The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-09-18

either be covered in a pit or disposed
of in some other way that would in
sure that none OF the fungus got back
to the grove.
This fungus is present in the citrus
grove and does considerable damage
throughout the entire year. The
greatest amount OF damage is done
to the fruit from about the time it
begins to ripen until it reaches its
maximum ripeness, gradually increas-
stroying nearly the entire crop. Re-
peated experiments in controlling this
form of dropping shows that it ordi
narily takes about two weeks from
the time of spraying until decided
diminution may be noticed. During
the first week after spraying the
dropping is apt to increase in severi
ty, since fruits once infected will drop,
and spraying only prevents infection.
We have proven by leaving trees I'M
sprayed that the dropping on sprayed
trees is no more severe than on trees
that were not sprayed.
This same fungus causes very Sc
we're loss in great many orchards
during the time of poisoning. Sc
we're shedding also frequently occurs
from this disease before the fruit has
reached the size of hazel-nuts. After
the fruit reaches about the size of
English walnuts it is fairly safe from
the attack of this disease until the
ripening season.
Sitting of citrus fruit frequently
follows heavy rains when these oc-
cur just about the ripening season
especially during the latter portion Of
October. When splitting is due to
purely physical conditions the fruit
splits open from the bloom end, usu-
ally and leaves a very sharp and we'll
defined edge on sides of the wound.
AS the conditions which cause this
splitting are beyond our control, the
remedy for it likewise seems to be
beyond Our ability.
Trees that are severely affected with
die-back lose nearly all their fruit
from dropping before it ripens. Some
times trees are slightly affected with
are not apparent. Such trees produce
fruit with Large brown specks, fire.
quently becoming very smooth and
taking on the appearance as if the
spots had been vanished.
This disease may be readily dis
tnguished from the withertip specks
from the fact that the affected area
on the epidermis of the fruit is raised
in the place Of being depressed. Some
times die-back fruit is covered with
very minute specks not as large as a
pin head, scattered over the entire or
a portion of the rind. If one is in
doubt as to whether this is a case Of
incipient die-back or not, it can be
verified by cutting the fruit in two
cnosswise. 1t is a case OF incipi-
ent die-back, transparent gum will be
found on the inner angles of one or
more OF the segments.
AS die-back is a constitutional dis
ease Of the tree, it is self-evident that
no remedy will produce any radical
relief promptly. We are, therefore,
in position where we must lose more
or less of the fruit from an in
cipient case of die-back when it be-
gins to drop. Some good can be done
by spraying the tree with Bordeaux
mixture, but the curative process will
require weeks and even months. Such
trees should be marked and put
through a course of die-back treat
ment during the succeeding season to
prevent loss from this source when
the next crop shall mature
Where groves are exposed to high
winds very considerable fruit is lost
from thorning, also from scratching.
Insects, especially the cotton stainer,
are apt to cause considerable loss by