Historic, archived document

Do not. assume content reflects current
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USDEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURE

January 13, 1915.

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT THE SAN ANTONIO
FIELD STATION, SOUTHERN TEXAS.

By StepHen H. Hasrines, Farm Superintendent, and R. E. Buarr, Scientific
Assistant, Office of Western Irrigation Agriculture.

INTRODUCTION.

Comparatively little authentic information is accessible regarding
the possibilities of fruit culture in the vicinity of San Antonio. Small
orchards are found on a few farms here and there, but most of the
farmers have little fruit, even for home consumption, and there are
no commercial orchards of consequence in the region. Many farm-
ers have planted orchards, but they have become discouraged because
of unsatisfactory results, due largely to the selection of varieties not
suited to the conditions or to neglect of the trees after planting.

It is not to be expected that commercial orcharding will ever
become an important feature of the agriculture of the San Antonio
region, but there is no apparent reason why every farmer should not
have at least a small orchard to furnish fruit for home consumption.
It will be seen from the following pages that the list from which
the farmer may select is relatively large.

The greater part of the fruit consumed in the city of San Antonio
is shipped in from outside districts. While it is to be expected that
the local market will continue to depend upon outside sources, many
fruits, such as peaches, grapes, plums, berries, and persimmons, can
be produced locally to good advantage and will find ready local sale.

There are a number of factors which have operated to hinder the
production of fruit in this section. The climate is characterized by
wide extremes of temperature and precipitation, and many failures
can be traced directly to climatic causes. The soil is not favorable
to the successful growth of some kinds of fruit trees, chiefly because
of the excess of lime which it contains, and there are many plant
diseases which cause much trouble and damage.’

1 For detailed information regarding the plant diseases of this region, see Heald, F. D.,and Wolf, F. A.,
A plant-disease survey in the vicinity of San Antonio, Texas, U.S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Plant Industry
Bul. 226, 129 p., 19 pl., 1912.

Note.—This bulletin indicates the selections and cultural methods best adapted to successful fruit
growing in the vicinity of San Antonio and is of interest to the inhabitants of that region.

66906°—15——1

2 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Most fruits mentioned in this paper have. been growing under
observation for eight years. While this period is too short to permit
definite conclusions in every case, it has seemed best to publish the
information so far obtained, in order to meet the numerous inquiries .
received concerning this phase of the work of the San Antonio Field
Station.

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF THE REGION.

While the winters of San Antonio are mild, the occasional low
temperatures prevent the growing of many of the more tender fruits.
The severity of the winter climate is not due wholly to the low tem-
peratures, but in a large measure to the suddenness of the changes,
which often cause an extremely wide range of temperature in a few
hours. Many of the northers which bring the temperature down to
a few degrees below freezing are preceded by periods of warm, sum-
merlike weather that start the plants into growth and put them in
the worst possible condition to withstand the cold. The minimum
temperature does not ordinarily go much below 15° F., as is shown
in Table I.

TaBLeE [.—Absolute minimum temperatures at San Antonio, Tex., 1892 to 1913,
inclusive.'

| ||
s Temper- = Temper- | = Temper-
Year. ature Year. ature Year. ature.
|
oT. oR | 2d De

ok oh ae 1971] 2000; 20s eee 19' || 1908: <2 "56 eee 18
db 8 Se A a 26 190 TS eee are ee 15:3)) 19008222 >. 2250 eee 17
SOS en ee ee a 16 1902222 232 Se eee 26.1 910-2 eee Uy
1 bes) ip Abeta ca oat a ce 11 1903) ee eee eee eee 19 LOU 2 ere eee 13
SOG oes ee es Ay ye 27 1904207. Bas te ee. 22) It A912 2a ee See 16
NSO Tee es es 18 OOS. Soe tas. ee eee ae 13 19133 see SEL eee 20
SORE mses. SR ee nS 20 1906322 ees 2 aes 24 ———__—-
1 fot Pee eas © = ee Ail) 1907s 5c ae 27 Mean minimum. 18

1 The temperatures for the years 1892 to 1906, inclusive, are taken from the records of the U. S. Weather
Bureau, and those for the years 1907 to 1913, inclusive, from the records of the San Antonio Experiment
Farm.

The annual rainfall at San Antonio has averaged about 26 inches
for the past 20 years. (Fig. 1.) This, if well distributed, should
be ample for most fruit trees, and in ordinary seasons should
mature a fruit crop, particularly if the trees are planted somewhat
farther apart than is now customary and the orchards given good care.
and culture. In fact, the writers are convinced that the rainfall is
not the chief limiting factor in growing such fruits as peaches and
plums where the orchard receives proper care, although it must be
expected that seasons will occur when the fruit crop will suffer because
of insufficient rainfall.

Table II gives the rainfall at the experiment farm for the years
1907 to 1913, inclusive. A comparison of these figures with the

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 3

records kept by the Weather Bureau at San Antonio for a much
longer period will show that the mean rainfall for the last seven years
is shightly below what is to be ordinarily expected. The year 1909,
which was the driest that has been known during the observed period
(more than 40 years), was followed by two years when the rainfall
was considerably below normal. In spite of the adverse conditions
during this period, the orchards came through with no loss of trees
which could be traced directly to a lack of moisture.

TaBie I].—Annual precipitation at the San Antonio Experiment Farm, 1907 to 1913,
inclusive.

suas || Ene haps

ay: Precipi- || xe Precipi- i Precipi-

Year. tation. | Year. tation. Year. tation.

Inches. ] | Inches. Inches.
ROU ampere as Seb beth ZOXOSH ttl QLOLe ae ae ee Ae | ZOSOZE IGT SS Co eae eels eee 36. 71
TOURS ene or Ae | ESTE MOI a ee eer, oA eS 23. 93 —
Re en rne WS ee sh | IUD SIMEE I WME as 2 Soe me Seale | 26. 37 Meanii. sth sae 24. 66

THE SOIL CONDITIONS.

San Antonio lies in the southern extension of what is known as the
Black Prairie region, or the ‘‘ Black Lands’? of Texas, and near the
: ) )

northern edge of an
area known geograph- PAR, Ae ee
Sree a AW

ically as the Rio
Ln

%
Grande Plain. The §,0
soil is mostly the re- <
sult of the weathering i : g n : 3 g < ok
of limeston £ rocks of Fic. 1.—The mean monthly rainfallat San Antonio, Tex., from 1891 to
the Upper Cretaceous 1913. (Compiled from the records of the United States Weather
period. Recent allu- ?™"?
vial deposits have been washed down from the higher lands north-
west of the city, resulting in modifications through the addition of
coarser material. The typical soil is a heavy black or brownish loam.
The lime content of the soil is unusually high, the proportion of
carbonate of lime in the upper 12 inches ranging from 7 to 23 per
cent. This lime occurs in the soil both as a finely divided material
and as gravelly concretions. In the former condition it is generally
dark colored through staining by decomposed organic matter, while
in the latter condition it is usually white
This excess of lime is believed to be the cause of one of the most
serious disorders of fruit trees that have been encountered in the experi-
mental work reported in this paper. The chiefsymptom is a yellowing
of the leaves, and in the later stages the leaves drop and the tree
gradually dies. Often in less severe cases the tree may continue to
live and make a poor growth and bear some fruit for several years

yo

4 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

before it finally succumbs. This disorder or disease is known locally
as chlorosis. |

Another serious disease which has caused much trouble is root-rot..
This disease is believed to be due to a fungus (a species of Ozonium) -
which lives in the soil and is often more destructive than chlorosis.
Some species are particularly susceptible to root-rot, though certain
individuals may escape it for some years, probably because of lack
of infection. |

Crown-gall? is a disease that occurs frequently in the San Antonio
soils, and there are a large number of species of soil-inhabiting nema-
todes which are parasitic on the roots of cultivated trees and shrubs.

