New-York tribune., 1888-03-25
HORTICULTURE IN FLORIDA.
From Garden and Fores


Tho cold wavc which swept over Florida in Janu
AIRY, 1880, married. the beginning OF ncw epoch IN
had beon made to advertise the state so extensively
that 1t had come TO be regarded as the all important
upon II as the only one that could be- carried on
with profit here. Therefore this killing frost was To-
Within the orange SeIt rropor were not seriously dam
aged, but cloud was cast on the te ot tbe orange
The past two years Florida suffered partial eclipse
Hut there arc strong indications that the oIscur.tlon
hardly be revived and It is far desirable that 10
should bo While 1t continued we suffered az tho
migration fom that large portion OF the Stale where
oranges cannot DO grown with profit but where people
The great oeze therefore, did somo good In chec king
rash investment and reckless planting and turning
peoples attention to more substantial branches Of rural
Besides the orange, no fruits had obtained much
planted largely In southern Florida ana the iru,
sS Ss Grange
were but IttIs grown except for ornament and homs
In the orange belt tho guava had come to bo
there is scarcely another that be put to greater
variety of uses, used more months IN the year In
it could hardly be shipped fresh out Of the state
These with bananas (plantcd mainly for ornauent,
and more rarely some Inferior peaches and pears tho
japan persimmon. the oqnat. the mulberry. pone-
pryrd the minor fruits Of the citrus belt The cocoa
nut and rInrarplo formerly confined 70 the southern
keys coming into notice fruits adapted TO tho
latitude Of Lake Okccchohee. and the latter fruit had
sncceeded we'll on tho eastern coast as far north a:
Cape Canavera The mango and Avocado pear had
frted bountifuy as far north as Tampa These
ami other slh tropical Its were planted sfill further
north. and there was a growing disposition to put
them 10 the scvcrest rest in a climate subject to o
lower range Of temperature than they could by nature
endure
Such was tho situation when the memorable cold
wave swept over US, driving the mercury down 10
1898. To make matters worse. this cold wave vas
of twice the usual duration, which Is two Gays. All
citrus fruits that had not heen gathered except In
the southernmost conntl"s and on the Indian River
pride of Florida werc stripped Of their foliage ana
aimed bare and dreary during tbe remainder OF the
winter Weak trees werc seriously damaged, ss wero
lemon and lime rsrs white 'avas and the whols list
Of sub-tropirai fyrits killed 70 the ground
Native t-e~s Of sub tropical sraccs such the oarA
mangrove and tho ~'hher tree. some Of thsm fifty
years old. hled. proving III" excnrtona' Sc
verify Of the weather North Of latitude 40 degrees
on thr Atlantic side ~ the Peninsula and 90 degrees
the Guf sida. neclected and unprotected orange
rroves badly hrmarrd while some even on ths
exce nt by lo.s Of foliage. which began TO put out again
in March This event occurring at rho beginning Of
thn tourist season and whom soI'horr California had
1ust h~rore accessible ~ tourists proved d'sasfrOuS
the ultimate welfare of thr state II must result bene-
Totally The orange has shown itself 70 he much
harder than supposed Attention has b~en
turnad from suh-trorral fruits. and In seeking for
suhs.utcs many hardy fruits have heen brought into
notice which will add greatly 70 III" r"orIes comforts
and sources Of Income Faith In the one-crop system
has ctvan r'are 70 dosrr for greater variety. Tho
Teoplr havc hsen led 10 inrre and experiment ana
~ is means have come know that the orange belt
as we'll tho cotton holt OF tn" state Is afaped 70
great variety OF profitable and attractive industries