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I [, ': I f, I f ~ "1 . " ..JW OPE R A TI 0 NAN D ~I A I N TEN A NeE 43 AgriclIlturol water investigations Studies concerning the effects of treated and untreated Colorado River water on the growth of agricultural and ornamental plants were continued in the field and greenhouse. The tolerance of camel- lia and gladiolus to soil salinity was investigated using sand culture techniques, The orange tree, in the citrus irrigation experiment conducted in cooperation with the University of California on a 13,5-acre sec- tion of the District groves at La Verne have been irrigated since 1942 with natural and softened Colorado River water and local well water, Fruit yields have been measured each year in the three sections of the grove. No difference in yield has occurred on the plots irrigated with natural Colorado River water and local well water, but a small reduction in yield was observed during the past two seasons for the crop of Washington navel oranges irrigated with the softened Colorado River wateT, No d;freTence, between the three treatments was noted for the Valencia orange yields. Gypsum was applied on a portion of the softened Colorado River water plot in the spring of 1949 in order to observe its effect on improving ,\'ields and soil conditions. The educational program to assist both commercial and amateur growers in solving their cultural problems was continued by lec- tures before groups and personal interviews:. QlIality of Colorado River water An average analysis of Colorado River water as received at and delivered from the softening and filtration plant during the fiscal year 1948-49 is given in table 6, The quality of the nattiral water by months is given in table 7 and the quality of the softened water by months in table 8. Due to the increased hardness of the water released during the period of peak fiow through the softening plant, the average hardness of the finished water for the year was 133 parts per million, which is slightly higher than the desired 125 parts per million, In table 9 are given the data on the operation of the zeolite softeners, The slight increase in the quantity of salt required per part of hardness removed is a reflection of the in- creased age of the siiiceous zeolite in the softener units. Chemical control of the quality of water maintained throughout the softening prOfe" required the partial analysis of approxima- tely 11,000 samples taken at various stages in the process, In addi- tion, 1,460 samples were taken at the plant for bacteriological