The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-03-15
NEw ORLEANs, FebruarY 21. lss


NEW ORLEANs February 81, 1881
Editor Of the N. o. Times:
DEAR SIR-You express desire TO have my
views relative to the effect of the unprecedented
cold weather upon the citrus family and partie
ulArly the orange trees on the Mississippi sound
or lake coast. From examination made since the
severe freeze, and the reports of my neighpors
who are engaged ia the cultivation OF the orange
l am convinced that many Of the trees are seri-
ously injured and possibly al killed that had
constitutional disease, produced by the scale bug
or improper planting and cultivation,
Nv experience and convictions in orange cul-
ture LASTING over twenty years, have been greatly
strengthened by the severity OF cold this winter.
An NV trees that were not cultivated, or mulched
"a the fall nor even fertiZed are scarcely injured
", Tile these that were are severely hurt, If not
kille l. Ny theory ID that cultivation, fertilizing
and n 'nlching in the fall will cause the sap to
r;ae tb.. tree to grow. The temperature falls
beIox fre. zing point, the sun comes out suddenly
~ hofo-e IN. thawing of the tree the bark sepa-
r.,ss - ,be tree dies or is killed down to the
roots II tie ros. 10 ars not killed. would advise
sawing or closs 10 the greund. have now on
my place trees In u , Oes1 IA. 1 issse
trees nave guNsred yerv little this winter, show
ing conclusively that they are hardier and posi-
hlT acclimated Nv plan 10, about the time the
orange 3 ripe enough to gsiher IN the tall Of the
year, to pull away the dirt from the Tree. expose
The too roots 90 thaf the sap lsaves the BODY
the growth is checked until colo weatnef SUD
sides. Early in the spring Sertilze ano cuiti,
waite, and - soon as the weather becomes NOT l
mulch them with pine straw or leaves. Announcer
great protection 10 the orange = 70 piant men
among forest trees that are high sOoye them,
sr,eh ~ the pine or live oak In every instance
vhere thew are 50 PLANTED none have been much
hurt. II have cleared twenty acres this winter
have LEFT In the clearing live oaks % sneher
them
When the orange tree grows very large and
does not reaui.e the protection. II u easier %
cut ont the live oaks or pines than to replant the
orange and wait fer its fruit after every severe
freeze. think the lower branches should not
be trimmed Is they protect the trunk during the
thawin1 of the tree and in hot weather they
shade the trunk and roots which will require
much les mulching than they would ii the
lower hranches are cut OF OF course all sheets
and Suckers are 10 be removed (ahout the roots)
they exhaust the tree Al dsad wood should he
cut away - fhst - it shows itDelL feed and
force my trees in the spring, but 1t thea alone
in he winter that they may 60 Into q. dormant
state and escape the brushing a. the bark should
there be severe freeze. In mngWef 10 your
question, = DO yea think the severe winter We
have had, and the injury doae % our crange
tres ar Other members Of the citrus hmily,
shoui4 discourage osaage growers ffom pelss-
verin8 fn planiing ard culiixailng th1s beetotoFe
psu1i1ble 0ser ! answes. emphalteally. 10 ]
In J4cksoa, Hanisen sd HaBeoek eeunties,
Mia which " boedesiag O fhe Iimissippl
9oan4, ths enlkigstinn - De osAnes twish ~
he dsnwbaeks IRON cid ana staEasn9 80 hssa
aud IilI eoutznne - be . sqeeEnA We aEG beL
ginnihg - iean ftom expetience Int on tEeee
hape he1a badly tRenaed; net aIiowed - grew
nakasHily; tseed g - wsolg seasNa - The