It is not clear mm every case just what causes the disease or
death of the plants. It is probable that in many instances there are
several causes working together. These causes are, however, located
in the soil and separately or together constitute a serious problem,
both to fruit production and to experimental work with fruit trees.

SCOPE OF THE EXPERIMENTS.

The horticultural work of this field station has been directed along
two major lines: (1) To find which varieties are best adapted to the
local conditions and (2) to find what varieties or species can be used
as stocks that wiil be relatively immune to soil troubles and will
permit the use of desirable but susceptible varieties as scions. In
addition, some work has been started in the way of making hybrids
between the native species and related domesticated varieties.

When this work was begun in 1906 and 1907, a collection of varieties
was assembled, chiefly from commercial nurseries. This collection
has been added to from time to time, and the Office of Foreign Seed
and Plant Introduction has placed at the station many new varieties
of fruits. In all the tests of varieties, at least two individuals of each
kind have been used in the experiment. Sufficient information has
been acquired in the tests here reported to prove that a reasonably
large list of fruits can be produced by every farmer with which to
supply at least his own needs. A number of peach varieties, which
ripen from the middle of June to September, have proved adapted to
the section. Plums, the most satisfactory fruit of this region, quality
and reliability considered, furnish a large list of varieties from which
to select, although their ripening season is comparatively short. A
fairly large number of varieties of grapes can be grown successfully,
although for table use their quality is low. Pears have been grown |
in the vicinity for a long period and the results observed from the
better managed orchards in favored situations indicate that certain —

1 This disease and its causal organism are described in detail in Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 213,
entitled ‘“‘Crown-Gall of Plants; Its Cause and Remedy,” by Erwin F. Smith, Nellie A. Brown, and C. O.
Townsend, issued Feb. 28, 1911.

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 5

varieties of pears could be used in the farmer’s orchard with the
expectation of securing reasonably good results. Persimmons, when
worked on resistant stocks, do well and produce fruit nearly every
year. Pecans are native here, and while they probably can not be
grown successfully on the uplands without an outlay for irrigation
that would be prohibitive, they can be grown on the low lands, where
there is ground water within reach of the roots. Dewberries should
be included in the farmer’s garden and by selecting several of the
better varieties should prove a valuable addition to the fruit supply
for his table.

Owing to the demand made upon the experiment farm for all the
information available regarding the possibilities of fruit culture in this
section, it has seemed best to include the information available regard-
ing many other fruits which have been tested, but not sufficiently to
ascertain how large a part they will play in the fruit production of
the region.

In some instances, for example apples and cherries, there is no
information at hand that would indicate that they should be added
to the farmer’s orchards; in fact, the weight of evidence is against
them. In the case of other and less common fruits, such as the
citrange, there is a lack of information regarding how they will behave
under local conditions.

Re

VARIETY TESTS.

PEACH SELECTIONS.

The experimental work with peaches has shown some of the reasons
why this crop has not been generally successful in the San Antonio
region. Notwithstanding the fact that the trees often grow well,
particularly when young, it appears that the standard varieties of the
North seldom fruit in this region and are slow to develop flowering
buds. They aiso show other irregularities, such as blossoming in the
autumn and early winter, or the blossoms may be delayed until very
late in the spring. This lack of adaptability is such as to disqualify
many varieties and limit the selection to sorts that. do not show these
tendencies. With a few exceptions, the varieties of the Persian,
North China, and Peen-to races have shown this undesirable new-
place effect or for one reason or another have not been productive.
On the other hand, varieties of the Spanish and South China races,
and especially some of the better seedlings from these varieties, have
been found much better adapted to San Antonio conditions. Not all
of the varieties of these last two races are satisfactory, however,
particularly some of those of the Spanish group. A few of them,
particularly of the South China race, are highly susceptible to chlo-
rosis, and some varieties of both races have proved to be shy bearers
or to yield inferior or mediocre fruit.

6 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

There still remains much to be done in testing these adapted varie-

ties on different stocks. The few experiments made so far indicate

that this is a very promising direction for experimentation.

It seems certain that some of the seedlings selected from among the -

Spanish or Mexican sorts will prove more immune to chlorosis and
generally better adapted to the conditions than the seedling stock
ordinarily used by nurserymen. The newly introduced Chinese wild
peach (Amygdalus davidiana) also gives promise of a high degree of
immunity to the local soil difficulties. It remains to be shown just

Fic. 2.—A tree of the Honey peach, one of the most reliable for the San Antonio section. This tree
islocated inthe variety-testing orchard in field A-1. Although the trees in this orchard are planted
closer together than is desirable for commercialplantings and the orchard has never been irrigated, the
trees have made a good growth and some of the varieties have fruited abundantly. (Photographed
June 25, 1912.)

how much can be gained by working some of the more desirable but
susceptible varieties on these resistant stocks.

In the variety test here reported no special stocks have been used.
The trees in the test were purchased from commercial nurseries in
Texas and the northern part of Florida and were presumably budded
upon the seedling stocks in ordinary use in those nurseries.

In this test fie trees of 30 varieties were set in January, 1906, and
5 varieties were set in March of the following year. Two trees of each
variety were planted and the orchard has been given thorough, clean
cultivation, except for the plowing under of a winter crop of Canada

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. {|

field peas in the spring of 1912, and again in the spring of 1913. The
orchard has never been irrigated, and, although the trees are only 15
feet apart, they have not suffered severely from drought (fig. 2).
This test orchard is located in field A-1.!

In Table IL is given a list of the varieties included in the test, with
an indication as to the race to which each variety belongs, where this
fact is known. It has seemed best to group them thus, even when it
is appreciated that there is a variance of opinion as to where a few of
the varieties belong. In the case of crosses it is not always clear in
which group to place the variety, and in such instances the predomi-
nating race is indicated. Opposite each variety name is given the
number of years of fruiting, and the last column indicates the size
of the crops. It was found impracticable to give the average yield
in pounds, for frequently only a few trees fruited and the injury to
the fruit by birds before gathering so reduced the yields that the
figures would be of little value and in some instances misleading.

TasiF II1.— Varieties of peaches tested, showing the class to which each belongs, the number
of years fruited, and the character of the crop, San Antonio Experiment Farm, 1906 to
1913, inclusive.

