CITRUS DISEASES. 



59 



caused by the inability of the delicate growing point of the young 

 plantlet to force its way through the tough seed-coats in normal 

 fashion. Eocks or other external influences are not concerned. 



Fig. 1. — Bench rooting of grapefruit seedlings. 



Absolute prevention could be secured by removing the seed coats, 

 but as this is not practical, resort must be had to either planting 

 the seed fresh before they liavc had opportunity to dry out, or after 

 soaking them from tliirty-six to forty-eight hours. This should re- 

 duce bench rooting to a uiiniiiiuin. 



ROOT DISEASES. 



Root diseases to date have caus-d comparatively little damage, 

 so little, in fact, that practically no attention has been given to a 

 study of this phase of citrus disease, beyond field ol)servations. Losses 

 have never been more than scattering trees, or rarely small groups. 

 For this reason no attemiit will be made to distinguish various specific 

 diseases, but the tei-iii will l)c used in a broad sense to cover the loss 

 of trees through any cause opei-ating below ground. 



In one grove a number of trees died suddenly and investigation 



