Bulletin 229, Diseases of Citrus in Florida


scar like those caused by the feeding of grasshoppers (Fig. 94).
In most cases the injured fruits exhibit but one or two scars,
although a larger number may occur occasionally. The scars
characteristically occur on one side and lower end of the fruits
as they hang on the trees, since the young fruits are more or less
erect on the twigs at the time of the occurrence of the hail.


 Fig. 94.-Hail scars on mature orange injured while young.
 The tender bark of the twigs and young branches may also be
injured by hail, spots being split open and killed where the
stones strike, later forming callused scars of characteristic shape
(Fig. 93, left). In rare cases of severe hail injury, extensive
defoliation of the trees, breaking of the branches, cutting off of
fruit, and extensive barking of limbs and trunks may occur.
Since most of the hail injury occurs in May or June, while the
fruit is still very young, injuries to the fruit usually callus over
quickly and very little decay results in the field. Blemishes
from hail injury, however, result in a reduction of the grade or


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