New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-19

tho interior or south middle Florida. say, begin
ming at Ocala about one hundred miles south oi
here) Barlow the Manatce River sections etc
There are many groves At more northern points
and on the east coast. from Titusville down me
orange-growng interest is increasing. TIL" early
vegetable section is confined In q great measure 10
the east coast section aad the MauHIc' River. the
latter being south Of Tampa on the west coast
From these points great shipments Of beans. l''-
tuce. cucumbers tomatoes. cabbage. celery. etc.
North every spring and bring in thousands 81
dollars 20 the settlers. it being their great money
crop.
Strawberry culture is confined more 10 the west
ern portion-Ia vtey. I'm Alachua County being the
centre. though other sections are making bids for
this toothsome deiicacy Pineapple culture will be
great one in this State ere long as more acreage
IS being set out each year The cast coast is the
great centre Of this industry. though I'm and about
Orlando. south Florida. much capital has been
pended in this line They have to be protected
more in that section than in the east coast but
growers say that their products are larger and
sweeter BE that IT may. neither section has any
reason to complain OF the luscious fruit that is
shipped each season.
As soon az the warning whistles heard or the
teegraphc messages from the signal Office
ceived the fruit growers set abou: protecting their
trees plants it depending upon the section as to
the amount OF needed demanded. The
methods Of protecting groves is about the same in
all sections. In the generality Of orange groves the
trees are planted 25 by % feet ~ 20 by go giving
ample space between the rows and the individual
trees.
GETTING READY FOR TROUBLE
The owner has perhaps before this hauled up i'm
mense quantities Of logs and brush. and piled them
in regular heaps between the trees. They are piled
at distances Of one hundred feet. or thereabouts
depending upon The size Of the trees The nature Of
me ground whether wet or dry. high or low. ana
other circumstances Many planters prefer limbs
or trees, brush, etc. while others say that pine
trees. somewhat green, make the best srnudges or
most smoke Many sprinkle crude petroleum over
the wood 10 make II burn easier. and prefer having
n green II can be used, smoke IL then
thicker and denser. afording better protection.
Thus armed the owner awaits the alarm that he
knows VIII come before the
II comes. Then, according the night + clear
and dry. cold and SIN or cloudy. the number
OF piles gnited II cold and clear. without clouds
Of the piles set afire than II the night j.
overcast and slight wind - blowing. The fires
are kept partially smOhered as the smoke more
than the blaze T. desired for the protection wanted
trees. throwing grOtesquc and Wild shadows in the
air. Il makes peculiarly fascinating sight The
smoke rolls up IN clouds being dnlscd overhead
and floating over the trees. afOrding blanket. or
canopy. II were. that the cod cannot break
through The figures OF the men are seen IN the
dim light working around the fires. pushing down
the flames II TOO bright or poklug up other pies
that do not send off enough smoke THIS l. con-
iinued all night and maybe for day two, II
depending upon the duration Of The cold wave.
As "a general thing, this protection is the best
that oe had and IL well repays the extra eN-
pense entaied, as the salvation OF the grove means
a good profit on the yield. Many groves are so
located on the banks OF wide. shallow lakes that
the evaporation Of the warm water affords as
much protection as Is wanted Many such In
nature OF the land affects the cold In the case
o. two groves lying side by side, one has been
known TO suffer severely, while the other was