The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1905-01-27


I vino need instruction in the facts al
I ready known to their predecessors
! The time is close at hand when Flor
/ idians look for danger, and know
/ that they may be called upon to eX-
ercise both intelligence and fOrtitude.
/ There is, therefore, some excuse for
/ presenting few simple facts which
may soon be called into use. Very
recently, moreover, the papers are
abiding to the claims of an alleged
discoverer OF an absolute protection
against the serious effects of cold.
/ As this "discOverer" offers to part
I from his discovery for Il cOnsidpra-
ton, interested parties will do well
[ to look into the character of the
| guarantee he offers.
! The first point to recall to the at
I tentiOn of those whose groves or
crops are possible sufferers from I'M
/ toward cold, is this: There is moth
/ ing new or chimerical in the subj ct
, of protection against cold. There
are numerous means by which dam
age may be positively prevented
| 1t is one thing to be able u change
! the temperature of a givaH spot, or
/ to protect a given grove, plant or
crop against damage from cold. 1t
is quite another to be able to effect
the change, or secure the protection
when and where needed and in an
economical manner. There is five
acre orange grove in Florida entirely
under roof, heated By steam radia-
tors to the temperature of a COM
Portable habitatiOn, in the coolest
weather. No one will for a moment
suppose that the fruit produced on
these housed trees is produced at II
profit to the grower. So when the
matter Of protection is considered, it
is not what is possible, but what is
practical and profitable that inter
ests the owner of threatened property.
1t must be accepted that water in
considerable bodies does protect.
This protection is due to the fact
that water cOols more slowly than
air. When the air becomes cold,
the water still remains warm. Pro
lection is afforded exactly as near
ness to stove, or any other warm
substance, makes the immediate
surroundings warmer. Any article
which intervenes between the source
of warmth and the thing to be warm
ed interiors with effects. Therefore
fences, hedges, timber, tall grass and
all other obstacles to the free passage
Of air from the warm water to the
colder neighbOrhOod are in the way
and should be removed. Neglect OF
this simple fact has cost individuals
in Florida ruined crops and damaged
groves in many, many instances.
For mere moderate protection, to
& IanplaG gOnpk1 baP fbon 10,
most effective. In such cases the
more smoke and the less actual heat
the better will be the results. Wet
straw, hay or manure are better than
wood. Green wood is better than
dry. Fires. in hollows where cold
air settles will often protect not on
Iy the immediate locality, but the
surrounding higher places.
1t is important to remember that
thawing does more damage than
does freezing. The more the thaw-
ing can be delayed the less will be
the damage. Shade and spraying
with water are often, one or the
other, feasible for this purpose and !
materially diminish the effects of
the freeze.
Celery, Irish potatoes and straw
berries, which are usually grown OIL |
wet land with frequent drainage |
bitches, may often be given material |
protection by stopping the bitches so |
that they fill with water. A thin |
coating of ice on the water of the |
bitches has saved the bloom on |
many a strawberry field. The ex-
PLANTATION is simple. The process of |
freezing liberates certain amount |
of latent heat Vegetation, all liv-
ing matter, has a certain resistant |
force. The water freezes because il !
has no such self-protecting power:
and in the act the freezing power be-
comes exhausted and cannot exert !
itself against the living plant, till the
latent heat of the water and the re-
sistant power of the plants are both
overcome.
This is why, tho they possibly
knew nothing of the reason, our
grandfathers in New England used
to carry tubs of water into their cell
ars on cold nights, as protection for
their stores of apples and potatoes
The difference in the resisting
power of diff mt varieties Of plants
and trees must not be overlooked.
Hardy plants, particularly hardy
orange trees, have been much dis
cussed. The success of Mr.. Nor
mand of Marksville La, in this di-
rcction is so apparently encouraging,
and has been SO much misrepresent-
ed, that | present the report of gen
tlenCn who recently visited the
grove in question.
II visited Mr.. Normand's nursery.
and was surprised to see a large
bushy growth of trifoliata about four
feet high, and there a graft had been
put in and "a thrifty growth of sweet
of as fine looking oranges as
| ever looked at anywhere. Mr..
NOrmand had reversed the usual or
der of grating and had grated high
instead of low. His reason for doing
this was caused by his conclusion
that the trifoliata is plant in which
the sap does not respond readily to
every change of the weather and
rise very far upon the approach OF
the first warm days. This being I
true he believed that by putting the
graft in three or four feet from the
ground he would be in no danger
rom this source, and the success he
S meeting with Is evidence i'll itself ,
hat he reasoned well. The orange
Mr.. Normand showed me is secured
ny crossing BOone's Early with the !
,rifOliata. This orange has been
grown since the cold spell in 1899, {
nut Mr.. Normand has oranges that
.ven withstOOd that seige. Before ] 6
peeled an orange Mr.. Normand
warned me that there was a slight ,
bitter taste to it, but | failed to dis
over a taste of bitter, the orange be-
ng exceptionally sweet. However, I
! fault / did discover was that the l
lesh or pulp was exceptionally tough {
Aside from that it was one of the /