RUST OF THE ORANGE REMEDIES. 113 



evaporation from within, and carries the ripening process to a higher 

 point. 



Busty oranges can be shipped without loss to great distances. They 

 keep longer, both on and off the tree, and when they reach the north- 

 ern markets are superior to the bright fruit in flavor. Consumers not 

 being aware of this fact, however, prefer the latter, and the reduced 

 price of the bronzed fruit more than offsets to the producer its superior 

 keeping and shipping qualities 



Introduction and Spread of the Mite. Of the origin of the Rust-mite, 

 whether native or introduced, we as yet know nothing. As far as has 

 been observed, it is not found upon the wild orange trees in Florida, 

 although it attacks them indiscriminately with others of the citrus 

 family when transplanted to open ground, and it may exist upon them 

 in small numbers in their native swamps. 



It is said that a few years ago rust was entirely unknown; but the 

 orange industry in this State is of such recent growth that attention has 

 not long been directed to this matter. When but little fruit was pro- 

 duced, occasional discoloration s of the rind would naturally pass un- 

 noticed. 



Periods of Increase. As is the case with most invasions of insects, the 

 pest, although increasing rapidly for a time, is likely to reach a maxi- 

 mum in a few years and afterward decline. This has been the expe- 

 rience in former years with Scale-insect, and is attributable to compar- 

 ative immunity from enemies and parasites at the outset. As the 

 number of their enemies increases, that of the destroyers diminishes, 

 until in time a state of equilibrium is reached, which is disturbed only 

 temporarily by the changing conditions of climate, or other and obscure 

 causes. 



It seems probable that the Bust-mite has reached or is already past 

 the period of maximum destructiveness, and that succeeding years will 

 witness its subsidence. The Mite has at present few enemies, and of 

 these the most important are unfortunately not abundant. They give 

 promise, however, of greater efficiency in future, as they belong to 

 families many of whose members are as prolific as the Bust-mite itself. 



Geographical Distribution. Bust appears to be known upon the Orange 

 only in Florida. Within the limits of the State, however, its presence 

 is universal. Xo section, whatever claims may be made to the contrary, 

 is exempt. 



REMEDIES. 



Influence of Soil and Methods of Cultivation. The effect upon the 

 prevalence of rust of various systems of cultivation and of applications 

 to the soil, for the purpose of changing its nature or supplying assumed 

 deficiencies in its composition, has been the subject of endless discus- 

 sion, and of experiments affording negative or conflicting results, which 

 cannot profitably be reviewed here. 

 6521 o 



