The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-01-10
PROTECTION OF CITRUS
TREES FROM DROUGHT
Press Bulletin 1875 of the Florida Aqri-
cultural Experiment Station.
(By B. F. Floyd-1

Durin gthe last month CDecember),
the drought has been causing damage
TO citrus groves in different parts Of
the state Some groves. however. are
being irrigated. and in other groves
different forms Of mulch are being
used 70 conserve the moisture But.
in too many case, the growers have
been leaving their groves alone hop
ing for the rain that was long in COM
ing. As a result bad conditions have
developed.
Results of Lack of Water
The leaves and small branches have
withered; the fruit has become stunt
ed and IN some cases i falling: and
the trees. being W kened generally.
are in a condition s, Be further in
jufed by disease such a. WtthertiD
and the stelnend rot which has cads-
ed the loss of much fruit. Another
result of the drought is a splitting OF
the fruit. The poor supply of mois-
ture has allowed the fruit to mature
its rind. more or less. With an in
creased supply of moisture. tn inte-
riOr makes a more rapid growth. and
the resulting pressure causes the
splitting.
It is we'll known that the citrus tree
The under sides Of the leaves. the
green stems and the frpit. are coy
cred with minute onenings known &c
stomates or breathing noras These
are so constructed that rhe state Of
the plant controls their Opening and
closing It is through these that the
water vapOr passes out. and the ex-
change Of gases between the air and
the plant occurs. In time of drought.
these onenings close more or less so
thar the amount of moisture given off
nearly corresponds to the amount sup
piled by the roots During and after
wet weather. the openings will be
wide open. and large amounts Of
water will be given off Experiments
with different kinds of fruit Rave
shown that the leaves Of frlIj-ing
trees NAV draw upon the fruits for
moisture in case the tree. is suffering
from lack Of wafer This accounts
for The strntjug and f,onnina Of the
oranges during the late drought.
n,.ioLi,,
UpPoi me- III tic
'illiiu oi t!le grower WHO mas 10 MI
5atIoH Is no" 10 conserve the moisture
III MS grove. without lTrisat!oh' the
grower must resort 10 SOM IVfh. OF
'iuISn' l"tS may DC tIthtI "uSt
iAulch' OF muIch OF dead weeds
grass ElhtS' IeaNeS' OF moss
/" OBTAIN q duSi huicn the grower
plo"s uhutr tHe grass anu "eeos' ana
loIio"s thlS WIN siiailo" cul.lNd'4oh
ph'e every week VI t"o uul its 'Iie
urE weather. ana II posSIole altef tach
shoWe'. Oh APtii Is anu - I'Ve'
the EXPERIMENT. station hiade deter
NUN" 'i"i1 Va 'iie "iii0' eilCe ~ '''I
moisture Contained III cuIIi\dt1u anu
! III uhcu ItINale" i1hu. 1t Was lpuHu
lhaI lHtft WAS oHIefehce OF Loo
tons OF water equlEaIent 10 one aho
nan lhcheS OF falhlaii' III FAVOR VI
the cultivate" iahu. III groves SuIieI
ing from lack Oh moisture uSlse
grown 81 NteuS ana si"o9 9ii'"i" mo-
ne "llo"e"' BECAUSE t1i09' PIC 10 O.
continually pumping from the son Tue
water lhat shouio pe cohSer' eu-
Inc oIhef system OF inulchlnS Is
that or covering the ground arouhu the
trees with large quantities OF vines
moss, leaves weeds or grass. ms
not only protects the sou from or!lhs