The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-10-22
Die-Back.

Editor OF The Florida Agriculturist.
The disease known by some as
"Die:back" in the orange, seems to be
a difficult nut to crack, and demands
careful study and Investigation. A,
has tree presenting noduIations on
the young wood, ultimately resulting
in death, and it is called Die-back
3. has grove suffering from a fungoid
disease, affecting the leaves and ssnmaII
branches, and is styled Dielback! 8.
has neglected tree or trees. affected
with the Aspiodotus, resulting in
death OF the lower and interior
branches, and the affection is termed
-FDie.back. fir. + .sa4 - - ! !,
| Before we can arrive at ANYTHING
definite regarding a disease, and it's
causstion, and cure, we'must DIAGNOSE
1t, determine what it is, and how it
may be recognized. I am not dis.
posed to enter into any discussion
with any person or persons as to what
IS, or is not Die-back.
AS l understand Die.bsck, it is a
diseased condition affecting the young
and immature wood Before the
wood is matured, say in May, June
or July, it presents nodulations vary.
ing IN number, size and shape. After
time the affected wood dies back to
the parent branch, and is succeeded
by One or more succulent branches to
follow in the steps Of nodulated pre-.
decessors. This is simply the atfec-
ton, regarding which I am anxious
to secure information. .s.1' '@'
Various causes have been assigned
to account for the disease, and some.
body must be wrong-all cannot be
correct. By some it is attributed. to
defective drainage, but my observa.
ton leads me to question the correct
ness OF this theory. AS far as | have
been able to ascertainlthe affection first
made Its appearance in the State on.
l-nraaHg~tsass ogos61ng on q sre1
mound with permanent water at ar
average level of forty feet from the
surface. Five years since, / examined
the last living tree of the grove and il
! had died back to the first limbs from
the ground, and at this point I found
/ several clusters of succulent branche:
: covered with nodulations. Near the
. mound, and at a low elevation moi
|. more than six feet from permanent
water, / found a small but luxurian
grove, and no trace of the disease
i visible. On another occasion I care
fully examined a grove about thirty
years old. A portion of the .treel
, were growing on a mound, some Of
? its sides, and the larger portion on I;
fat composed Of a dark tenaciou
, clayey loan, with permanent watel
within from two to four feet Of til,
surface. / found three trees growing
t on the slope of the mound affected
/ by the disease. These trees were 0
: lone variety and the only ones Of til,
8 kind in the grove. The disease hat
: existed for years. To test the trans
instability of the affection from tire,
to tree, I removed some Of the nodu
= lated branches and budded two trees
o The buds were inserted over thre
: years ago. They made a vigorou
O growth aud no trace of the diseas
can be discovered. Last summe
p my friend, Mr.. Hubbard, requisite,
. my opinion regarding disease affect
= ing trees in his grove. An examina
e ton revealed Die-back. Upon en-
- quiring I was informed that the ire
from which the branches were Gu
. was growing near the edge ola gull
y about twelve feet deep. 'l.& III 7G9
/. By some it is attributed to luxur
ant growth and rupture Of cells, coz
a sequent upon plethora. In this cor
. neetion shall cite but one case
: Last winter friend dug up on one {
!. his places, "a healthy eight year.ol
orange tree. He headed in the tire
+ to a limited extent; but not in prc
4 portion to the mutilation Of the root
). This tree was transported 2 nearl
j. twenty miles and planted in a loan
soil containing an excess Of h1nuI
!. with a deep subtraction Of oyste
) shells. About June last my frien
' submitted for my inspection a fey
! branches cut from the tree. / toun
?Ithem thickly covered with nodI
lations. Some of the branches wer
!, forwarded to the Agricultural d.