FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
161 
ent or absent from the grove, have a 
greater influence upon the production of 
fruit than is often realized. When mois¬ 
ture and temperature conditions are nor¬ 
mal, the effects of diseases and insects 
present may not be very noticeable, un¬ 
less existing to an abnormal extent; but 
when moisture or temperature conditions 
are adverse, the ravages of disease and in¬ 
sect pests, if present, sap the vigor of the 
trees to an alarming extent, and a very 
large part of the benefit from the appli¬ 
cation of fertilizer is lost through these 
drains upon the trees. This is especially 
true when a grove has just borne, or is 
carrying a heavy crop of fruit. 
The treatment of the soil in which the 
trees are planted is an important factor 
in citrus fruit production. With so many 
different types of soil, however, the treat¬ 
ment required by one kind of soil may dif¬ 
fer quite materially from the treatment 
best suited to some other type. 
In whatever soil the trees are planted, 
it is essential that the soil be in condition 
for the proper development of the roots. 
It must be possible for the roots to absorb 
plant food when dissolved. For best re¬ 
sults, the soil must neither be too wet nor 
allowed to become too dry. Underlying 
hardpan, if too near the surface, will no 
doubt sooner or later cause trouble unless 
steps are taken to remedy this condition. 
Imperfect drainage is also sometimes the 
cause of disappointments in crop produc¬ 
tion. In some soils acid conditions seem 
to accumulate until, unless corrected by 
applications of some form of lime, the 
roots are not able to take up the full quan¬ 
tity of plant food required, even though 
the applications of fertilizer have beem 
just as liberal as before, and shortened 
growth or crop production is the result. 
Upon the humus content of the soil 
probably depends, more than upon any 
other one factor, what is considered the 
success or failure of the application of 
fertilizer. 
Soils containing sufficient humus, if 
provided with proper drainage to prevent 
an over-abundance of moisture, are better 
adapted to hold the right amount of 
moisture and thus enable the fertilizer to 
become dissolved and available to the 
roots. 
Soils insufficiently supplied with humus 
are most difficult to handle in the use of 
fertilizers, the hoped-for results very of¬ 
ten failing to materialize, notwithstanding 
the fact that liberal applications of fertil¬ 
izers which apparently have produced ex¬ 
cellent results on other soils were used 
here also. 
Where too much humus abounds, as in 
the case of some muck soils, for instance, 
we also find a difficult proposition. Groves 
planted on muck soils are usually supplied 
with little or no ammonia in the fertilizer 
applied, while high per cents of potash 
and phosphorus are given. Yet, it not 
infrequently happens that, while the trees 
make good growth and are well provided 
with large, dark-green leaves, the crop is 
not overly abundant, and the fruits most 
likely are large and coarse. 
The proper amount of humus in the 
soil, let me repeat, makes for the best con¬ 
ditions, and when the other factors are 
favorable, the best growth and crop re¬ 
sults are obtained. 
ii 
