The herald., 1896-07-18
The following is a summary of the

The following is summary of the
treatments recommended for foot rot:
First-Remove the earth from about
the roots for two or three feet from the
trunk, being careful not to wound the
healthy roots. When the groves are fur
nished with irrigation plants of the kind
commonly used in Florida, which are
capable of delivering stream of water
under considerable pressure, the earth
should be washed away rather than dug
away from the roots. A good way to
do this is to first dig hole some three
feet in diameter and two or three feet
deep about six feet from the tree; then
stand on the opposite side of the tree
and wash the soil from under the tree,
driving 1t into the hole previously dug.
II no hole is dug before washing out is
attempted the soil is likely to bank up
around the tree and make 1t difficult to
expose the roots sufficiently. In all
cases the roots should be left exposed
until recovery takes place, except possi-
bly, during a portion of the winter when
severe freezes are liable to occur.
Second-Cut away all diseased spots
in the bark of the roots or trunk and
cover the wounds with one of the follow
ing antiseptic solutions: ~ Sulphurous
mot sulphuric) acid, Is parts to s. parts
on the roots. ca Carbolic acid
part of crude acid to
part of water. When diluted to 8 this
may be sprayed over the roots. (3) Sui
phur wash made by putting 30 pounds of
flowers of sulphur in an iron or wooden
vessel and mixing enough water (about
IL quarts) with 1t to make stiff paste.
To this add 20 pounds of finely pulveriz-
ed SO per cent caustic soda and stir Wig
orously. In few moments the mass be-
comes hot, turns brown, and then boils
up and becomes liquid. AS soon as the
toIa 1r,tIt hoe ea6 a IA
water to bring up to 20 gallons and strain
into. a barrel tht can be kept tightly
corked. For covering cut places use l
part of this stock preparation to part of
water. The roots may be sprayed with
l part of stock solution to 10 of water.
All these solutions should be kept in
wooden or glass vessels, and should not
be allowed to come in contact with
metals. 1t is possible that any of these
applications will prove Of benefit even
If the diseased spots are not cut out.
In this latter case however, care should
be taken to saturate the bark of all dis
eased spots with the solution.
3. When the diseased trees are old and
closely set, so that the groundlis much
shaded, every other tree should be re-
moved and replanted in new grove.
4. Avoid highly heterogeneous organic
fertilizers in diseased groves, using pre-
ferably nitrate of soda or suiphate Of
ammonia as a source of nitrogen.
8. All tools used in infected groves
should be cleaned and washed with
crude carbolic acid before they are used
in healthy groves.
6. In setting out new groves dead trees
should be replaced with trees budded
on sour orange stock.
Z. Avoid excessive and deep cultivation
in diseased groves. Injuries to the roots.
such as are often used by deep plow-
ing, seem to greatly favor the spread of
the disease.
This treats is in strange contrast to
the learned dissertation contained in the
voluminous report just sent out by the
director of our agricultural station,
which we reproduce wholly and YER
batim. Root rot. This term is ap-
piled to all forms of root disease 1t is
very commonly applied to the toadstool