The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-12-16
TREES IN TENTS.
DEVICES rO rRorETr yioRJDt 0ROvgs
RDU com.
tontri,sr,es "ui'Lb Adjusted varicus
rotms ~ Uou'cs ,i'o ts"d systems for
Furnishing neat struggle. 81 Growers
Against the DANCE from Biisssrds.

'
Asain., the Danger from Blisssrds.
J~.CEsoS,tIII. Ih. Dec. ~, Florida
orange trees uro not rollri no In blankets
,ycfy uf,n'. Co.,. the, arc cared for about
n. c1octurlly The growers h - not for
gotten February ~ n year 900 when tho
mercury druuIpd from n~fty-hve degrees To
holpw tW"u', dcEroes and miles NJ trees
covered with green foliage and heavy with
fruit vcre turned into black TRUNKS suu
hrau,hc. with most " the leaves and fruit
l]ittcTiis tho ground on tho day before
the blizzard % man near Do Land had an
oncr OF 10000 for his grow" with tho fruis
on tho branches. but he refused IL. A da~
after he would have sold IL for $1,000 II 10
could have found "A buver.
1hi- ~ the reason " nv ono who goes through
the orchard district sco1 manv funny things
IN the groves. Nv the aid" of each tree IN
some of the groves. two or three boxes are
living on the ground. II tho weather man
SAYS that a cold snap "a coming one side OF
each box istaken on. they are dragged around
the tree and when tho sides are put back
the trunk and branches arc completely hid
den. In the bottom Of the box a small hole
IL cut which gives one the idea OF n home
made dog house. Thl, IL for inserting the
lamp or other warming apparatus In case
1t IL needed.
The owners next-door neichbor may have
what looks like n sail wrapped around a mast
with an elbow near the top standing beside
each Of his trees. When the weather Is sunny
and the temperature is normal. he pays no
attention to the arrangement. but II the
weather man says there Is danger OF frost.
the orange grower hustles along the rows
OF trees. untying the cords which fasten the
cloth TO the 20 q. Then he waits for more
- - - -. -. T. -
he mmo all the hands and the cloth -
drawn around the tree. The crook in the
mast extends to a point over tho top. As
a result the branches are completely COW
cred and the tree looks like one of the patent
lawn tents 40 popular in uinIner only 1t Is
made of cheap muslin instead OF pretty
striped canvas. This muslin Is covered
with n mixture OF paranln or some other
substance which is mildew and rainproof.
40 that 1t will stand the weather. 1t II at
tached by rings to framework In the shape
of a hoop which encircles the tree. and to close
the tree. as the growers say, means 70 pun
the cloth around the hoop by the rings.
Fast time is made in closing up the trees
and there il as much rivalry about II as among
some tents are called half-minute tents. as
only thirty seconds re required to loosen the
cords, pull the cloth around the sides OF the
tops and fasten II ready for the frost.
Al another orchard the visitor may zee
rows OF trees big and little with wooden france
work on. each side supporting n roof made
of boards. A closer view shows folds OK
cloth between tho framework and the roof.
By pulling two or three cords the cloth TAILS
to the ground around the framework. and O
few hundred feet away the ROW. or trees
look like little shanties such a. railroad men
use. EXCEPT that they have no windows ana
no stovepipc projecting from the side, The
shed tents are TO cover the smaller and more
tender trees.
Another curious device looks like n candle
gnuiler on IL large scale. A pole is pIanLeQ
at the side of the tree, From the top is a
sort of swinging derrick made of heavy, wire.
Suspended from the derrick by Il pulley 10
the tree cover, which IN ordinary weather is
wrapped in folds. II is raised and lowered
a string the folds are loosened and the cover
ING drops over the top and sides OF the tree
70 the ground. When the danger Is past
il is holsted into position as the trimmer
HOSTS the lamp upon the pole and the cloth
again gathered into folds. In Shape II re-
But many OF the groves live in regular
1itusvlle /. a plantation of thirty-seven
acres all under one roof, II II can be called q
root, Around the outside is erected a frame.
work for supporting the roof. The Tooi
into Stats each OF which is from six to eight
inches wide and about ten feet In length.
The ends Of the stats work Ike ordinary
window Stats. in fair weather they are Open
ed as well rs the sides of the shed. 50 that the
air can circulate freely and the trees receive
the sunshine. As soon as the weather pre-
dictions Indicate frost, mon with long poles
60 through the grove and turn the Stats
from a vertical to a horizontal position, In
other words close the shutters. Then they
close the sides OF the Shed and the grove 10
housed In.
A number OF Maine Yankees have been
Interested in raising oranges for several
years and some OF them were caught in the
big freeze of February, 1900. They have also
taken up the housing idea in different ways.
One man has his orchard surrounded by o
shed OF pine boards. At the top, rows. OF wire
from side to side to which are fastened
at rina nt anftnn cloth tainted with sDnA
combination to make 1t weatherproof. When
ho wishes to cover the trees. the strips are
by poles and the whole grove car, be closed
in two hours. Another form of shed Is put
ny In the fail and remains until spring. IL
is really a greenhouse on a large scale. as the
top is composed principally of window panes
which, can be swung open In pleasant. weather
very expensive AFFAIR. howcver. and is used
In only one or two places,
But the orchard men do not depend simply
upon the sheds, tents and boxes FOR 'armth.
OF the sheds are equipped with what
are called salamanders. which are made OF
crate forms the bottom. They are
filed with wood or coke and six Of them will
warm the air sufficiently 20 AceE an acre
Of trees from being frost bitten They range
all OF the way from two TO six feet in height
and can be taken apart in n few minutes
and moved wherever needed.
Stoves of all kinds from the ordinary cook.
stove 10 an arrangement made OF sheet iron
a few inches high are also used IN extremely
COlQ weather, NHllt flpIluH mas DtCOnlo
one of the principal markets of the United
States for oil stoves Nhen the tempera-
ture gets below 20 degrees. an Ordinary hand
lamp placed In OH" Of the tcnts vii! keep the
air warm enough Ia protect the tree and burn
from twelve to eighteen hours without being
filed, according To the size Of the reservoir.
Heat j. also conveyed by LINKS Of stove PHO
through the larger sheds whore not SO much
fire il needed. Stoves or salamanders are
up in the corners and piping run between
the rows of trees. being wired to the wood
At conventions OF the fruit growers. the
question of the best wa" OF covering up the
trees urouscs as much discussion as The best
brand " Fertilizers. The growers are di.
vided into the sh"d mon and the tent mon.
results OF Tn" protection show that
oranges can DO grown IL tho Crovcsnrcp properly
cared for In spite Of tho northern billiards
which have rccently hal IA ha3.t 81 sweeping
over the state. Several comDanies have
TO manufacture sheds and tents
Of various kinda and on" ~ them has for ia
Freeze or no freeze. We can raiae
oranges
OF STEAM vESSFLA