State of Florida Studied 'Supernatural' Water to Protect Citrus Trees

David Park Musella

Skeptical Inquirer
Tue Nov 15,12:00 PM ET



Florida's citrus crop contributes billions of dollars to the state's economy, so when that industry is threatened, anything that might help is considered. Back in 2001, when citrus canker was blighting the crop and threatening to reduce that vital source of revenue, an interesting—if not quite scientific—alternative was considered.


Katherine Harris, then Florida's Secretary of State—and now a member of the U.S. House of Representatives—ordered a study in which, according to an article by Jim Stratton in the Orlando Sentinel, "Researchers worked with a rabbi and a cardiologist to test ‘Celestial Drops,' promoted as a canker inhibitor because of its ‘improved fractal design,' ‘infinite levels of order,' and ‘high energy and low entropy.'"


The study determined that the product tested was, basically, water that had apparently been blessed according to the principles of Kabbalic mysticism, "chang its molecular structure and imbu it with supernatural healing powers."


Citrus canker is a bacterial disease that affects all citrus trees. Caused by a bacterium, Xanthomonas axonopodis, citrus canker can be spread from tree to tree by windborne rain, the movements of birds and other animals, and human activity, such as improper disposal of infected trees and fruit. The bacterium causes brown, crusted lesions with yellow haloes to appear on the surfaces of leaves and the skin of fruit, reducing the leaves' photosynthetic capacity and stunting the growth and preventing the maturation of the fruit.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/stateoffloridastudiedsupernaturalwatertoprotectcitrustrees;_ylt=Avr0UJUoy.cSejmtC4MFa6MDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

What a waste of money... scam!

express contempt for any concept that closely resembles 'healing' if it is outside the pulpit of the churches of the reverends and expecially if the 'plate' isn't passed around. Right?

ugh. But, I'm sure it's true. :puke:

At least they didn't try Ice Nine.

Any gardener will tell you that plants respond to the placebo effect.
Talking nicely to them makes them feel loved and they grow better.
There is even a book about this, "The Secret Life of Plants".