The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-04-06
Limb Blight in the Orange.
Editor OrMs EOrido A0rieulsuriss:

Editor Ofths florida A0riculturist:
1t must be conceded that the
orange in common, with other fruit
trees, has diseases and insect pests to
contend with. This is the experience
Of all who are engaged in the culture
of the orange, lemon and lime, and
yet some are SO sensitive, and fear
ful least the anunciation of this fact.
should deter those who are thinking
of emmigrating to Florida from
coming here, and engaging iD fruit
culture, that they decry any editor or
letter writer, who has the honesty
and boldness to publish known facts
upon the subject.
l much prefer that the prospective
immigrant should be fully informed
before he makes the venture, what
he may expect, and what difficulties
he may encounter in orange culture.
have been engaged in the business
about sixteen years i'll Florida, and
during that period have found that
there was much to learn in this COM
paratively new branch of fruit cnl-
ture, and have not had any greater
drawback TO contend with than /
had in the culture Of the apple, pear,
peach and cherry, in another State,
and have found that my experience
with this class OF fruit has been a
benefit in the culture of the orange.
Having an Agricultural paper in our
State, the FLORIDA AGRICULTURIsT
devoted to the introduction, and de
velopment of semi-tropical products
adapted to this section, ! have often
ayailed myself OF the facilities il
affords OF exchanging experiences
with those engaged in the same busi-
ness and in this way endeavor to
benefit each other. realize that
need the experience of others to as
sist in making me successful fruit
grower. The importation of foreign
trait trees, brings with them diseases
zESs meets neN 20 us; therefore wo
are constantly having something new
10 investigate and learn how to con
tend against. There is one disease in
particular in which l feel q deep in
terest, as it has caused me serious
loss. II is found among groves
planted upon hammock as well as
pine land and has not been specially
mentioned by those who have writ
ten upon the diseases of the orange.
! have repeatedly brought it to the
notice OF your readers, but it has al
ways been coniounded with another,
and distinct disease, the "die back. !"
This has repeatedly been produced
by the use OF highly stimulating
mannres, especially those containing
a large amount OF nitrogen, as guano
and stable manure. The disease to
which / refer ID entirely different in
its inception and termination, and
has been known for years among the
old settlers as "curl Leaf" The
leaves begin to curl up, during the
day, but at night lose their diseased
appearance until the air becomes
heated; gradually the leaves assume
a parboiled appearance, and the
limbs die slowly, until the whole top
ID Tue SnCCb 10
gradual, while in other cases the
disease does its work rapidly. The
season in which the top dies, the
tree puts ont heavy crop of blooms,
and it any fruit survives, it is small
and sour. Thus tar | have had no
response TO my question. What is
the disease, and what is the remedy {?
/ have submitted the leaves and
twigs TO microscopists, and they
have tailed to tell what it is. have
dug up trees twenty-three years old
but tailed to discover any disease in
taeroots. ! have mercilessly used
the pruning saw, and failed TO eradi.
cate the disease. l therefore began
to treat the trees upon the following
principles That if the disease was
caused by fungoid growth, must ap-
ply some manure or preparation that
would destroy fungus, and on the
other hand i the disease was caused
by Insects, l must employ some
remedy that would destroy or drive
them away. Thus you will. preceive
that ali my experiments have been
\ necessarily made without any know
\ ledge OF the disease or pest that /
wished to combat, had 70 fight in