New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-07


and parts of De Soto Lee and Polk counties the
damage has been appreciaby less than In more
northern ones Fewer trees VIII be entirely LOST
and the recovery 10 full bearing OF those saved
NAV be a I:tle earlier. But the total acreage of
these southern counties IS comparatively small
and will be slowly increased
Ii would be q waste of time % particUlariZc - a
greater extent in respect - special localities Ny
generalization may be relied upon if repeat that
90 per cent of the orange groves OF floida are
frozen out never to be revived; tnat not fruit
enough to supply thirl-ratc city VIII be produced
the coming season; that the season following Will
good crop the older revived groves; from
which time on the production VIII be gradually IN
creased TO the number Of boxes grown during the
last one or two years To those fortunate owners
who possess the older and less Injured groves ana
who can care for them properly through the year
or two of recovery there is in prospect an album
dant reward for their present losses ana dlsap-
pOintments. Such restored groves VIII be enough
to supply the ordinary demand for oranges during
the next ten wears When 10000. 900 or more Of
people have been added TO the population 81 the
country east Of the Mississippi, and when trans
portatOn facilities have been increased ana the
rates leSSened TO and from Florida. ana Wneh mar
keting methods have been improved. II viii be
soon enough to plant new orange trees ana expect
a living profit from them. | say nothing about
the danger from future freezes-the experiences
Of the last winter may or may not % repeater
but If nothing as destructive comes, lesser ifoStS
are not unusual, which cut back young trees r.
peatedly AZ the best; therefore. the production OF
oranges in this lovely hut peculiar climate IL a
singulary hazardous Industry. We have mere 4
really semi-tropica country. with the gale Ieit
open now and then to the North Pole ThlS should
never be forgotten by those who wish 10 raise
tropical fruits, and TO do - with the least possible
risk These are truths that great many people
wish they had perceived years ago. ana the neg
let or ignorance Of which has now cost them 50
great loss.
Notwithstanding all this. those who are IN this
industry do not forget that no kind OF business"
and especially no branch Of horticulture. Is iree
from risk. In whatever one engages ne mas l,
take his chance Il is doubtless better -.
&c hoe vol no
Vigilant and in the long run these qualities win
good degree OF success It Is Obvious Ike
wise. that there is nov greater encouragement
than ever to the owner Of one OF the older ana
less injured groves The superiluous groves are
wiped out. OverproduCton has ceased. and Will
not exist again for wears, and, perhaps. never
exist 1t has existed. In conjunction with too
expensive and imperfect transportation ana bad
methods of marketing. When oranges are again
produced here. the waiting people, sick OF me
sour and poor fruit of other localities. VIII he
eager for the golden globes OF Florida. This time
OF reward IS worth waiting and working for.
METHODS OF RESTORATION.
The methods of working. by which grove
damaged by the freeze may be most efectualy
restored are variously estimated by different
horticulturists. When tree has been killed 10
the ground. probably the best way Is 10 cut 1t
off just below the surface OF the ground and
renew by budding or grating into the roots. or by
cleft grating into the trunk. When this can be
done, years time is saved. In comparison with
allowing sprouts to grow. and budding them
year later. The difficulty now is IN procuring
buds scions Some enterprisinG growers have
sent for them to California or TO the West Indies,
but there is considerable danger Of thus intro
ducing insect pests. and IL ~ not likely 10 ne
done to much extent. It Is now announced that
some buds can be procured at few places In the
southern part Of this state.
Where a portion OF the trunk can be saved II
may be cut off two or three feet nigh. and
shaped into a conical form. Sprouts VIII then
start from around the trunk. and when large
enough they may be tied together into a bundle
above the cone. If the bark is abradei n little
where they come in contact. they viii grow to-
gothor in a season or two. and form a new
trunk. completely hUINing the old stump out ~
sight. This IS an especially good way 70 restore
budded tree. II Il can be cut OF above the bud.
The proper treatment Of large seeding tree
whose trunk and large limbs are SOUND, IS "A
subject which has occasioncd Ulu n discussion.
Many persons have advocated the cutting OH
Of all the dead wood. arguing that the presence
o. the dead wood and bark full OF sour sap. was
causing the further dying back, and X not ar
rested. would cause the complete ruin OF the
tree. Others have urged that IN point OK iact
the cool winds have dried out the moisture from
the bark ana sap wood. and that the whole dead
portion of the tree is inert. ans can do no more
HARM but on the contrary will DO good as
protection TO the young growth, ana as trelllS,
so 10 speak upon which the vigorous but tender
sprouts may be fastened and trained into shap".
and especially into more lateral positions thah
they Will incline naturally 10 ASSUME. tn" latter
method will be the practice OF the more thought
full and observant growers. They will leave the
dead wood largely 10 take care OF Itself, when
Il will do imperceptibly. I'm a season or two az II
respects the smaller limbs. the larger ones be
Ing cut off properly when they have served th"r
temporary purpose. and when ii can be seen bet
ter than now. where to cut.
Az 10 fertizing. that. course VIII be done
as literally as IT be assmilated. As fast
as new leaves and new wood are made. SO faSt
should fertilizers be supplied. The best growers
have been getting Of late years into gcod
system in this respect. using a high grade fer,
tizer at the rate II one and half 10 t"o ana
a half tons per acre, In Two applications for
each crop
To sum UP the situation. II may be said that
the orange-growcrs OF Florida have lost about
one-half OF the past years crop, ana NH nave
next TO nothing next year: that one-haf or INC
groves will be abandoned; that the Other haif
Will be resuscitatod IN due time. ana Will pro
duce more money value THAI all the groves would
have done had no freeze occurred. Great hard
ships TO individuals, and great personal losses
Will thus be followed by great personal gain, ana
ultimate advantage to the state AT large.
GEORGE ID. RAND.
Winter Park Fla. March %. 1879.