The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-10-30
B1uestOne.
Editor Florida Agriculturist:

used for many years and have had a
chance to note it's results, with citrus
trees especially, and what have to say
is confined to them exclusively.
Bluestone is usually applied tor what
is known as die back, or red rust, as 1T
is sometimes Called it has also been
recommended for foot rot, and other
similar diseases, also for gum sickness,
of most any kind, for all of which it
is beyond a question Of doubt, most
excellent remedy, and IN some 1nstan-
ces the only one we have.
I also find it a most valuable tonic
for trees of all ages, even when ap-
parently perfectly healthy, it is also
very valuable in bringing young trees
into a bearing size, it obvlates the
danger of over feeding, and stimulating
tree, to which any one lays them
selves liable when they crowd young
tree, and keeps them IN very healthy,
thrifty condition at all times, and &C
cordingly by being more healthy, 1t
better enables them to stand the cold.
Also when newly set trees seem to be
unwilling to start off and grow as they
should, as there will be occasionally
one, in spite Of all we can do in the
way of care in setting and SO forth,
a little bluestone seems to help them
wonderfully
Bluestone is applied in many different
ways, the most common l think, was IN
bordeaux mixture sprayed on the trees.
This rendered the trees very liable to
serious damage from scale, and it was
found that an application Of scale spray
must follow bordeaux closely, and at
short intervals for some time after
wards, I think this method is generally
being abandoned for the troubles we
have under consideration.
It was later advocated to put a small
quantity under the bark Of each affect
ed tree, this has met with varible Sue
cess.
In both of these methods I have
been very fortunate, by never having
to use either personally to see and get
at the results. When bluestone first
came under my notice, and I saw the
result OF bordeaux spray, l said to my
self, this is a constitutional trouble we
have to contend with, an internal diff
Guilty, and not an external bug, flea, Or
mite. l also thought, a doctor will not
wash a patient in soap and water, or
neither could he give him a dose OF
medicine internally to at once remove
feas, or other bugs from the skin. Ac-
cOrdingly came to the conclusion that
we must treat Our trees internally, and
not externally, and as years go by I
am more and more convinced that I
am right.
1t always seemed to me that the
bordeaux did very little if any good
until washed from the trees, and into
the ground and the tree had taken it up
in that way, accordingly I experimental
with the pulverized bluestone, sprink-
ling it on the ground underneath the
trees, and have always met with good
results.
We find that we can use it to good
advantage, making an application once
every two or three years, of from
about an ounce for very small trees to,
probably, pound for very large trees.
This should be scattered under the
trees, inside as much as possible, of
where the fertilizer is spread, it makes
but little difference at what time OF
the year it is applied; we aim to put ours
on at time when it is likelv to be
washed in shortly by rains and thus
dissolved that it may be taken up soon
er by the tree, in very dry time it
would be advisable to work it in, or if
IN a hurry for it to take effect it could
be dissolved in barrel or less OF
water, according to size of the tree
and put on in this way
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