Evening journal., 1901-01-14
funny THINGS IN
ORANGE GROVES
Devices to Protect Florida
Trees From Cold
Struggles Of Growers Against Danger
From Billiards -COntriyanceS
Quickly Adjusted

Jacksonville, Fla, Jan. 11.-Orange
trees are not rolled up in blankets
every night, but they are cared for
about as effectually. The growers
have not forgotten February of year
ago, when the mercury dropped from
fifty-five degrees to below twenty de-
grees and miles of trees covered with
green foliage and heavy with fruit
were turned into black trunks and
branches most of the leaves and fruit
httering the ground. On the day be-
fore the blizzard a man near De Land
had an offer of $4,000 fer his grove
with the fruit ON the branches, but he
refused 1t. A day after he would have
sold 1t for $1,000 if he could have
found a buyer.
This is the reason why one who goes
through the orchard districts sees
many funny things in the groves. BY
the side Of each tree in some OF the
groves, two or three boxes are lying on
the ground II the weather man says
that a cold snap is coming, one side
OF each box is taken off, they are drag
ged around the trees and when the
sides are put back the trunk and
branches are completely hidden. In
the bottom Of the box a small hoe is
cut which gives one the idea of a
homemade dog house. This is for in
serting the lamp or other warming ap-
paratus in case il is needed.
The owners next-door neighbor may
have what looks like a sail wrapped
around mast with an elbow
near the top standing beside
each Of the trees When the
weather. is sunny AMI the tenn
peiature is normal, he pays no at
tention &c the arrangement, but if the
weather man says there is danger Of
frost, the Grange grower hustles along
the rows CT trees, untying the cords
which fasten the cloth to the poe
Then he waits for more news and If
he decides that a frost is coming, he
simmons all the hands and the cloth
IS drawn around the tree. The crook
n the mast extends TO a point ever
ne top. AS a result, the branches are
completely covered and the tree looks
like one Of the patent lawn tents SC
popular in Summer, only it is made OF
cheap muslin instead Of pretty striped
canvas. This muslin is covered with a
mixture Of paraffin or some other sub
stance which is mildew and rainprOof
so that it will stand the weather II is
attached by rings to framework in the
shape Of a hoop which encircles the
tree, and to close the tree, as the grow
ers say, means to pull the cloth around
the hoop by the rings.
Fast time is made in closing up the
trees and there is as much rivalry
about it as among village hose com
panies in gOint to a fire. Some tents
are called half-minute tents, as only
thirty secons are required to loosen
the cords, pull the cloth around the
sides Of the tops and fasten it rea1 1y
for the frost
At another orchard the visitor may
see rows of trees big and little with
wooden framework on each side sup
porting a roof made of boards. A
closer view shows folds Of cloth be-
tween the frame work and the rOcf.
BY pulling two or three cords the cloth
falls around the framework and a few
hundred feet away the rows of trees
look like little shanties such as rail-
road men use, except that hey have no
windows ana no stOvepipe projecting
from the side The shed tents are to
cover the smaller and more tender
trees.
Another curious device looks like a
candle snuffer On a large scale. A pole
is planted at the side OF the tree From
the top is a sort of swinging derrick
made Of heavy wire. Suspended from
the derrick by a pulley is the tree COW
er, which in ordinary weather is wrap
ped in folds II is raised and lowered
like an arc lamp in a city street and
by pulling a string the folds are loosen
ed and the covering drops over the
top and sides of the tree to the ground
When the danger is past it is hOista5
into position as the trimer hOists the
lamp upon the pole and the clotI
again gathered into folds. In shape il
resembles the tent-affair already re-
ferred to.
But many Of the groves live in reg
ular houses from autumn until spring
wear Titusville is a plantation Of thid
ty-seven acres and under one roof. If &
can be called a roof. Around the cut
side is erected a frame work for sup
porting the roof. The roof itself il
really a shutter on a large scale di
vided into Stats each of which is from
six to eight inches wide and about tel
feet in length. The ends of the slat
work like ordinary window Stats. Il
fair weather thep are opened as wei
as the sides of the shed so that the ali
can circulate freely and the trees re
Celve the sunshine. AS soon as tn
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