Fruited. Fruited.
Variety. Race. ee Variety. Race. Gene,
z ize o r izeo
Years. crop. Years. crop.
AUIS BiRe s tess oS: Peen-to....... 2) Fair. Jewellers hese ee RECO Ge sacdlaedcese
Late Bidwell....]..... C0seeian -- Se oes need Japaneses D Waris |Se er eeae 21 Poor.
OR s7 LBV elee | Fee 22 Coe ae ea eimenes sss. Spanish....._. 1 | Good
Chilowee cosas. Nort himaa2||4222 52 52 Mia goie see os os.t IRCCN“tO ssn lene ses
Chimaxsse 2.0.2: South China. . 5 | Good. Oviedosee ee South China. . 2 Do.
Cables. °-5 3. - Spanish. --.... 2 | Fair. Ballas te cea eee Suis oe domes: 5 Do.
Countess. =~ 5. Spanish x Per- 1 | Poor Recn-toeass2 san. IACRORWO Sooeaullbencoose
sian. IROWiCTSEre ee eee Spamish= - 2/55 1 | Fair.
Colonees e282 South China. - 3 | Fair to || Reeves Orange..|..... Goma sath s eee:
gocd CEVAGTN eyo IN SUE Se FS te eit earl a
Dorothy. 22-25 IPeCn-LOmen -. sa|le ek EVIVIELS essen ee ete iPersiansssee 1 Do.
WStellart soe es: Spanish....... 2 | Poor. Subersmewesaseee Peen-ton- see 1 | Poor.
Everbearing....|...-- OO jee we 2 Do. MAD ELSE ses aas South China. . 4| Fair to
Florida Gem....} South China. . 4 | Good good.
FloridaCrawferd| Spanish.......]........ SRTAATI AN Actes te le cycle doe eceié 4 | Good.
Gibpones a. - esate se Choy hae RY (ae Onderdonk. .... Spanish@assces 1 | Poor
Hall Yellow..... Peen-tor 3. - 1) Fair. WACTOI acne North China X|.......-
Prone yeast ene 2 South China. - 4 | Good. Spanish.
Tinaperniayeetewaeel ss: dosent... 5 Do. Wiel ORE seer Southi @hinars ||Sees--
Indian Cling....| Spanish (?)-.-- 1 | Poor

Table III shows that the varieties of the South China races have so
far given the best results. The Pallas, Honey, Imperial, Climax, Flor-
ida Gem, and Triana varieties, all belonging to the South China race,
are rated as the best, and their performance has been in the order in
which they are here named. These results should not be taken as
final. Further investigations may develop other and more valuable
varieties, and, as already stated, it may be found that the use of other

1 For a map of the San Antonio Field Station, showing the location of this orchard, see Bureau of Plant
Industry Circular 34, ‘The Work of the San Antonio Experiment Farm in 1908,” by F. B. Headley and
S. H. Hastings, issued July 22, 1909.

8 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

stocks may make it possible to adopt more desirable varieties than
those named. All of these South China peaches are small, delicate, |
and thin skinned, and consequently their use is limited to home con-
sumption or to local markets. aoe 2),

Aside from these definite limitations as to varieties, the production
of peaches in the San Antonio region is subject to much the same
vicissitudes of climate as in any other peach-producing section. Yet
with good cultivation and particularly if the trees are planted well
apart, the use of a green-manure crop occasionally appears to be all
that is needed to maintain the fertility of the soil, and the various
insect pests and fungous diseases of the branches, leaves, and fruits are
subject to control by proper spraying.

The net result of this test of peach varieties is to demonstrate the
entire practicability of producing on every farm an abundant supply
of fruit of excellent quality for home and local consumption. As is
shown later (Table IV), these varieties ripen during a fairly long
period, beginning in the latter part of June and extending through
July and August. Furthermore, if it is desired, the peach season
may be materially lengthened by the use of other varieties, which,
though possibly somewhat less certain or less prolific, are still worth
planting.

SEEDLING PEACHES FROM MEXICO.

In addition to the collection of named varieties already discussed ,
a seedling orchard,' originally of about 500 peach trees, has been
grown and fruited with a view to the selection of varieties particularly
adapted to local conditions. (Fig. 3.) It was also hoped that this
orchard might yield seedlings better suited as stocks for budding with
named varieties than the stocks generally used by nurserymen.

These seedlings have shown great diversity as regards vigor,
adaptability to local conditions, productiveness, time of ripening,
and quality of fruit. After having been fruited for four years, this
orchard shows at least 10 trees worthy of description, propagation,
and further study. The following trees, with descriptions, all but
one of which have been given Seed and Plant Introduction numbers,
are undoubtedly the best:

(1) Distributed under S. P. I. No. 32372, classification, South China; fruit, medium
size, elliptical, unequal; cavity, large, regular, deep, with abrupt slope; suture, long ©
and deep; apex, long, crooked, pointed, and fleshy; color, pale green, blushed with

red; skin, medium thin and tender; flavor, sweet; quality, very good; freestone;
ripens the latter part of June; tree vigorous and a good bearer.

1 The seed from which these trees were produced was collected in Mexico by Mr. Gilbert Onderdonk
under the direction of the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction. They are listed under S. P. I.
Nos. 9320 and 9321. For the early history of this orchard see Bureau of Plant Industry Circular 34, entitled
“The Work of the San Antonio Experiment Farm in 1908,” by F. B. Headley and S. H. Hastings, issued
July 22, 1909.

— '

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO, 9

(2) Distributed under S. P. I. No. 32378; classification, South China; fruit, medium
size, ovate, and unequal; cavity, medium size, deep, narrow, and abrupt; suture,
long and very deep; apex, long, fleshy, and pointed; color, pale green, blushed with
red; down, light; skin, thick and tough; flesh, pear white, red at seed, firm, fine,
and juicy; flavor, very sweet and very good; freestone; ripens between the middle
and the last of August; tree vigorous and a good bearer.

(3) Distributed under 8. P. I. No. 32374; classification, Spanish; fruit, medium
size, ovate; cavity, large, deep, broad, and slope gradual; suture, deep, very deep at
cavity; apex, long and pointed; color, bright greenish yellow; down, medium;
skin, thick and tough; flesh, orange yellow, juicy, and firm; flavor, mild, subacid,
and very good; cling; ripens between the middle and the last of August; tree very
vigorous and a heavy bearer.

(4) Distributed under 8. P. I. 32375; classification, Spanish; fruit, round to oblate,
but pointed and medium size; cavity, large, broad, deep, and flaring; suture, shallow,
but deep at cavity; apex, long, fleshy, and pointed; color, pale whitish yellow; down,
light; skin, medium thick and tough; flesh, pale greenish white, medium fine, firm,

Fig. 3.—The Mexican seedling peach orchard. This orchard of originally 265 trees has produced a few
trees that may prove to be of value. (Photographed in the spring of 1910.)

and juicy, subacid, good to very good; cling; ripens about the middle of August;
tree very vigorous and a medium heavy bearer.

(5) Distributed underS. P. I. No. 32376; classification, South China & Spanish; fruit,
medium size; cavity, large, broad, deep, and slope gradual; suture, medium, very
deep at cavity; apex, long and pointed; color, greenish white; down, heavy; skin,
thick and tough; flesh, greenish white, tender, medium juicy, subacid, and quality
good; freestone; ripens from the first to the middle of August; tree fairly vigorous
and a medium heavy bearer.

(6) Distributed under 8. P. I. No. 32377; classification, Spanish; fruit, medium
to large, round, and pointed; cavity, large, broad, deep, and flaring; suture, deep,
very deep at cavity; apex, short and pointed; color, greenish white; down, heavy;
skin, medium thick and tough; flesh, pale greenish white, slightly tinted, pink at
apex of seed, firm, juicy, mild, subacid, and quality good; cling; ripens early in
September; tree vigorous and a heavy bearer.

(7) Distributed under S. P. I. No. 32378; classification, Spanish; fruit, ovate,
medium to large; cavity, large, very broad, deep, and flaring; suture, medium deep;

66906°—Bull, 162—15——2

10 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

apex, short and pointed; color, greenish yellow; down, medium; skin, thick and
tough; flesh, deep yellow, firm, medium tender, juicy, subacid, and medium to good
quality; cling; ripens early in September; tree medium vigorous and a medium ~
bearer.

