The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-10-04

would be worth millions, and stock that
could withstand the influences causing
an orange to have ode back" would be
of great value.
The introduction of such stocks and
varieties should be undertaken only by
the general government, and should be
subjected to the most careful inspection
Otherwise the danger of introducing new
diseases and parasites, even more de-
structive than the old, is great. There
is good reason for the belief that several
of the many destructive diseases now
present have been introduced, and there
are many others which should be most
carefully guarded against. This division
could very properly take up such work,
as well as take steps to ascertain the ma
ture and extent of dangerous maladieS
liable to be introduced into the country.
In no part of the country is this more i'm
pOrtant than in the tropical and sub-trop-
ical regions. Already sugar cane and
orange diseases are present In the West
Indies, and strenuous efforts should be
made to prevent their introduction. The
dreaded "Sereh" cane disease of the
West Indies. If introduced into Florida
or Louisiana, would seriously cripple. if
not destroy, the now promising sugar in
terests in these States.
Again, the influence of climatic and
soil conditions ON the orange and other
citrus fruits asubject demanding study.
1t can be taken up proftably only by
trained men provided with special equip
ment. The extreme variability of soil
and climate in adjoining fields is fact
we'll known in Florida. Perhaps ar
engagements might be made for study
of these matters in connection with
meteorological work. The general rela-
ton of climate to plants should also be
studied.
Finally, and most important of all, is
the study of the influence of fertilizing
on the health and fruitfulness of the
trees. The time of application, the
amount and kind for different soils,
stocks, and varieties, and the effect of
the various fertilizers on amount, size,
and quality of the production, are ques-
tions that certainly need answering.
With fruit trees like the orange, such
investigations are almost entirely want
ing, owing, partly, to the difficulty of
making them, but more especially to the
fact that many years of consecutive and
painstaking work is required before the
effects of given fertilizer on a given
soil can be determined. With the cereals
and other annual plants, on the contrary,
a single season gives results of positive
value. There is much that goes to show
that the blight of the orange and other
diseases are often, to a considerable ex-
tent, comfortable by judicious fertiliZing.
This clew can not profitably be neglected.
In addition to the bearing 2fsuch studies
on the effect of various elements of fertil-
izers ON diseases of the orange or other
plants, they would be of great direct
value to the grower as pointing out
rational methods of plant feeding. Such
Investigations, if begun, must be contin-
ued for term of years, with different
varieties and stocks, on various kinds of
soil, and, if possible, under diverse eli
matte conditions"
The orange growers of course will reap
the benefit of this study and investiga-
ton. Unfortunately the Department is
retarded in it's work by lack of funds.
This difficulty we trust will be overcome
by an increased appropriation by the
next congress. Certainly the matter is
of sufficient Importance to justify it
n mr.