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<br />,.. ,..,r, 1 <br />.~, ~u <br /> <br />40 <br /> <br />METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT <br /> <br />Defense and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. <br />Measurable amounts of radioactive outfall resulting initially from <br />some of the"e tests disappeared rapidly due to natural radioactive <br />decay. The quality of Colorado River water is not endangered by <br />these radioactive outfall dust" since the facilities of the softening <br />and filtration plant can effectively remove them from the treated <br />water. <br /> <br />,'lflrif'I/1tl/ral- wale}' invcsfif/llf/:(}lIs <br />Studies concerning the effects of treated and untreated Colorado <br />River water on the growth of agricultural and ornamental plants <br />\""ere continued. In the citrus irrigation experiment conducted in <br />cooperation with the University of California on a 13.5-acre section <br />of District orange groves at La Verne, segregated plots have been <br />irrigated since 1942 with natural Colorado River water, filtered <br />and softened Colorado River water, and local well water. Yields <br />of Washington navel and Valencia oranges have been measured <br />each year in the plots irrigated with the three different waters: <br />No significant differences between the three treatments have been <br />noted for the Valencia orange yields, but a small reduction in yield <br />has been observed for the \Vashington navel oranges irrigated .with <br />the softened Colorado River water. For the ten-year period, this <br />reduction in yield has amounted to a little less than 10 per cent. <br />Gypsum applied on a portion of the softened Colorado River water <br />plot in the spring of 1949 and added to the water at each subse- <br />quent irrigation has caused a marked improvement in soil comli- <br />tions in thb part of the softened water plot. A response in tree <br />vigor and a small increment in fruit yield has been noted. Further <br />observations on tree and soil conditions will be made in all sections <br />of the grove. <br />Two technical papers were prepared for publication based on <br />data from these field and greenhouse studies. One presented data <br />on the relation of mineral composition of citrus tissues to the <br />mineral content of the irrigation water, and the other discussed <br />the effects of water quality on camellia culture. <br /> <br />Ollie-I" plant (u:tivilics <br /> <br />Visitors to the plant during the fiscal year totalled 1,343 <br />persons, among whom were leading \\'aterworks men and promi- <br />nent individuals from all over the world, members of civic organ- <br />izations and various clubs, and classes of students from many of <br /> <br />l <br />