The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-05-14
From the Monthly Bulletin
TAE ''DIE-RACK,, QUESTION
AGAIN.


AGAIN.
Inc Investigations which, in linn
lted way, have recently been under
taken III the state laboratory to
throw some light if possible upon
this subject, have called forth no
little inquiry. as well as humorous
requests for the analysis of soils in
groves where this trouble is observed.
AS has previously been explained,
in most cases, compliance with this
request has been impossible. Among
the first to make application for such
a soil analysis was Mr.. D. r. Nor,hey
of Orange Bend, in portion of whose
grove this unhealthy condition was
manifested. The time at the COM
mand Of the State Chemist has only
permitted the examination of the
particular soil and subsoils in the
affected portion of the grove, al
though samples were sent from the
portions not so affected as well.
There seems to be a very widely
prevalent belief that so called "Die-
Back" is a specific disease due to
some cause which if it could be once
discovered and removed would relieve
the orange grower Of one of his most
insideous enemies. The writer does
not so regard it. He believes it is TO
be rather a symptom, or more pro-
perly speaking, the result of a dis
eased state which may originate in
great variety of causes. The condi-
tions ofsoil, climate, drainage, ferlili-
zation ETC., which are essential to
the healthy growth of the orange tree
are numerous and exacting. Florida
supplies the climate in-perfection,
sometimes the soil, in most cases the
requisite drainage. Aside from the
attacks Of insects and probably in
same cases of parasitic and bacterial
diseases, in far the larger numbers OF
cases, i'll balanced or defective fertil-
ization is responsible for the greater
paLt of the ills to which
the orange tree here is subject. This
does not, however, include all the
causes OF disease, as think the fol-
lowing soil analyses quite clearly
indicate:
THE KIND OF SOIL
The samples of soil examined for
Mr.. Northey may be briefly described
as follows. 'No l" is a sandy loan
with a fair proportion OF vegetable
matter, (humus), with, for Florida,
rather unusual amount of clay. The
sand was approximately estimated at
about eighty-two::per cent. Of the air
dried material. "No. 9" subsoil at the
depth of eighteen inches is stiff
purplish brown clay, with a small
admixture of sand and would proba-
bly, make excellent brick. "No. 80 at
the depth of four feet is also clay
rather less tenacious, lighter in color
and containing a little more sand
but substantially y similar in character
and composition to ''No. g." While
the writer has no information upon
the subject he is inclined to believe
that these soils are from what is
ordinary termed "high hammock" J"
The following is the analysis of
these soils SO far as made. BY
the term "acid insoluble'' is meant
that portion of the soil (sllica and
silicates) which was left undissolved
after digestion in hydrochloric acid
sp. LIS at the temperature Of boil
ing water in a steam tight glass
vessel for a period of forty hours.
The "acid soluble" of course includes
all that passed into solution during
this time.
SURFACE SOIL NO. per cent.
Acid insoluble, silica and silicates... SS.2925
Acid soluble, oxides Of iron and alu-
| nina, Fea Os II Ala o.. s....... 1880
Acid soluble silica 81 O2.......... .03S5
Acid soluble potash K2 O........ .1O65
Acid soluble phosphoric acid P2 o.. 1874
Acid soluble car of lime Ca Coa.. .54S2
Acid soluble car. maguesia Mg Goa. .OlS6
Volatile at red heat, carbon combined
| water, nitrogen etc. ............. 3.9OOO
Microscopic mois volatile ct llOc.. S.75OO
Not estima. ed and less. 1858
| -
| 100. 10000
NO. sUBso1L IS INCHES DEEP per cent.