"92 THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



MR. LEROY. As I obtained m}^ information from Mr. Teague, I 

 <)m going to ask him a question as to splitting the bark. Can you state 

 h.ow long ago it was you commenced that method, and what results you 

 have had ? 



]\m. TEAGUE. First, I would like to disclaim any credit of being 

 the originator of that method. I am not. I don't know who I got it 

 from. I got it at one of the horticultural meetings. Some one told me 

 lie had gotten the best results by splitting the bark, cleaning away all 

 the wood, doing nothing, digging around the cro™, and applying noth- 

 ing whatever. That is the method we have followed ever since with very 

 good results. In our case it has been very effective. We began that 

 treatment, I think, about five or six years ago. 



MR. LEROY. What are the results ? 



MR. TEAGUE. The results have been excellent wherever we have 

 taken in time. We have cured hundreds and hundreds of lemons. 



MR. LEROY. Mine was entirely on oranges, but Mr. Koethen thinks 

 it is not curable. I am waiting with a little impatience to see how 

 mine is coming out. 



MR. TEAGUE. There has been gum disease in a good many of those 

 that have been treated, but they are now apparently healthy. 



MR. LEROY. What is your soil, Mr. Teague? 



MR. TEAGUE. It varies. It is of a loamy character. It varies 

 from sandy soil to heavy ground. Our trouble has been entirely upon 

 that portion of the ground where the grade of the land was so slight 

 that the trees didn't receive proper drainage; and as soon as we found 

 that out we removed the cause, and we had no trouble after that. 



MR. LEROY. I think you will all realize from this discussion that 

 w^e ought to be very grateful that we have a pathological station that we 

 can send these questions to that we know nothing. about, and have them 

 stud}^ it up. We have not a chance or the time, and I am very glad that 

 Professor Smith has that work in charge. The great problem is that 

 we have' these troubles right in the center of our groves that receive 

 exactly the same care that perfectly healthy trees have. ]\Iy trouble is 

 right in the center of the grove, and the trees get exactly the same treat- 

 ment ; and as near as we can make out, all the conditions are alike, and 

 yet this condition exists. That is the great trouble. If Professor Smith 

 can find out those things for us, I think we will all be very glad of it. 

 I am very much obliged to you for your attention. I thank you. 



MR. HOLMES. I think Professor Smith is on the right line. I have 

 found whitewash was just as good as anything else, and the best thing 

 to apply is to take the soil away from the trees. It is the improper con- 



