The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-25
ALL SORTS OF ORANGE VIEWS.
OPINIONS AS TO EFFECT on TREES
STILL AT VARIANCE.


One Man Says They Are As Dead as
Hector" While Another Says He
Has Not Lost a Tree-MaRy Ouin-
ions Between These Extremes
weather Conditions Now FaVOra-
bIe-A Disguised EnEIishmaR Sells
His Grove Out Cheap.
Orlando, Fla, Feb. 24-It is now twelve
days since the cold wave swept over the
peninsular of Florida. 80
That damage was done no one can deny.
but even now were a man to start out
among the owners of orange groves and
ask each owner to tell him exactly the
condition of the trees, and the extent of
the injury. his reason would be unbal-
anced before the expiration of the first
day, unless he had taken the precaution
to stow it away below decks and ,batten
down the matches, no two men exactly
agree.
One owner of fine old grove few days
ago expressed the unqualified opinion that
his trees were as dead as Hector" what
ever that may signify The friend to whom
he made the remark promptly made him
a spot cash offer for his next fall and
winters crop of fruit. The offer was not
large, but 1t was too large sum to throw
away, and demonstrated the faith of the
friend that fair crop of fruit will be put
on during the present spring to ripen with
the close of the year.
John M Cheney, a lawyer of Orlando,
who has several acres of orange trees
surrounding mis- home, unhesitatingly de-
clears that his trees are all dead,
Hon. John Gt Sinclair, whose home is
two miles north Of town
where he has about thirty
acres in trees, is just asconfdent
that he has not lost n tree, and he hopes
for fruit crop during this year. He re-
ports other groves in his immediate
neighborhood in equally as good condi-
lion. Here are the opinions of two
very careful and intelligent men, and they
are widely apart Individual opinions
range all the way between the two
Capt. w. A. Cooper, superintendent of
the Standard Oil groves, man of large
experience and thorough research. thinks
that while some of the trees under his
charge are damaged, the case is not by
any means hopeless, and he will not be
surprised If the trees put on considerable
fruit
Men from all parts of the orange pro-
ducl02 section Oh the Sldlt nave Dttil III
terviewed during the past few days, and
opinions vary as widely throughout this
district, as at this point. Farther north,
along the northern line of the orange belt,
the feeling is not hopeful. While in the
more southerly counties hope is stronger.
Naturally the conditions would favor sucn
opinions.
The trees are throwing the frosted leaves
which is a good indication, as showing
flow of sap and an effort of nature to re-
pair damages, commencing with getting
rid of dead material. The free use of a
knife discloses the fact that it is excep-
tionally rare that he inner bark is dis
colored. When found, 1t is usually in
the case Of unhealthy trees In the great
bulk of trees the knife shows the bark to be
green and juicy even to the ends of the
twigs.
Lemon and grape fruit trees are less
hardy than the orange, and these have in
many instances Jared badly, the trees be-
ing Internationally killed to the ground.
In others, with grape fruit especially,
there is in the condition of the trees much
to inspire hope. Appearances are GER
tainly deceptive if it is not found that
many grape fruit trees are alive and Wig
orous even to the tips of the branches.
Some may lose portion of the tops.
The weather conditions have been ia
vorable since the date of the cold wave
The temperature has ranged low, and the
rainfall has been far above the average
Sipce Jan II, nearly IA inches of rain has
fallen here With the TWEEN ty-four hours
ending yesterday morning, the rain gauge
showed ESQ. inches. The ground is thor
oughly wet. In low places water'is stand%
ing where there has been dry ground for
years Lakes and streams are higher than
for several years even during the rainy
seasons. Usually the spring droughts begin
during this month and continue for six
weeks to two months. There can be 40
drought this spring The ground is satu-
rated, the supply Of moisture being suf-
ficient to carry crops through TO May, the
beginning of the rainy season. II is hoped
that this excessive moisture will be of ben
EFT to citrus trees.
Whatever may prove finally to be the
effect, grove owners are not yet discour-
aged. They are not neglecting their trees,
nor are they offering to sen al a sacrifice.
Only one foolishly reckless man has as
YET come to the front. He was an English
man, who was Disguised and possibly a
little homesick He had a good ten-acre
grove which he offered to sell for enough
money to take himself and family back to
England. He named a ridiculously low fig
ure and he found a taker in an hours
time Other men are looking for such
snaps but have not found them and prob
ably will not. Floridians are poor Just now,
but they have nerve and are not without
resources.