(8) Distributed under 8S. P. I. No. 32379; classification, South China; fruit, ellip.
tical, unequal, medium size to small; suture, medium doce apex, long, fleshy, and
pointed; color, pale green, tinted with red; Shean medium; flesh, greenish white,
tender and juicy, mild, subacid to sweet, and quality good; freestone; ripens from
the middle to the last of July; tree vigorous and a good bearer.

(9) Distributed under S. P. I. No. 32380; classification, South China; fruit,
medium small; cavity, medium size and medium depth; suture, medium deep; color,
pale green; down, medium; skin, thick and tough; flesh, greenish white, tender,
firm, juicy, sweet, and quality good; freestone; ripens during first half of August;
tree very vigorous and a medium heavy bearer.

(10) Designated as D23; classification, Spanish; fruit, ovate, pointed, and medium
in size; cavity, broad, shallow, and flaring; suture, medium deep; apex, medium
long and pointed; color, greenish white; down, medium; skin, medium thick, tough;
flesh, greenish white, tender, juicy, subacid, and quality poor; freestone; ripens
between September | and 15; tree vigorous and a rather shy bearer.

As will be observed from the descriptions, several desirable peaches
of the South China type, or at least showing a predominance of this
strain, were produced. In quality and flavor they resemble very
closely the Honey peach and are valuable as new varieties because
by their different periods of ripening they permit the extension of the
season of this class of peaches.

Table IV gives the average ripening dates, as shown by the 3 years’
record, of the named varieties of the South China group on trial in
the variety orchard, together with those that might be added from
the Mexican seedling orchard.

TaBLe 1V.—Average ripening dates of South China peaches and added seedling varieties
at the San Antonio Experiment Farm.

|

Variety. Source. | Ripens. Variety. Source. Ripens.
S. P. I. No. 32372....| Mexican seedling..| June 26 || S. P. I. No. 32379....] Mexican seedling..| July 24
OMe Yee ae el. Variety orchard...| July 4 || Florida Gem......... Variety orchard...| July 30
Tian ae fs eae Ose Pena ee July 8/|| S. P. I. No. 32376.... Mexican seedling... Aug. 6
Rabenteee. erases | 2e~ 28 dOpeeseeeeee Julysel5:||4 Climax see ae ee Variety orchard. - Aug. 8
IRaASRae eer eee 2 ls Ss dota oe aes July 17 || S. P. I. No. 32380.-...) Mexican seedling..| Aug.. 13
laniperials. Sere |b domes seh ssa 2 Do.) |S. Pol No.32373 ee dos eee Aug. 21

It will be observed from this table that even by lmiting the
selection to those of the South China race, the peach season may be-
extended to cover nearly two months, while by the addition of the
Early China, which, according to Mr. Gilbert Onderdonk, ripens
about a week or ten days earlier than the earliest of those listed in
the table, the season may be extended stillfarther. By the additional
use of some of the late ripening varieties of the elpaaia race a still
longer season may be secured.

There is a striking difference in the resistance to chlorosis of the
different races of peaches. It is particularly noticeable that the seed-

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. et

lings of the South China type in the Mexican peach orchard are very
susceptible to this disease, while those of the Spanish group are much
more resistant. It should be noted in connection with these new
varieties of the Spanish race that they are much more prolific than any
grown in the test orchard except those of the Honey type. In fact,
they are so far superior in production that it is doubtful whether a
grower can afford to plant any of the older varieties mentioned rather
than the new seedlings, even if the latter should prove to be slightly
inferior as to quality. Furthermore, as the better varieties of the
Spanish group are much more satisfactory to ship because of their
large size, thicker skin, and firmer flesh, they may prove to be better
suited to commercial production, though the fruit is distinctly more
acid than that from the South China varieties.

PLUM.

Of all the fruits tried at the experiment farm, the plum is the
most reliable producer and appears to be the best adapted to San
Antonio conditions. The trees flower somewhat later than peach
trees and consequently escape much of the late frost injury. Table V
shows the varieties that have been under trial sufficiently long to
justify tabulating. Of these, 12 varieties were set out in the spring
of 1906, and the remaining 4 in the following spring.

Taste V.— Varieties of plums tested, showing the class to which each belongs, the number

of years fruited, and ‘the character of the crop, San Antonio Experiment Farm, 1906 to
1913, inclusive.

Fruited.
Variety. Class. Origin.1
Years. | Size of crop.
Abundance. .....-. Japanese. ..--- WECM S stint] OL AM tees Stee a ae sere 3 | Good
‘Bartlett=):2-- 9-5-2 ity bridh > SS. Y: Prunus triflora Prunus simonii.......---. 3 | Fair.
Burbanks S522 25. 2 Japanese..-... HATA US HUGE OLA © ant Seishin seer 3 | Good.
Eagle (Beauty). -..-- American. ---- MIMS AMO USUUO Maleate see yee eee 4 | Fair to good.
WEP ASO Peer sos hele Sars MORES asset o COMP eee tiem aso ee ee 4 | Good.
bpRGEISIOFS == 2s =) Hybrid..-.....| Prunus triflorax Prunus munsoniana....- - 3 | Fair.
Golden Beauty...-- American. ...- Prins tOnimlana sane ee eee See 3 Do.
Gonzales: 520-2: Ebyiprides Prunus triflorax chance seedling.-....--.--- 5 | Good.
Indian Chief... --. American. -... BIMNUSaMUNsONIANa 2. |W ss 2 asso ee 4 | Do.
HEOWMOIS GAL ee |S. ck | GORZES = sas RMUNUS AN SuShioligee sass eera eee Soe 2 | Poor.
McCariney 9-0 252 2.|22522 COP eed eee COREE SERN Cos So 2s ene a Paine Ashlee 4 | Good.
Fottawattamie.....|...-. DOs? sos =. Prunus munsoniana........---..------.--- 2 | Poor.
pone liegt ee Iso Se Ss yipridl >: + se: ETA cmbaloy de < ((2))odeooe caoseunueoasesser 4 | Fair to good.
Transparent (yei-
NOW Saree eke ae American... .- rin Stan SSbiOliaee em eer ae ae ee 4 | Do.
WAaACKSOIRS. 2-5 _ 33-22 Hybrid. ......| Prunus triflorax Prunus simonii.... -.--.. 3 | Do.
Wicoten 2: i822 5 _ American... .. MBrnUSmMaUnNSOMiana= sees. o-sceeeoe sas aes 2| Fair

|
}

1 The origin of the ae was obtained Ae pias of New York, ” by U. P. Hedrick, assisted by R.
Wellington, O. M. Taylor, W. H. Alderman, and M. J. Dorsey.

The most successful plums in the test, orchard quality and produc-
tivity considered, are the Gonzales, Burbank (fig. 4), Wickson,
Eagle, and Terrell varieties. The Transparent and Wooten are Ameri-
can sorts, and, although they yield good fruit for home use, they are
not as valuable to the average grower as those of the Japanese class
or some of the hybrids.

12 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

The Gonzales and Burbank varieties are rather inclined to over-
bear, often requiring thinning to produce the best fruit. The season
of 1913 was unfavorable for plums because of a severe spring frost,
which occurred March 17 and killed the fruit of many of the varieties.
In spite of this frost the Terrell plum set a fair crop, while the Gon-
zales made an excellent yield of fruit. As these varieties were in
blossom on March 1 and March 5, respectively, it would seem that
they are more resistant to the cold than other varieties.

