The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-17
HOPE FOR THE ORANGE TREES.
SAID FRUIT WILL SURVIVE IN THE
ORLANDO SECTION.

ComnariSon of the Recent Freeze
with Those of 1895 and 1856.
Took Two Freezes to XIII the
Trees the Last Time-Trees Sur
vived in ISSG-PincappIcs in and
Around the Orlando section VIII
Pull Through.
Orlando, Fla, Feb let will probably
BE- a week before ia viii be possible to
determine with exactness the effect of the
late cold wave ia this part Of the fruit
belt of Florida There are those who
think the trees are again killed TO the
ground Others are confident that the in
jury will be slight. The most hopeful are
of the opinion that not 8 per cent. of the
healthy orange trees are killed. This es-
innate includes trees Of all ages and
sizes
A comparison Of this cold wave with
those Of ls9l-95 and 1886 is interesting. On
Dec. q, 1894, cold wave swept over
Florida. In this section the temperature
went down to IS degrees. This was follow
I'd by warm. pleasant weather. The I'M
gathered fruit was frozen and ruined.
Many believed the trees were killed. But
a few days developed the fact that the
trees were hardly injured. The Old leaves
dropped. and in a short time the trees
were as bare Of foliage as blackja trees
in Ohio IN January The warm weather
soon caused buds to swell and new leaves
TO appear. BY Feb. Z, the date OF the
second freeze the trees had assumed a
green hue and it was apparent that the
cold had really done little injury TO the
trees
Freeze That Did the Work.
On the night Of Feb. Z the second cold
wave of the winter swept over the state.
That night the temperature dropped to 10
degrees. The trees were flushed with sap,
and the tops were covered with fresh half
grown leaves. This proved to be a knUck-
out blow. The orange trees would have
pulled through the one freeze. But two
proved too much for their vitality. Even
wild persimmon trees and mulberry trees,
hardy as far north as the Ohio river were
killed to the ground by this combination.
The hortculturists of the state. in their
discussions in annual meetings. have been
of the unanimous opinion that the trees
would have pulled through either of these
cold waves singly. 1t was the two com
bined with specially warm interval be-
tween that put the trees into vigorous
spring growth, that did the damage.
The cold wave of Jan. TO- H. 1886, more
closely resembled the one just passed
That. however, was of longer duration,
and the cold was more intense. In that
case the freeze began on Saturday night,
did moi disappear until late in the day on
Wednesday following. Ice was formed in
little pools of water in the streets of Or
lando thick enough to hold up team.
In some instances it was two inches in
thickness. The temperature on Tuesday
morning, Jan. 10. showed is degrees, ac-
cordiug 10 the best recollections.
Trees Came Out All Right.
AT that time some of the young trees
split open; a few were killed. but the
trees as a whole came out with only the
loss of the unpicked fruit and their leaves.
New leaves and blossom buds soon APP
peared, and the following fall and winter
Florida sent out the largest crop OF
oranges in her history.
This last cold wave comes later In the
season. just as the trees are entering upon
the growing season. Some trees have put
out bloom. But such trees were not
healthy. and were approaching dissolution.
Not a thoroughly healthy orange tree in
this section had put out blossoms or fruit
buds when this cold wave came. The
temperature did not go below p degrees
and while the low temperature did not
stay as long as in 1886, the trees were
not thawed out until there came a change
in the direction of the wind, bringing a
rise, which occurred in the night.
and was followed by cloudy and
rainy day The most favorable conditions
possible. 4-r
If the orange trees are killed It will be
another of the unaccountable things when
have come to this state. 1t is certainly
reasonable to hope for large fruit crop
in this part of the state, than there would
have been but for this cold.
Eject ON the PineappIes.
Some of the pineapple pants are I'M
ouestionably killed to the ground. This
is the case where the situa tons were most
unfavorable. and least care was taken 10
protect them.
But four years ago the pineapple plants
of this section were wiped off the face Of
the earth "A month after the freeze there
was no vestige of life i'm any of the Or
lando pineries. and owners believed them
selves hopelessly ruined. But new shoots
came up from the old roots in increased
numbers for having the fruit and tops
killed, and inside of two years the bust
ness was ON more profitable basis than
1t was before. In fact, before the next
winter came the growers were realizing
handsome profits from the sale of slips
for planting, and they sent some fruit to
market. Since then the business has
quadrupled two or three times.
This time some OF the pineries were so
thoroughly protected that not plant or
fruit bud was damaged. 1t has been
demonstrated that such protection is en-
tirely practicable. In three months from
to-day eight-pound pines win be shipped
from Orlando pineries, and the industry
viii go on unchecked
Whatever may have been the effect of
the cold wave in other sections, this por-
ton of the fruit belt will survive this as
II mas previous dangers.
REPORTS WE'RE EXTRAVAGANT.