STOCKS FOR CITRUS TREES. 199 



very much subject to "scab/' a disease which attacks the 

 fruit, leaves and young twigs. It is frequently a serious 

 drawback in the production of stocks for budding, as 

 noted in the section on diseases. But such citrus as are 

 not susceptible to the attacks of the disease are in no 

 wise rendered susceptible by being worked on sour stock. 



Sour stock sprouts readily, if the top be frozen back, 

 thus giving an opportunity for re-budding. It is best 

 adapted to soils containing a liberal supply of moisture 

 and its natural habitat, if one can judge from its behav- 

 ior in Florida as an introduced tree, is the shores of lakes 

 and the banks of rivers where the soil is liberally supplied 

 with water and humus. On dry soil, trees worked on sour 

 stock do not grow so rapidly and do not reach the same 

 size as when rough lemon stock is used. In general, it 

 may be said that it is best adapted to high and low ham- 

 mock and flat woods land in Florida, to the low lands 

 of Louisiana and to all soils where a good supply of mois- 

 ture is present or to which a liberal amount can be given. 

 Almost from the first cropping, the fruit borne by trees 

 worked on sour stock is of good quality, a statement which 

 is not generally true of trees worked on rough lemon. 

 During the first years of fruiting, trees on sour orange 

 stock are not quite so fruitful as those on some other 

 stocks, but this difference disappears as the trees become 

 older. In very old trees worked on sour stock, it 

 will sometimes be noted that the sweet trunk is enlarged 

 above the point of union, having in some measure out 

 grown the sour root. In conclusion, it may be said that 

 wherever the soil and climatic conditions are suited to 

 its best growth and development, it is a most satisfactory 

 stock to use and its resistance to the attacks of the 

 dreaded mal-di-goma is a strong point in its favor. 