It should be borne in mind that there are several other varieties
of the Japanese sorts, as well as of hybrids between them, that are

Fic. 4.—A bearing tree of the Burbank plum. This variety is well adapted to the San Antonio region
of Texas, being of good quality and a reliable bearer. (Photographed July 8, 1912.)

not included in the table. As all representatives of these groups
that have been tested have proved successful, it is probable that
there are still other varieties that will do well. It is very evident
that these three groups of plums are adapted to a much wider
range of climatic conditions than are the peach varieties that have —
proved reliable in the San Antonio section.

PEAR.

Little work with pears has been done on the experiment farm, but
observations made on neighboring farms, particularly that of G. A.
Schattenberg, at Boerne, Tex., form the basis for some conclusions,

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. io

Some few plantings of pears have been made in the vicinity of
San Antonio and have given varied results. The soils richest 1m.
lime, especially those with limestone gravel very near the surface,
are not adapted to the culture of pears. The following varieties have
been tested: Bartlett, Kieffer, Kruger, Le Conte, Magnolia, Russet,
Sand, Smith, Vermont Beauty, and Early Wilder.

From the behavior of these varieties 1t would appear that the pear
is less promising than the peach and the plum. The trees respond
vigorously to a slight increase in altitude. Black lands lying north
of San Antonio can produce successfully fruit of the Le Conte and
Kieffer varieties, the latter being the more successful. Either of these
varieties appears to succeed best when worked on Le Conte seedling
stock. A recent oriental introduction of wild pear is being tested,
which gives promise of exceptional value as a stock for species of
Pyrus or Malus grown in this soil.

Pears in this locality are not free’ from the disease known as pear
twig-blight, but climatic conditions are such that the disease is not
severely destructive, and many seasons pass without its appearance,
even in infected orchards.

Mr. Schattenberg, of Boerne, has been testing pears since 1892 and
during the period has grown a large number of varieties. Boerne is
located at an elevation of about 1,400 feet, about 700 feet higher
than San Antonio, and though the rainfall is somewhat greater the
soil is very similar. Mr. Schattenberg believes that from a com-
mercial standpoint the pear is more promising than any other fruit
in sections having similar conditions.

As a class the European varieties do not fruit well, and the fruit is
of such poor quality that difficulty is found in marketing the crop.
There are, however, a few exceptions to this, as, for instance, the
Bartlett, Howell, Duchess, and Guyot varieties. The Bartlett and
Angouleme develop such awkward shapes and grow so large that they
are frequently unmarketable. The Howell, when dwarfed by work-
ing on quince root, is a valuable variety. The best of them all, how-
ever, is the Guyot.

The oriental hybrids are the best and most reliable. While rather
low in quality, they bear regularly and abundantly. Mr. Schatten-
berg believes that the Kieffer is the best of this group. Besides the
Kieffer the other varieties recommended are the Le Conte, Smith,
Garber, Katy (of Texas), Golden Russet, and Magnolia, but for
profitable commercial orcharding the Kieffer is far superior to all
others in quality and as a market pear. The trees of this variety are
inchned to overbear, and severe thinning has to be practiced in most
seasons.

It is the opinion of Mr. Schattenberg that pear growing in western

Texas on a commercial scale is a profitable venture when the under-

14 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

taking is backed by experience, provided the right varieties are chosen
and care is used in selecting the locality. His 30-acre orchard, 22
years old, with trees planted 20 by 20 feet apart, which is too close,
has frequently borne 200 to 250 bushels to the acre, and some indi-
vidual trees in favorable situations have borne from 8 to 10 bushels
to the tree. ‘This orchard doubtless would have done better had it
been possible to irrigate during some of the long, dry periods, although
it received clean cultivation after reaching the bearing stage.

GRAPE.

Grape growing in the immediate vicinity of San Antonio has been
limited to varieties of rather poor quality, which are used largely for
the production of wine. The better varieties of table grapes that
have been under trial have not survived the adverse soil conditions.
Their failure is due largely to root-rot. Chlorosis, which occurs fre-
quently, also indicates that the lime in these soils is in excess of the
tolerance of the better varieties of the table grape. The country
about San Antonio is rich in species of native grapes which thrive
under these conditions. Some of the most successful of the named
varieties under trial are those that have resulted from crosses between
cultivated varieties and native species. However, there is an exten-
sive area of red sandy-loam soil adjoining the black lands on the south
that should produce excellent grapes if root-rot and chlorosis can be
avoided or controlled. The following grapes have been tested on the
experiment farm: Bell, Berckmans, Brilliant, Champanel, Cloeta,
Eden, Flowers, Goethe, Headlight, Lukfata, Mericadel, Mish, Norton,
Thomas, Valhallah, Wapanuka, Wise, Xenia, and Gapotum. Most
of these have been unable to survive, because of their susceptibility
to root-rot and chlorosis. The varieties that have proved best
adapted to this region are Valhallah and Lukfata, although the qual-
ity of the fruit is not high. Except for home consumption or for the
production of wine, no varieties of grapes have been found that are
altogether satisfactory.

In this connection it is of interest to show the parentage of the
two grapes mentioned above, as given by the late Mr. T. V. Munson
in ‘‘Foundations of American Grape Culture.”’ Lukfata was obtained
by crossing Vitis champini, a native Texas species, with Moore.
Valhallah is a cross between Elvicand and Brilliant, and Elvicand is ~
a cross between Elvira and Vitis candicans, the native mustang grape.

DEWBERRY.

While none of the small fruits, such as berries, have been tested at
the experiment station, it seems advisable to mention the dewberry
because of its adaptability to this section, bemg a native of Texas.
It appears to be tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions. Mr. T. R.

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 15

Dillon, who has been growing dewberries for several years a short
distance south of the station, has been successful on soil that is some-
what more sandy than that at the experiment farm. The area
devoted to the crop has varied from 5 to 10 acres. Mr. Dillon con-
siders this one of the most profitable fruit crops for this locality. At
the present time he has four varieties—Haupt, Austin May, McDon-
ald, and Rogers. Of the four, he considers Austin May the best, with
Rogers second. The Rogers is a particularly desirable variety, as it
ripens early. There is some danger of late frost injuring the crop,
and occasionally the yield is materially decreased because of early

flowering.
PERSIMMON.

A collection ‘of 12 budded varieties of the Japanese persimmon was
placed in the experimental orchards in 1906 and 1907. These in-
cluded both the astringent and the nonastringent types, as follows:
Astringent—Yemon, Okame, Hachiya, Tsuru, Triumph, Tanenashi,
and Costata; nonastringent—Taber’s 129, Yedoichi, Hyakume, Taber’s
23, and Zengi.

A number of these varieties have done very well, fruiting regularly
since reaching bearing age, and some have produced exceptionally
heavy yields for small trees. The varieties that have proved the
best are the Okame, Tsuru, Taber’s 129, Yedoichi, Hachiya, Hyakume,
and Zengi. Of these varieties, the trees of Okame and Taber’s 129
are the most prolific and vigorous. Other very highly prized varieties
have been added to the collection recently, but as yet have not
reached the bearing age.

The persimmon is very susceptible to chlorosis, and many of the
varieties under trial have been severely injured by: this disease.
The Diospyros virginiana, which has been used generally as a stock
for the Japanese sorts, is very susceptible to this disease and should
not be used as a stock in this section.

Several recent importations by the Office of Foreign Seed and
Plant Introduction that are under trial here promise to be valuable
additions to the list; both for fruit production and for stocks. Among
them may be mentioned Diospyros lotus (S. P. I. 17906), which has
been found to be the most resistant to the soil difficulties of any of the
different sorts under trial. (See figs. 5 and 6.) The fruit of this
tree is very small and is of little value, however.

