The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-05-18
Our AItamonte Correspondent.
Editor Of The F1orida AgricuNarist:

Our AltaMOnte correspondent.
Editor Of The Florida Agricsst'rtst:
We have just passed through the
coolest winter that have expert.
enceu since my arrival here, but no
y damage has been done 10 fruit trees
in tins section. LINES were in bloom
on our coldest night, but they were
not injured. GI'he mercury weat
down TO % ior very short TIM E..
The cold was different lii its effect IN
the orange trees from what 1t was
four years ago. 1t came then, the
first 0t the season, when the trees
were not prepared for it, and tor five
days it blew cold dry wind from
the northwest, with heavy trosts at
night. lhe mercury on the coolest
night went down to % and re>
manned near that tor hours. 1t
seemed to freeze the sap at night and
then dry it up in the day. On that
occasion water protection was of the
greatest importance. This winter
the cold nights were perfectly still,
and we were saved from damage by
our latitude; and we OF this section,
realize more than ever, that we are
below the line OF damaging trosts.
1t is in Florida, however, as else
where, the first and last trosts are
the most to be dreaded. The last,
this spring, was on the first OF April,
and killed Irish potatoes, beans and
banana leaves on the low ground.
The long continued cold this winter
gave the orange trees time to form
quantities OF fruit buds, aud trees OF
all sizes, ages and conditions, have
bloomed. Some fine Homasassa buds
one year old, have fruit on them,
! have been very much interested
i'll Mr.. Harris article on sOrange Cul-
ture," and wished it had been longer.
There were some things in 1t,
though, that cannot see ilto. l
- ea u at-,snacrstand Suw. he can place
good pine land ahead of dry ham,
mock, which has on it a heavy
growth OF hickory, oak, cherry,
magnolia, bay, etc, together with
beautiful specimens Of sour orange.
No, / cannot see into that, and some
groves on the high hammocks of
Lake Apopka and vicinity, won't let
me see into it either. Another thing,
can't see, is how there can be any
accumulation of potash in our sandy
pine lands. just look at the burning
OF the woods, which is said to be
the means of increase. The fire
consumes the grass and pine straw,
and the ashes are washed down to
the roots again, and are taken up to
form another top, which is again and
again burned off, and this has been
going on ever since mankind has
beer in Florida. Then, where can
the collection of potash come from I?
If it were the only element OF iertil-
ity needed in our soil, we could
cheaply and quickly supply it, II
the woods were never burnt off, there
would be the same amount of potash
in the soil, but there would be quite
a difference in the amount OF the
nitrogen, which would accumulate
year by year, and this element OF
fertility is very much needed, and is
the most costly. If the ground is
simply covered by boards. nitrogen
would accumulate underneath. The
same thing is gained in our groves,
by mulching the trees and frequently
raising it and stirring so that the air
can circulate through, and the nitro,
gen be absorbed by the soil.
Hundreds of trees have been set
out this winter in our settlement, and
the season has been fine for them.
Those that were set in December and
January, have not done as we'll as
those set later. am convinced that
it Injuries the tree to transplant it
while dormant, and my plan has been
to defer moving them until the sap
starts, then the tree can put out new
roots quickly, and sustain the top
without even shedding the leaves.
There have been a good many
sales of land this winter, and more
new settlers.
A great many OF the farmers
around Apopka City planted vegeta-
, bles this spring. Beans are now
i, ready and cucumbers are fast coming
on. This business will continue to