16 CITRUS TREES AND THEIR DISEASES 



that the body of his tree represents all, and the care 

 and treatment given this body determines most em- 

 phatically your future success. The treatment of 

 bodies in order to keep them in perfectly healthy condi- 

 tion will be discussed later in this book. 



The one reason I speak so strongly concerning the 

 body of the tree is for the fact that it represents the 

 most vital points concerning tree life. To keep this 

 body in good condition means that it is necessary to 

 take a fine wire brush once during the season from 

 March to June, and thoroughly brush from the tree 

 every particle of rough scale or moss, cleansing the 

 body thoroughly and apply some local application that 

 would serve to keep the body from becoming sunburnt 

 and keep the bark loose so that it might expand with 

 the natural demands of growth. It is safe to say that 

 the writer is the first man who found it absolutely 

 necessary, in order to get the best results from his 

 trees, to give the body the most attention. 



And next following the body, in order to obtain 

 the best results, is by carefully looking after your 

 root system, keeping the soil under the tree moist and 

 giving it sufficient cultivation, which is best done by 

 using a potato hook or a tool made upon that line. 

 If the earth has been thrown up to the tree and has 

 covered up the body too much, it should be removed 

 and a basin made around the base of the tree, where 

 light and air might penetrate the intersections of the 

 base roots to the body of the tree. This will aid won- 

 derfully in the curing of diseases. 



The soil should be cultivated at least once, and 