PECAN.

No other branch of horticultural endeavor in the San Antonio
section promises to afford so broad a field for selection and improve-
ment as the nut trees.

Already a large number of recognized varieties are being tested
in this part of the State and undoubtedly there are now in the forests

16 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

numerous individual trees bearing nuts of sufficient merit and in
sufficient quantity to justify their being propagated as new varieties
of special promise for this section.

Twelve standard varieties are growing at this station. The original
experiment embodied 19 varieties planted in 1909. These are being
tested with much care under good dry-farming conditions. Such
results as are indicated here, together with wide and varied obser-
vations of the nat-
ural home of bear-
ing trees and the
behavior of compar-
able plantings in
other situations, all
indicate that care
should be exercised
in selecting loca-
tions for pecan
plantings. Success-
ful tree growth and
fruiting should not
be expected when
the pecan is planted
in a soil where un-
derground water is
not within reach of
theroots. Thesur-
face application of
water on most of the
higher land of this
section does not ap-
pear to fulfill the
needs of the pecan.

As the tree ap-

Fic. 5.—A treeof Diospyros kaki, or Japanese persimmon, which is nearly proaches b earl ng
dead from chlorosis. This tree has been in its present location for eight :
seasons. The only persimmons that have been found thatareresistant AC, the roots must
to chlorosis and root-rot are the native Diospyros terana and D. lotus. penetrate d ee p ly
Compare with figure 6. (Photographed September 16, 1913.) ; : é :
into soil which is

drawing water from the underground water table; then the pecan
succeeds and grows to be the most stately tree of Texas. The conten-
tion advanced by some enthusiasts that since the pecan is native it
can be grown under a great variety of conditions is erroneous. It
should be borne in mind that the pecan in this part of Texas is dis-
tinctly a river-bottom tree and that the mere application of light sur-
face irrigations sufficient for many other trees will not satisfy its needs.

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. sy
THE LESS IMPORTANT FRUITS.

The fruit crops already enumerated are all that the writers are now
prepared to recommend for planting in farm orchards or gardens.
Not all of them will be found suited to every farm, but it is believed
that some of them may be used on each farm, and in most cases all
of them may be used if desired.

In addition to the lists of fruits which have been mentioned, many
others have been under experiment at the San Antonio Field Station.

RIK... 4
ie : Bae ‘
Ba

MT 4 ag f

Pia. 6.—A tree of Diospyros lotus, an importation from China, which is a very promising stock for the
Japanese persimmon. These trees appear to be immune to chlorosis and resistant to root-rot. The
one here shown has been growing in its present location for seven seasons. Compare with figure 5.
(Photographed September 16, 1913.)

Some of them have been found unsuited to local conditions, and the
experiments with others have not yet progressed far enough to war-
rant final conclusions. There is apparently widespread interest in
regard to the possibilities of many of these fruits, and requests for
information regarding them are frequent and insistent. In order to
meet this demand the following notes are included. It should be

18 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

understood, however, that the work is still in progress and later
results may modify the conclusions here given.

Prune—Prunes have not been on trial long enough to produce
fruit. However, the young trees are vigorous and appear to be well
adapted to the conditions, although this does not signify anything
of importance. The varieties on trial here are the Italian, Giant,
French, Epineuse, Tragedy, and Pond.

Apricot—The Cluster, Royal, Moorpark, Early Golden, and
Onderdonk apricots have been under trial since the spring of 1906.
Several favorable seasons have passed since these trees were of a
bearing age, but only a few fruits have yet been produced by any of
the varieties. ‘To judge by its behavior, this fruit is not adapted to
San Antonio conditions, although a few seedling trees in the neighbor-
hood are said to produce fruit regularly but of rather poor quality.
Very often the apricot crop is ruined by frost because of its early
flowering season.

Cherry.—The list of cherries that could possibly be of value under
San Antonio conditions is very small. From the behavior of those
tested and those observed elsewhere, the indications are that this
fruit is not adapted to this locality. The Advance, Eagle, Napoleon,
and a wild cherry from China were set out in the spring of 1911. The
Compass (not a cherry in the pomological sense, as it is a cross be-
tween the Miner plum and the Dwarf Rocky Mountain cherry) and the
Baldwin were set out in the following spring.

Nectarine and plumcot.—Such other drupe fruits as the nectarines
and plumcots have been but little tested. The Crosby nectarine
set out in March, 1907, has borne only one crop of fruit since it began
to bear four years ago, and it behaves much the same as peaches of
the unadapted type. A seedling nectarine occurring in the Mexican
seedling orchard has made a vigorous tree, but has borne fruit spar-
ingly and has a tendency to very irregular ripening. This nectarine,
however, is of fair quality and may prove to be a good variety for
some other locality. Its behavior in the seedling orchard as a tree
and as to flowering and fruiting habits resembles closely apes of the
peach varieties not adapted to this section.

Apple.—Apples have been tested only in a small way at the station,
but the behavior of other near-by plantings in similar soils has been
observed. Very few trees have produced any fruit. Apparently this |
region is not suited to apple production. Many apples fail to grow
into trees, remaining dwarfed and bushy. ‘The only varieties observed
that have been partially successful are the earliest sorts.

Citrus fruits—It is very doubtful whether even the hardy Satsuma
orange grown in parts of Texas will thrive as far north as San Antonio

1 The testing of citrus fruits at this station has been carried on in cooperation with the Office of Crop Physi-
ology and Breeding Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry.

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 19

unless grown in well-protected situations. A number of plantings
have been made in this section, but none of the trees has survived.
Plantings of other sorts have been made, but the only citrus trees
that have proved hardy are certain varieties of citranges. These
fruits were originated by crossing the common sweet orange with
the hardy trifoliate orange.!| The following varieties of these citranges
have been under trial: Coleman, Cunningham, Morton, Rusk,
Rustic, Savage, and Thornton. Of these the Rusk is the only
variety that appears to be adapted to these conditions. The others
either have died or made a very poor growth. This variety is bearing
fruit for the first time this season.

One interesting feature in connection with this group of fruits is
that the trees appear to be immune to the root-rot fungus, so fatal
to many other fruit trees. Plantings have been made since 1908,
but none of the trees has died from this cause so far as it was possible
to observe, although several varieties died from other causes.

There is reason to believe that the Rusk citrange may make a good
stock on which to work other citrus fruits in parts of Texas where the
trifoliate stock is not adapted. This species has not done well at the
experiment farm, whereas the Rusk citrange on its own roots has made
an excellent growth. In addition to furnishing a useful fruit, the
citrange can be used as a hedge, resembling very much the trifoliate
orange, and it should be planted here in preference to that species.

F'ig.—aA collection of several varieties of figs, including the Mis-
sion, Magnolia, and others, has been grown without irrigation. The
results indicate that the fig can not be grown successfully in this
section without irrigation, and even with irrigation it is a doubtful
crop because of winterkilling, except in protected situations. The
plant is apparently exceptionally free from chlorosis, but is very sus-_
ceptible to root-rot, and this disease may be a limiting factor in grow-
ing this fruit crop on a commercial scale, even under irrigation. While
San Antonio is near the northern limit of the zone where the fig can
be grown. in Texas, because of low winter temperatures, still, when
srown in sheltered situations near buildings or other protection, the
trees will survive where temperatures fall much lower than those
ordinarily experienced in San Antonio. The fig should by all
means be included among the fruits produced for home consumption
on the farm. It should be grown, if possible, where some protection
is afforded and where an occasional irrigation is possible. The
Mission and the Magnolia are the two varieties most generally grown
in this vicinity, but several other varieties of the Adriatic typeseem
to be well adapted. The Smyrna type of figs can not be fruited in

1 Webber, H. J.,and Swingle, W.T. New citrus creations of the Department of Agriculture. Yearbook
of the Department of Agriculture for 1904, p. 221-240.

