The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-02-03
An Experienced Orange Growers
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MCMEEKIN, Fla, Feb. 1886.
Z iitor PALATKA NEWS:
The great freeze OF Florida has left its
mark en- the orange trees and other
trees OF the citrus family very plainly.
1t is to be hoped that its lessons will not
be without benefit to the rejecting
orange grower.
The damage done to the orange trees
through this section generally is the loss
Of their leaves and some Of the twigs of
last seasons growth, now and then a
small scion will die root and branch and
some Of the buds put in last year may
be lost. This seems to be about the ex-
tent of the damage to the orange trees
here. The writer is one of those who do
not expect a full crop Of oranges this sea-
son. If there is full crop the orange
growers should be very thankful.
The freeze has taught us what eE-
treeme Of cold the orange trees can stand.
1t has taught us that vigorous trees will
stand more cold than feeble trees and
another valuable lesson is that it is not
wise TO leave so large a portion of the
fruit on the trees to risk the winter for
high prices.
The writer has long been OF the opin-
ion that the fruit might be gathered in
December after it is fully ripe and stored
in cold storage warehouse, in which it
could be perfectly preserved for months
and from which it could be shipped as
required by the demand, there keeping
he oranges till May or June and possibly
later. There is a fine field open here for
capital. These cold storage houses would
work we'll in connection with the ice
factories. There is growing demand
for ice throughout the state and there
fore ice manufacturing is likely to pay
without connection with the cold stor-
age, but much better with it. Florida
has reached in her production of oranges
about l., ,0C0, 900 boxes. Now it is reason
able to assume that half of this would 90
into cold storage. IL there was suffici-
ent and convenient storage on transpor
tation lines. An average OF 80 cents
per box is also reasonable assumption,
sum of $500, 900 to the cold storage men,
and would result to fully that much or
more in profit 20 the growers.
II meats and fish and fruits more
pcrishdble than oranges can be kept
sound by cold storage why not oranges?
1t might be question as TO whether the
cold storage houses are in Florida or IN
the cities in the vicinities of the pur.
ci,asers and consumers. But the writer
believes that they should be in the vi
cinity of the growers and shipped as
demanded by the market Whatever
little doubt about their benefits in keep
ing oronges in cold storage houses for
highr prices than prevail in the midst
of orange seasons. And should this, the
greatest of Fiorida's freezes, result in cs-
tablishing these houses, then indeed it
was great blessing instead Of a calanl-
itv.
This cold has also taught that wind
breaks are valuable and efficient protec-
ton in cold snaps accompanied with
wind.
There is an instance i'll this neighbor-
hood of tender orange scions so preserv-
Ell by being located on the cas-. side of
house, the side opposite to the direction
OF the wind. that they look as green and
fresh as If there had been no freeze 1t
teaches that camphor trees will never be
hurt by cold in Florida. The writer has
two about ten feet high, and if possible
they are of more beautiful dark
green than before the freeze, yet were
fully exposed to the wind andhad no pro-
lection whatever.
The lessons of this freeze are many.
Let us endeavor TO profit by them.
There is certainly no cause for despond-
ency. Orange growers can enter Oh the
cultivation OF the Grange with more con-
fidence in its capacity 10 resist any cold
that is likely to visit their location, and
by gathering the fruit i'll December, will
never lose any by cold again. At this
point the writer would suggest that the
true system of marketing the orange is
to sell to the fruit dealers ar the place of
shipment, or at the grove. Selling on
commission is not the right way and SO
long as it is followed the prices will be
low and unsatisfactory. If frait dealers
learn they can make money by buying
OF the grower or in florida, they will
not be long about pursuing that course.
The grower can sell to them at such
rates without injury to the grower as
will ensure this. Therefore let the
growers advertise for the trade, and then
deal so as TO make it to tn interest of
she fruit dealer to purchase from them
and this thing is settled for all time and
it will prove beneficial both to the