The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-18
FLORIDA'S ORANGE GROVES.
NOT YET RECOVERED FROM THE
FEBRUARY FREEZE.

4
Little Work Being Done to Put the
Groves in Growing Conditioner
Disposition to Await the Outcome
of the Next Winter-IndicatiOns of
Mild Seasons VIII Put New Life in
the Industry-The Lake Theory
and the SeminoIes' PredIctiOn-Mr.
II. II. King Reviews the Situation
in FIOrida-The state Has "A Great
Future in the Cattle Raising In
dustry-Can Grow All the Forage
Crops II Needs.
Mr.. H. H. King, clerk of the United
States Courts, who has just returned
from Florida after spending several weeks
in the orange-growing section of the state,
gives an interesting account of the con-
ditions there.
1.-The people of Florida are undoubtedly
much depressed as the result of the dam
age done by the freeze Of last February"
said Mr.. King. Little inclination is
shown by the owners of the orange groves
10 devote time and money to put their
groves in shape to recover from the freeze.
In the majority of instances the trees
that they will have to be rebudded and
three or four years allowed for them to
come into bearing again. A considerable
percentage, however, which had been pro-
tected from the cold, We're killed above
the bud, and where these are given proper
attention they will come into bearing
again within a year or two
MI
orange growers were undeniably disheart-
ened by the February freeze" said Mr.
King. After the severe setback which
the trees received in the winter of 1S94-95
the Florida people thought they were
entitled to exemption from cold waves
for a time and set to work with consider
able enthusiasm to put their groves in
good condition. The trees were progress
ing nicely and had just come into bear
Ing again when the freeze of last February
came upon them. This freeze was re-
markable In its suddenness and severity
Il came without warning like a thief in
the night. Feb. IA was a very warm day
and there was not the slightest reason
to apprehend any danger. That night
cold wave of unusual severity came up
and the orange groves were simply as
sassinated"
=
are waiting now to see what the coming
winler WIZ bring forth If the winter
should be mild the current belief that a
succession of mild winters is to be ex-
pected will gain ground and the owners
of the groves will set to work to recoup
their losses. AS it is now only about 10
per cent of the groves are receiving the
attention necessary to put them in grow
ing condition. Many of the owners in
fact, have not the means with which to
undertake the work.
THE idea that the level of the water in
the lakes is a sure guide to the weather
has taken a deep hold in Florida" said
Mr.. King. For several years previous
to the freeze of 1895 the water in the lakes
began to fall and that year the water
was seven to eight feet lower than in
former years. The low water in the lakes
continued until last winter. Now the wa
ter in the lakes has begun to rise again,
and with it the hopes of the orange grow
ers for succession of milder seasons.
Just how the hight of the water in the
lakes affects the weather conditions is
not explained. The theory IS advanced
that the mist from the water acts as a
protection to the trees. It was noticed
that groves on the south side of the lakes
did not suffer so severely as others differ
emily situated
another thing which inspires the or
anee growers and others who believe a
mild climate TO be Florida's best friend Is
the prediction of the Seminoles The Sem
| inOes declared last year that their tradi-
tons showed that occasional periods of Sc
we're cold were not unknown in the past
and that a succession of such seasons was
always followed by a long series OF mild
winters. Seminole stock went pretty low
after the February freeze, and the Indians
| We're pretty thoroughly cussed out by those
| who had relied on their predictions. SUll.
there is a belief that there is something in
the Seminole theory, and that the time has
! arrived for succession of favorable sea
| sons for Florida.
| Il have confidence in Florida's future. -
| said Mr. King, land the ability of her PEG.
| pie 10 win success in spite of their present
| difficulties. The pineapple and truck
| growers are doing well, and there are other
| industries which are prospecting. Florida
| has a great future as a cattle raising state
| There are magnificent ranges, and the ca
pacity of the soil to produce forage CROPS
peculiar to the country is unlimited The
| cassava root can be grown in quantities in
| Florida. and is a splendid food for cattle
and hogs. The velvet bean grows readily
| and is a fine forage plant. The beggar weed
| is perhaps The best forage plant of all, and
| can be grown with almost no cultivation.
| Cut and cured It makes splendid hay One
trouble with Florida now is that her people
buy 100 much Western hay. They should
go more extensively into cattle raising and
produce their own forage"
Mr.. Kings confidence in Florida as an
orange producing state is still mistaken.
There is no country on earth which can
/ produce oranges equal to those of Flori-
da," he said, "and with the favor of a few
mild seasons the Florida orange will soon
resume its place in the market"
a q