20 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

this chmate, for the reason that the Blastophaga, the msect necessary
for the fertilization of the fruit, will probably not endure the winter
temperatures.

Walnut.—Another possibility of nut culture is the Persian walnut,
which has already made rapid growth when budded or grafted on
the native walnut, although the effort to grow it is at present wholly
in the experimental stage. A number of grafts and buds have been
worked on the native Juglans nigra, both at the station and for
Mr. F. F. Collins, who has cooperated in this work. While the
trees worked have not yet reached the bearing age, still with the
exception of the first year, when they were severely frozen back, the
Persian walnuts have made an excellent growth on this stock.

Almond.—Although doubtful for fruit production, owing to its
early-blooming tendency, the almond makes a vigorous tree. A few
nuts of the Nonpareil variety were secured in 1912 from a tree
two years from planting.

Pistache—A rather complete collection of pistache trees, from
which the pistache nut of commerce is obtained, is being tested here.
None of the trees has fruited yet. Most of the species appear to be
unadapted to these conditions, owing largely to their susceptibility
to root-rot. Many of the trees have died from this disease.

Pomegranate.2—Although not producing a fruit of much commer-
cial importance, pomegranates have proved to be as well adapted to
the particular local conditions as any orchard plant tested, bemg very
resistant to the adverse soil conditions fatal to many fruit trees. As
ornamentals or for a hedge plant they are very useful, although occa-
sionally there are winters when they will be injured by frost.

A variety test of 12 named varieties is being conducted, and also
seedling pomegranates covering half an acre are being fruited with a
view to obtain other varieties. A few pomegranate plants in a home
garden will not be amiss, for good specimens of the fruit are delicious
and refreshing.

The varieties that have been fruited are the Radinar, San Pipetos,

Jative, Hermosilla, Papershell, Sweet, Ruby, Dessia, and Subacid. -

The varieties in this collection that have produced the best fruits are
San Pipetos, Jative, and Dessia, while the Radinar, Papershell, and
Subacid varieties have matured the heaviest crops. Plants of the
San Pipetos and Jative have made the heaviest growth.
Jujube.—The jujube, or Chinese date (Ziziphus sp.),is one of the
more promising new fruits, and the hardy types appear to be well
adapted to San Antonio conditions. Two species, Ziziphus mauri-

1 The testing of pistache trees at this station has been carried on in cooperation with the Office of Crop
Physiology and Breeding Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry.

2 The testing of pomegranate varieties at this station has been carried on in cooperation with the Office of
Alkali and Drought Resistant Plant Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry.

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 21

tiana (S. P. I. 28129) and Z. oxyphylla (S. P. I. 28130), are not hardy.
Both Ziziphus satwa and Z. jujuba are perfectly hardy and have
made an excellent growth. Many of the better varieties so highly
esteemed in China are being assembled at this station. As yet this
fruit is more of a novelty than a product of commercial value, but
when properly prepared it is considered a delicacy in this country as
well as im China.

Quince.—Only one variety of quince has been tested, and it has not
made a satisfactory showing. It is very probable that this fruit is
out of its zone here.

Olive-—The Chemlaly and Aberkan olives have been grown here for
several years, but the climate appears to be too severe for them.

Date.—Although it is probable that the San Antonio climate is
entirely too humid for the date to ripen fruit, the seedlings grown are
quite hardy, and the tree is valuable as an ornamental. Tempera-
tures of 12° F. have been experienced without killmg the plants,
although the leaves are generally injured by temperatures below 20° F.

TESTING RESISTANT STOCKS.

One of the most promising and important lines of horticultural
investigation at the present time is the determining of stocks resistant
to the local soil troubles. Not only is there a great difference in the
power of resistance in different species, but there is also a very notice-
able difference in the resistance of different varieties of the same spe-
cies. As an illustration, many of the seedlings of the Spanish race
in the Mexican peach orchard are quite immune to chlorosis, while
almost invariably those of the South China group are very susceptible.
Certain varieties of persimmon are resistant, while others are severely
affected.

The richness of the native flora in economic plants, some of which
may he utilized as stocks and others for hybridizing experiments,
together with those which have been assembled from this country
and by the importation of those which have indicated their suscepti-
bility or resistance to soil disorders, forcibly emphasizes the import-
ance of this line of effort. This work has received special attention
the past three years. ‘The preliminary results indicate very dis-
tinctly not only that many of the better varieties of fruit which are
not considered adapted to these conditions may be utilized, but that
additional fruits not commonly grown here may be added to the list.

Persummon.—One of the most interesting new stocks now under
test 1s the native Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana). This is being
used as a root for both the American and the Japanese persimmon.
It has been found very difficult to work other persimmons on this
stock, and many previous attempts have resulted in failure where
ordinary methods were used. During the spring of 1912 a number of

ae BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

good unions were made by the inarch-graft method. These are now
growing in the experimental orchard. Both the American and the
Japanese sorts seem to be growing fairly well on this stock, but the
danger feared is that Diospyros virginiana and D. kaki will both out-
grow the root of D. texana, or at least that the trees will be dwarfed
and checked in growth for this reason. Diospyros texana is distrib-
uted over a wide stretch of semiarid country in southwestern Texas,
where soils are shallow and very calcareous. ‘The tree has never been
known to die from root-rot. Its drought resistance is exceptional,
but 1t apparently responds to a more generous supply of moisture.

A recent importation of a wild persimmon from China, Diospyros
lotus (S. P. I. 17905 to 17907), by the Office of Foreign Seed and
Plant Introduction, is extremely promising as a stock. (See figs. 5
and 6.) Five trees set out in the spring of 1907 have made an excel-
lent growth and are quite resistant to the soul difficulties. The
behavior of the trees thus far indicates that this species is entirely at
home here. It may prove to be as good a stock as the native per-
simmon because it seems to be quite as resistant to the soul difficulties,
and it may prove to be even better because of its more rapid growth.

Pyrus betulaefolia (S. P. 1. 21982), a wild pear from China which has
been previously referred to, gives indication of being a good stock
for pears in this section. The appearance and growth of the trees
here indicate that the species is more resistant to those soil difficul-
ties that noticeably affect the pear on its own roots.

Grape.—At this time there are no table grapes of special value
that can be grown here on their own roots. The crown grafting of
the native mustang grape (Vitis candicans) has been successful,
although on the uplands this grape does not do as well as some of the
cultivated varieties. There may be other native grapes or hybrids
between them and the cultivated varieties that will do well for stocks,
but of the many tested at this station none has appeared so promising
as the variety known as Lukfata. Eight vines of this variety have
been under trial for six years, and none of them has shown suscep-
tibility to either root-rot or chlorosis, the two most serious diseases
affecting the grape. There is good reason to believe that by the utili-
zation of these resistant stocks the list of grapes adapted to this sec-
tion may be materially increased, thus giving an entirely new out- —
look for grape production.

Walnut.—The Persian walnut is not grown in this part of Texas
at this time. Repeated trials have been made, which resulted only
in failures. This was due undoubtedly to the fact that the walnut
was worked on a stock that was not able to survive these soil con-
ditions. Both native species of the walnut, Juglans nigra and J.
rupestris, are proving to be adaptable stocks for the Persian walnut.
Experiments in the propagation of the Persian walnut on these

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 28

stocks indicate that patch budding and crown grafting are the most
successful methods to be employed. Ring budding gives reasonably
good results, but with this method more buds are lost after the
union has been formed than is the case with patch budding.

