Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-19
FLoRIDA,s ORANGE CROP.
All Hanging Fruit Proves AImoss "a To-
tai Loss.

tai Loss.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Jan. 1S.-Tbe
News correspondent has assiduously en-
deavored, during the last few days, to sifJ
the solid grain OF truth--the true facts
from amid all the chaffy rumors that
have been induced in so extensively re-
speeding the damage to the orange crop
ana trees by the recent disastrous freeze
out. Expressing some surprise to an eX
perienced orange grower. last evening,
that there should be such diversity of
opinion among growers from even the
same locality IA 10 the extent of the
actual damage, the NEWS correspon-
dent was slightly startled when the
old gentleman exclaimed; "Why, young
man don't you know there will be more
mis-slatements - more lying about or
anHes, orange groves, the extent OF the
INJURY To this section and that section,
aud how my grove wasn't hurt and John
Smiths Grove in some other secuon or
county was killed outright than the re-
cordlng angel can ever iot down in the
Judgment books" There is a good deal
ul truth in the old mans eNtray3gant ut
terances, but the true condition OF affairs
will gradually come to the surface, and,
tbsdgh bad enough, there viii yet be
ca@se for congrStUlaton thai it is no
worse.
TIRE NEWS ESTIMATE CORRECT.
The NEWS correspondent, after the most
careful inquiry among those who surely
ought 20 know, has no ground 10 change
his assertions and opinions furnished the
NEWS by wire during and Just after the
great freeze. | have talked to numbers
of orange growers from all sections Of
the orange producing country, among
whom were such prominent men as eN-
GOV. Gleason OF Eau Gallie, Col. T.. J..
Lanier of sumter county; Rev. T. w.
Moore of Fruit Cove, author of
"Oran9e Culture in Fiorida;' Capt.
A. NJ. Ives, manager of the Florida fruit
exchange; Mai. George IL. Nollls, OF
Nolusla. ore Of the largest growers in the
State, and who estimates his loss from
hanging fruit alone at $4,000; Mr.. u.
Greenleaf, who has large groves on Lake
George; b. NJ. Baer, of Lessburg; Col. ID.
Redmond, editor OF the Fi0rjdd Dispatch,
who has carefully pursued investigations
for his paper; w. II. Coates, of Dayton,
dealer in Indian river oranges, and Capt.
l.. K. futile author Of an admirable little
treatise entitled Twelve years in Flor
ida" who owns a fine grove at Mandarin.
The opinion Of all these gentlemen. while
they differ in some minor points, is sub
stantlally that all haugirg oranges were
frozen and are almost a total loss; that
nurseries and other young trees, except
where well protected by fires or by loca-
ton or northwestern wind-breaks, were
killed, and that the new growth, or what
Is called in orange growers parlance,
angular wood. was killed.
NOT AS BAD As IN 1885.
They say although the cold spell was
far more continuous and severe than that
Of February, 1885, it was not so destruc-
tive to the trees, for the reason that in
February, 1885 the sap was up in the
trees, which were budding, and in some
localities, blooming, while during the
freeze this year the trees were compare
lively sapless, hard. and by reason of the
previous cold weather this season, made
by nature better prepared TO withstand
severe weather.
Capt. Tu,tle, who returned yesterday
from a careful investigation OF his and
neighbOring groves, with special view OF
determining accurately, as near as il
can now be done, the nature OF the dam
/ age, said in reply to the NEWS CORES
/ pOndent's question that the result would
be very similar to that Of the cold spell Of
Dec. 80, 1850, viz: that all sound, healthy
trees that were neither tertilized nor cul
tivated too late last summer, suffered only
to the extent of loss of foliage and cur
tailment OF this coming seasons fruit
buds. Badly diseased trees Of every age
are either dead or will gradually die. He
also expressed the opinion mat the per
feet remaining groves will be greatly en-.
HANGED IN value, that some people Will
learn that successful orange growing is
not a mere slp-sbod, hapnazzard, theo-
retical business, that the supply OF
oranges will not keep pace with the de-
mand, and that all "frOst line" real estate
men are now buried under an avalanche
of "lrozen Veracity,"