CITRUS TREES AND THEIR DISEASES 39 



producing the sweetening of the soil and the minerals 

 that are absolutely necessary for the development of 

 the fruit. Too much blood will create damage to the 

 tree; so with nitrate of soda or any of the hydrates 

 if used in too large quantities and all by itself. 



It has been my experience that the soil much pre- 

 fers the combination of all the necessary elements in 

 one and it can more quickly relish and digest same. 

 It is seldom you hear this when questions are raised, 

 "How is your soil for minerals?" Have you ever had 

 any one ask you if salt was necessary in your soil? 

 Did you ever ask any one? Salt is a mineral and pro- 

 duces moisture wherever it is and retains moisture. 

 Is it necessary or not? 



. I would like to call your attention to the moun- 

 tain district. Have you ever noticed that the best 

 flavor, the best developed fruit that is produced is in 

 the groves that lie nearest the mountains ? This does 

 not apply to citrus groves alone, but to all classes of 

 fruit, and proves conclusively that the mineral sub- 

 stances which the disintegration of the mountain sup- 

 plies, are an important factor in the production of 

 the finer flavored fruits. The fruit farther away from 

 the mountains contains less of this element. 



The writer desires the reader to understand that 

 he is not writing this book simply for money. On the 

 other hand, he is absolutely sure that this is the only 

 way in which he can possibly give the grower the value 

 of his life work and not confuse the grower upon any 

 other subject than the one in which he is interested. 

 This is like the boy's speller at school, or his reader 