A large number of seedlings of the native black walnut (Juglans
nigra) were grown by Mr. F. F. Collins, and several of these trees
have been budded. With the exception of the first year, the winter
of 1911-12, when the young growth was frozen back, a good growth
has been obtained. A sufficient number are being grown at this
time to demonstrate the value of this stock.

Stone frwits.—Native plums are being used experimentally as
stocks for stone fruits. The sorts commonly known as Tenehah

Fic. 7.—Two rows of A mygdalus davidiana, a peach from China introduced by the Office of Foreign
Seed and Plant Introduction, which is a very promising stock for stone fruits. These trees were set
out in January, 1909. (Photographed September 16, 1913.)

(Prunus munsonii), American (Prunus americana), and hog (Prunus
rivularis) are included in this test. It is not expected that all of
these species will be useful on a large scale, but the vigorous growth
of the different species under very adverse conditions on the lime-
stone hills about San Antonio proves their hardiness.

A wild peach from China (Amygdalus davidiana, S. P. I. 21227),
which bears a fruit. of no value, has proved to be unusually well
adapted to San Antonio conditions. (See fig. 7.) So far it has
proved to be resistant to beth chlorosis and root-rot. One orchard
of about 30 trees, set in January, 1909, has survived without the
loss by disease of a single tree. This species is being tested as a
stock for peaches, plums, almonds, and apricots. The only serious
drawback of this tree so far noted has been its failure to produce

24 BULLETIN 162, U. 8. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

seed. In this respect it behaves in this locality not unlike the
unadapted peach varieties.

Trees of the Spanish group in the Mexican seedling peach orchard
are relatively resistant to the soil difficulties and give every: indica-
tion of furnishing a better stock on which to work stone fruits than
peaches of the unadapted type. This orchard is now being kept
chiefly for the production of such seed, in order to supply desirable
stocks for loca! peach plantings.

SUGGESTIONS ON ORCHARD MANAGEMENT.

Cultwation.—Orchard cultivation of all kinds around San Antonio
without irrigation must necessarily be much more intensive than in

Fic. 8.—Orchard cultivator used in the experimental orchards to establish a mulch and keep down
weeds. Clean culture is absolutely necessary for successful fruit production in the San Antonio
section. (Photographed July 12, 1912.)

more favored sections because of the uneven distribution ef the rain-
fall. Clean culture, especially when the trees have reached ‘the
bearing stage, is absolutely essential, for all available moisture must
be conserved. As much care must be given the orchard as is given
cotton or corn, if successful results are te be obtained. The best
method ef orchard culture, rigorously practiced at the San Antonio
Field Station, 1s to keep a 3-inch or 4-inch earth mulch on the ground
throughout the growing season. After every rain of any conse-
quence, from early spring until fall, the orchards have been gone
over, either with an orchard cultivator (fig. 8) or a spike-tooth
harrow. If the orchard cultivator is equipped with sweeps to sup-
plement the ordinary shovels and these sweeps are used when the

HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS AT SAN ANTONIO. 25

weeds appear, there will be practically no necessity for hand labor
in keeping the orchard free from weeds, except near the trees.

Planting distances —The distances apart of planting the trees
should be greater than is customary in regions of greater rainfall.
In the test orchards the trees were spaced 15 to 17 feet apart, but
this is much too close for the trees to do well after they reach full
size. Peach trees should be not less than 25 feet apart, and a greater
distance may be advisable. Plums may be planted somewhat closer
together, but it will be found in the end that wide spacing will give
more satisfactory results.

Green-manure crops.—The soils of the San Antonio region are often
lacking in organic matter. Green-manure crops or stable manure
will do much to correct this condition. Cowpeas were first used as
a green-manure crop, planted late in July. As that is the season of
the year when droughts are most likely to occur, it was found that
this crop was not wholly satisfactory. Later, Canada peas were
introduced as a winter-cover and green-manure crop. This has
proved the best of any so far tried. The Canada peas should be
planted as soon after the first of October as possible, or at about the
time oats are ordinarily sown. Satisfactory results have been
obtained by planting with an ordinary grain drill, seeding at the
rate of about 90 pounds per acre. The crop is plowed under the
latter part of February or early in March. The best variety so far
tested is known as the Golden Vine (S. P. I. 30134). It has been
erown here for the past two winters in comparison with several other
varieties and is the only one that has survived a temperature as low

as 15° F. above zero.
SUMMARY.

There is comparatively little authentic information regarding the
possibilities of fruit culture in the vicinity of San Antonio. Conse-
quently, the greater part of the farming population is poorly supplied
with fruit.

The horticultural work of the San Antonio Field Station included
not only the testing of a large collection of varieties, but tests of
resistant stocks have also received much attention.

A number of limiting factors govern fruit production in this region.
The soil conditions are unfavorable for many fruits. The climate is
too severe for such fruits as of and olives and too mild for apples
and cherries. ‘The rainfall is sufficient for most fruits if the trees are
spaced at somewhat greater distances than in more humid climates.

The early attempts at peach growing were made with seedlings
from the early Spanish importations. The later introductions con-
sisted largely of varieties of the North China, Persian, and Peen-to
races, none of which has proved wholly successful.

With the introduction af the Honey peach a new type was found
which has proved particularly well. adapted to the conditions. The

26 BULLETIN 162, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Pallas, Honey, Imperial, and Climax have proved to be the most
reliable and promising of the varieties so far tried.

A large number of varieties of the American and Japanese classes
of plums do well. The best among the 14 varieties under trial ’are
the Gonzales, Wickson, Burbank, Excelsior, Eagle, and Terrell.

Of the other stone fruits tested, which include cherries, nectarines,
and plumcots, it was found that none of the varieties under trial has
given good results.

Pears do fairly well on the higher lands. The Kieffer is the best
variety for general planting.

Native grapes are abundant in the San Antonio area, and some of
the cultivated varieties that are related to these wild species may be
grown. None of them, however, possess qualities that justify their
use as table grapes.

Of the small fruits, dewberries have been found to return sood
prefits when properly cared for.

None of the citrus fruits has done well, with the exception of the
Rusk variety of citrange. This variety is perfectly hardy and has

made good growth.

Figs seldom go through the winter without being injured by cold,
except in protected locations. The Mission and Magnolia are prooe
bly the best varieties.

Persimmons are included among the fruits that do well. The
varieties that have given the most satisfactory results are the Okame
and Taber’s 129.

The native pecan is distinctly a river-bottom tree. When grown
where underground water is available it does well, but results on the
uplands have been disappointing, even with irrigation.

The Persian walnut does not do well on its own roots, but when
worked on either Juglans rupestris or J. ngra it makes a good growth.

Almonds have a tendency to flower so early that they are injured
by frost and rarely fruit.

Pistache trees, while making a vigorous growth, are so susceptible
to root-rot that it is doubtful whether they can be grown successfully.

Pomegranates make a vigorous growth and fruit well, but are occa-
sionally injured by cold.

The jujube, or Chinese date, is one of the promising new fruits.

Although the date palm can be grown, the climate is probably not

suitable to the production of the fruit.

The cultivation of orchards must be more intensive than where
there is a greater rainfall. Clean culture during the summer is abso-
lutely essential.

Canada peas have been found to be the most satisfactory green-
manure crop.