CO i- H CO

CM CN J> ,_, CO O CO

■** CO CO TJ<

29 23
29.41
29.10
.31

70.79

112

38.86

• CM tO rH

. <o co co o

cicioi" o cr. ci r- co co <o

CM CM CC CO Tt« r-t CM CO O CO CM

April

CO 05 t-i CO CO f° L*
CO rr -h CO TJ« P fc*

cicici* r-" o Tt< to r- 1> co " £; 22 ^

itM** ifeM*** 01 ass a

February...

29.26
29*63

28.40
1 25

49.38
64
30
34
28
2

17.50
. 7.29

86
69
i 17

January..

In CM CM

« ©
W O

:»-<»-
: : a si
: : d m

: efl* 3 P

3d !5

III lllllli

"2 :
©

2 &

lull

•a ^ ^ I/! s}

•i 8§|§

FIGS AT THE FOOTHILL STATION.

At the Sierra Foothill Station near Jack-
son, Amador county, the figs are planted so
as to encircle a hill. Some of them are
only 25 feet above the lowest point on the
grounds) — the bank of the mining ditch;
others are nearly at the top of the hill.
They occupy several classes of soil — the
red (slate) and the granitic; but few are on
the pure granite soil. The foreman, Mr.
George Hansen,, writes that the leakage of
the large reservoir on the top of the hill
might have reached a few of the figs, but
that the finest trees are entirely out of its
reach, and none received any intentional
irrigation. We have here a fine practical
illustration of the suitability of fig culture
to the rocky foothills of similar regions.

It is worth while to note, further, that
the olives occupy the warmest part of the
reservoir hill. The lowest temperature on
record at the ditch is 20 degrees Fahr.
Twenty-five feet is a small elevation, but it
is likely that it makes a difference of several
degrees in such a locality. When a few
trees are planted on the newly cleared land
beside the ditch, for purposes of compari-

son, the list of hardy varieties may be less-
ened. At present, as the foreman writes,
there is not a single variety that shows
signs of having suffered from frost this sea-
son. Some trees matured late, and the
wood is still green, but sound. Two kinds,
Du Roi and Brown Ischia, both at the top
of the hill, kept their leaves later than
others, so the leaves were frozen, but that
did not affect the wood. Practically, none
of the 51 varieties of the fig at the station
can be called other than hardy, as now
planted, above the valley.

One point worth comparison with the
other stations is that of growth. Doree
Narbus, noted as being especially hardy
elsewhere, but as of slow and poorgrowth,
is " gigantic " at the foothill station. Other
superb gr owers are Brown Ischia, De Con-
stantine, Monaca Bianca and White Adri-
atic. The following sorts can be called
first-class growprs, though not equal to the
first named: White Genoa, Du Roi, Early
Violet, C.)l di Signora Binnca, Bourjassotte
Grise, White Ischia, and White and Black
Marseilles.

Chables H. Shinn.

JMOTES ON fERSI^ P/VLJV1S.

The importation of palm trees from Persia
made by the United States Department of
Agriculture promises to be of much im-
portance to the State. The forthcoming
report on station work will contain the
history of this fine collection, but the lan>e
Dumber of letters of inquiry received makes
some additional notes upon the present con-
dition of the palms desirable.

The palms are planted at Pomona and at
Tulare. The larggr number of varieties and
in some respects the best plants were sent to
Tulare, as it was thought at Washington
that the climate there would prove more fa-
vorable. This expectation does not seem
likely to be realized, as several varieties
that are more tender than others have suf-
fered this winter. Some, however, are
eminently suited to the place.

At Tulare Station, also at Pomona, the
pistillate or bearing palms are planted in a
circle, with thestaminate plant in the center.
The soil is sandy and free from alkali. Ir-
rigation ceased the first of September.
Deglet Nour and M'Kintichi prove to be
very poor growers, small leaves, hard to
root, and not to be recommended unless the
fruit is of peculiar excellence. ' These two
varieties show similar characteristics at
Pomona.

The Sultaneh variety, said to be one of
the best, is extremely delicate in appear-
ance, leaflets slender and fine, growth slow;
suffers from frost at Tulare. This variety
does better at Pomona, and is certainly one
of the most beautiful of all in an ornament-
al sense.

