49 



usually necessary to remove and transplant a part of them to 

 give light and air free access to the roots and trunk. The use 

 of highly organic nitrogenous fertilisers should be avoided, 

 and also excessive or deep cultivation. 



The following is a summary of the treatment recommended 

 for foot-rot : — 



1. Remove the earth from about the roots for 2 to 3 feet 

 from the trunk, being carrful not to wound the healthy roots. 

 When the groves are furnished with irrigation plant of the 

 kind commonly used in Florida, which are capable of delivering 

 a stream of water under considerable pressure, the earth should 

 be washed away rather than dug away from the roots. A 

 good way to do this is to first dig a hole some three feet in 

 diameter and 2 to 3 feet deep about 6 feet from the tree ; then 

 stand on the opposite side of the tree and wash the soil from 

 under the tree, driving it into the hole previously dug. If no 

 hole is dug before washing out is attempted, the soil is likely 

 to bank up around the tree and make it difficult to expose the 

 roots sufficiently. In all cases the roots should be left exposed 

 till recovery takes place, except possibly during a portion of 

 the winter when severe freezes are likely to occur. 



2. Cut away all diseased spots in the bark or the roots or 

 trunk and cover the wounds with one of the following anti- 

 septic solutions : — (1) Sulphurous (not sulphuric) acid, 15 

 parts to 85 parts of water. This may be sprayed on the roots. 

 (2) Carbonic acid, 1 part of crude - acid to 1 part of water. 

 When diluted 1 to 5 this may be sprayed over the roots. (3) 

 Sulphur wash made by putting 30 lbs. of flowers of sulphur in 

 an iron or wooden vessel and mixing enough water, about 12 

 quarts, with it to make a stiff paste. To this add 20 lbs. of 

 finely pulverised 98 per cent, caustic soda and stir vigorously. 

 In a few moments the mass becomes hot, turns brown and then 

 boils up and becomes liquid. As soon as the violent boiling 

 has ceased, add enough water to bring up to 20 gallons and 

 strain into a barrel that can be kept tightly corked. For 

 covering cut places use 1 pait of this stock preparation to 1 

 part of water (12). The roots may be sprayed with one part 

 of stock solution to 10 part of water. (Two quarts of the 

 stock solution to 10 gallons of water makes a very effective 

 remedy for rust mite, and 1 gallon to 50 gallons of water for 

 the six-spotted mite ) All these solutions should be kept in 

 wooden or glass vessels and should not be allowed to come in 



(12) Two quarts of the stock solution to 50 gallons of water makes a 

 very effective remedy for rust mite, and 1 to 50 gallons of water for the 

 six spotted mite. 



