40 | : 
from any other one malady, in Florida alone amounting to nearly © 
$100,000 annually. It may be recognized by the exudation of gum — 
from definite patches on the tree near the base. A separative layer 
is formed by the tree delimiting the diseased bark; the edges of the 
bark thus freed curve up away from the tree, dry out, and finally fall 
off (fig.5). These patches are enlarged by the disease spreading to 
the adjoining bark. Other patches also form on fresh bark. The 
malady spreads down the roots and laterally around the trunk. It 
extends through the bark and cambium layer into the wood, killing all ; 
the tissue as far asitextends. In many cases the tree is finally girdled, — 
which of course results in its death. The accompanying or premoni- 
tory Symptoms are, sparse foliage, small yellow leaves, and the dying 
of small limbs over the tree. The disease is apparently contagious, 
probably being caused by some minute parasitic organism. It is also 
thought that improper aeration of the roots induces the disease. Sweet 
seedling orange trees and lemons are particularly subject to the malady, 
while grape fruit is but slightly subject to it, and sour orange is almost 
wholly exempt. The malady may be prevented by using sour orange — 
stocks on lowlands and flatwoods, and grape-fruit stocks on high and 
dry pine lands. Removing the soil from around the crown roots is the 
most effective treatment. This can be best done by using a stream of 
water under considerable pressure. This washes the soil away without 
injuring the roots. Cutting away the diseased portions of bark and 
wood and washing or painting the wounds with a solution of sulphur- 
ous acid, carbolic acid, or sulphur wash is recommended as beneficial. 
Avoid the excessive use of nitrogenous organic manures, excessive cul- 
tivation, and immoderate irrigation. Give good drainage in all cases, 
and if the trees are planted too thick, so that the ground is shaded, 
thin them out. 
6. Melanose, which attacks all citrous fruits, is anew disease. Itisas 
yet known only from a few points in Florida and does not cause much 
damage, probably only about $5,000 in 1894. However, it seems to be 
spreading, and is capable of causing great losses should it become 
widely distributed. It forms minute brown spots on the leaves, twigs, 
and fruits (Pl. VIII). These brown spots appear when the fruit and 
leaves are still young, and do not form on old tissue. They reach a_ 
size of from 53> to 3 of an inch in diameter and are often very numer- 
ous, Sometimes running together over large areas, greatly staining and 
disfiguring the fruit. In bad cases the trees are much injured by the 
malady, but ordinarily most of the damage results from the discoloring 
of the fruit. Lemons particularly are unsalable if attacked by mela-— 
nose to any considerable extent. The cause of this disease is not cer- 
tainly known, but it is very probably some minute vegetable parasite. 
Bordeaux mixture or ammoniacal solution of copper carbonate are 
very effective remedies if applied two or three times to the young fruits. 
