The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-09-17
DIE-BACK IN ORANGE TREES.
It's Causes, and Its Cure.

Delivered before the Lake George Fruit Growers
Association.
An old and trite maxim has it, that
an ounce of prevention is worth
pound of cure; and as in the human
system, so it is in the subject before
us, namely, Die. Back in Orange Trees.
This we believe to be the most form
idable disease of any to which the
Citrus family is liable; or, which the
orange grove has at present to con-
tend "The term, die.back, is gen.
eral one, and used for want Of bet
ter"
The symptoms are the dying back
of the young and tender shoots, and
swelling of the buds to an unnatu,
raj size; and later, on rust upon the
bark: and general stunted appear
ance. Die-back may be, and is
brought about by three or four diff
ferent causes. The first and most
common we believe to be two deep
setting, which causes the young root
let's to become smothered, and that
they fail to perform their functions
in providing proper nourishment for
the growth and support of the top.
This may be avoided by care in set
ting, care being taken to set above
the general level.
Another cause, and one that is
equivalent to the first is, allowing
soil to accumulate through mulching,
or by plowing, or by continuous cut
ting up and leaving about the trunk
OF the tree, weeds, grass, or debris of
any kind; in either case relief is
many times obtained by either set
ting higher or taking away the top
soil.
Another cause of the disease is, the
tree standing in too wet soil, so that
the roots are submerged in standing
water. This is remedied by ditching,
il there is laA enough to allow. Of
thorough drainage. If not, then re-
source must be had to elevating the
tree. We believe there are some fine
orange lands along the water courses
of the State, not more than tour feet
above low-water mark, which, of
course, in treshet like that we ex-
perienced last September, endangers
the lite of the tree. On such lands
let ridges be thrown up with the
turn.plow, running towards the wa
ter, say to the height of two feet or
more, according to the height of the
land, for the rows of trees in grove
to stand upon; we, then, Of course,
have our trees instead OF four feet,
not less than six feet above water, and
in the best kind of soil as this kind
of hammock is nearly always rich.
We have many trees we have treated
in this way that were badly dis
eased with die back, where they
originally stood, that are now as fine
trees as one need to see.
Another very frequent cause OF die
back s,the application of strong nitro
genous manures, such as fresh stable
manure, guano, dead animals, etc.,
buried about the roots of the trees.
All such fertilizers should be well
composted before being applied to
the orange tree.
Still another cause, and one that
we think has escaped the notice of
many growers is, that of small spl-
der that punctures the small.
tender shoots, and poisons the sap
of the tree, which causes the tender
shoots to die, the buds to swell, and
rust to the limbs below; and the tree
literally ceases to grow, or bear any
fruit. This spider is quite small, and
would seem unable to cause so much
mischief. It is from one.quarter to
one-half inch in length of body, and
about as large as a common darnlng'
needle. On the least jar of the twig
it hides itself and lies very close in a
leaf or shoot resembling bit Of moss.
The only remedy / have found 49,
to hunt and destroy them. They are
found easier early in the morning.
Still another insect is, one closely
resembling the common squash bug,
which is said to injure the tree in the
same way as the spider This, l
have not observed very closely, but
do not think it has done the damage
the spider has in this vicinity.
Whatever the cause that produces