The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-04-26

property of the writer's Five hundred dollars
of the appropriation for the investigation was
expended for books bearing the citrus family
and OF direct necessity in the contem plated work.
This working library of 1000 volumes is supple
mented by the larae library of the Department OF
Agriculture in Washington, from which books
are mailed to us as they are desired for use.
system arranged Of telegraphing for these
ahles us to obtain desired book from the de-
partment library in about three days.
There are still thousands of books the
orange and subjects related to the investigation
which it seems absolutely necessary for US to
have if we to satisfactorily conduct the work,
and we hope it may be possible to obtain them.
In connection with the laboratory land for
small experimental garden was, as stated above,
donated by the citizens OF Eustis. 1t isproposed
to start here necessary adjunct to the labora-
tory, collection of the various species and vari-
cites of the orange and related plants, both ma
tive and foreign. It is hoped that correspond
ence with U. S. consuls in foreign parts and with
foreign botanists and horticulturists will enable
lis to obtain some of the many varieties not yet
introduced into this country. We would espe-
ciay request the aid of all American horticulture
lists in making our collection complete in those
species already grown here.
The work contemplated by the Division of
Vegetable Pathology at it's subtropical labora-
tory is thorough study of the diseases of sub
tropical cultivated plants Since at present the
orange is by far the most important OF the cul-
tivated plants of Subtropical Florida. the mala-
dies of citrus fruits will naturally be studied first
Some of the diseases are due to causes apparent
upon careful inspection, but and unfortunately,
It,.
are due to causes as yet unknown. In the expe-
Tence of plant Psychologists the world over it has
been repeatedly found that in such cases the only
profitable course is to make thorough studies Of
the physiology and anatomy of diseased and
healthy plants. Then after understand ex-
actly what changes in structure what derange-
ments OF functions disease causes, we are in q
position to search intelligently for the cause and
cure or preventives of the malady. 1t should
not be forgotten that though the study of med
icine in human diseases is of the Oldest
sciences, there are yet many maladies that after
1900 years of study not thoroughly under
stood. But do we think, in consequence, OF ceas-
ing to engage physician when we are sick? SO
in the study of plant disease, the grower must
not be too impatient for speedy results. In most
cases satisfactory remedies for plant maadies
Fortunately, the Investigations we propose to
conduct on the physiology and anatomy OF dis
eased and healthy trees, as well studies now
under way on the relative merits and suscepti-
bility to disease of various varieties and of va
rious stocks, are likely to prove of interest and
value in themselves.
The field experiments now in progress bear al
most entirely on the orange blight, which is
doubtless the most destructive of any disease
now attacking the orange industry. Expert
ments we're begun in the summer of 1891 to deter
mine whether the blight was contagious by bud
ding. A number of small sour oranges were
budded on Mr.. Cunninghams grove at Eldorado
and on Mr.. Mullen's grove at Leesburg Fla
In the summer Of 1892 these experiments were
much extended through the generosity of Mr..
Jno. Fabyan, of Leesburg, who gave permission
to bud II large sweet orange trees in full bearing
Naturally this was a better test as to the con-
tagiousness of the disease than budding into
small STOCK since such small sour trees
lever show blight and large sour trees seldom.