Amhat, at Tulare, is so badly frosted that
it will be advisable to move it to a better
locality. When most of the large leaves of
a palm are killed, and protection is needed
for the heart of the plant, it is evident that
no valuable result can follow further experi-
ment at that point. This variety at Pomona
has so far escaped with only slight injury.
It is the most tender of all the Persian
palms at the stations.

Next to the Amhet is Haraneh, a poor
grower, considerably frosted at Tulare, and
slightly so at Pomona.

Rashedah and Rass show only medium
hardiness at Tulare, losing a portion of the
upper leaves. Rass is a remarkable variety
of very strong growth, leaves large, light
green, and beautiful in appearance. The
plant at Tulare has already six small suck-
ers. It is the only one of all the palrns
that has as yet increased itself by division.
The difference in rapidity of growth be-
tween such varieties as Rass and such as
Sultaneh or Deglet Nour, is as great as that
between a Bartlett pear tree and a Seckel.

One palm at Tulare shows marked hardi-
ness. This is Seevah, a compact grower,
with small, dark leaves; it is more hardy
than the seedling date palms at the station,
which latter correspond more nearly in
hardiness with such varieties as Rass. In
Seevah we probably have a date palm suit-
able to all parts of the San Joaquin valley;
perhaps three or four more of the twelve va-
rieties represented are likely to prove desir-
able there. But several, as the preceding
notes imply, are not likely to withstand the
frosts of the open valley, whatever they
may do on the foothills. Referring again
to the seedling date palms at Tulare
Station for comparison, one observes that
all are slightly frosted, while two are badly
so. The wild date (P. Canariensis) would
undoubtedly stand the same locality and
pass unscathed through the severest winter
ever known there, but the species date is mere-
ly ornamental; and the seedling date offers
no advantages in point of hardiness over
any, except a few of the named varieties
now at the station, while it is distinctly at a
disadvantage in comparison with several of
the best.

A curious fact in connection with the
date palms is that the large grasshoppers of
the San Joaquin valley attack the leaves
with a special zeal. Last summer the grass
hoppers left fields of grain, and beds of
small cultures representing many species of
plants, to settle on the palms and eat holes
in the leaves. They could hardly be pre-
vented from destroying several varieties for
which they showed a strong preference, and
they injured nearly all to some extent.
Their method of attack is to make dozens
of holes, about as large as a dime, in the
leaflets. Sultaneh, Rass, and Haraneh are
among those that were the most severely in-
jured. Thriftiness, or lack of thriftiness, in
the plant seemed to make little or no differ-
ence with the grasshoppers. The hardy
variety, Seevah, they left entirely alone, and
it was the only one that escaped attack. At
Pomona also the grasshoppers left other
plants to attack the palms, and here, as at
Tulare, they showed preferences, though
less marked, as their invasion was of much
shorter duration.

There has not been any complaint, so far
as I know, that the grasshoppers destroy
seedling date palms, or the Canarian date, in
any part of California. At the stations, as
it happens, the seedling palms were unin-
jured, though this was probably owing to
their location nearer the buildings than
were the named varieties. It is well known
that the locusts of the deserts of Asia and
Alrica sometimes entirely destroy palm

groves, but it is certainly surprising to find
that the California grasshoppers prefer the
hard, fibrous leaves of the palm to any
other green food.

The problems of importance, next to the
hardiness of different varieties, seem to be:
How soon will the plants bear, and how
fast can they be propagated by suckers ?
When better established, it will be possible
to force them into a more rapid division,
but this can only be done at the expense of
the mother plants. The small number of
specimens obtained — only two of any vari-
ety and of some only one — precludes the
idea of such an early or general distribution

as many correspondents appear to expect,
Besides, the U. S. Agricultural Dep't has
distinctly required the first increase of stock
to be heid subject to its orders, at least for
the present. Those varieties that promise
best can be imported by nurserymen in
larger numbers, and easily propagated to
supply any future demand. The experi-
ment at the agricultural stations fulfils its
end, and justifies the cost, whenever those
stations have fully tested and reported upon
the varieties in their hands.

Charles H. Shinx.
Berkeley, Jan. 25, 1892.