The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-03-31

The subject of cold is IN unpleas-
ant one TO the people of Florida.
EXprrience with cold itself, however
is more unpleasant vet. II the lat
ter may be prevented by any consld-
Grafton of the former he who pre-
sents the subject may reasonably eX-
pect forgiveness This hope strength
ems me in the determination OF again
expressing myself relative to this
disagreeable but most important
subject.
Two months have past since the
severe cold OF January 18th. 1t is no
longer necessary 10 Surnlse as TO the
actual extent of the damage " Wrought
in the citrus groves of the state.
The real effects OF the cold are now
apparent. The lessons and deduc-
lions are now presented with incon-
testible clparnesS. / have just re-
turned from trip Of II week through
the chief orange counties, made Tor
the purpose OF observing the present
positive effects of the cold. Many
facts are most forcibly illustrated by
the present condition of the groves.
Some Of these facts ere capable of
such application as to materially dl-
miniah the probabilities OF any fepe-
tition of similar damage in the fu-
ture. This is ample justification for
careful consideration.
1t must be borne III nina that the
citrus industry ms Whole escaped
serious damage, NOTWITHSTANDING tne
fact that the Temperature fell TO rs
degrees in most Of the groves Of the
old orange belt. The reason Tor TINS
general escape from what would,
under other conditions, nave meant
frozen trees, was the steady ana
continued preceding cool weather
The result was dormancy OF the
trees. This dornlancy has again
proved It's efficiency as protection
against any normal degree OF cold
| Any means, Therefore, winch TENDS
toward retaining the trees III DOR
mant condition is ample insurance
against ruined groves. Variety mas
more Influence IN controlling this
condition than all other factors com
bined. If any doubt remained as 10
the value OF the Satsunlh In tins par
ticular, 1t must now VANISH. All
over the state are groves or specl-
mems OF this tree absolutely unharm-
ed, today covered with bloom, sur
rounded 10y trees Of all other stand
ard varieties in all stages of suffer
ing from chill, from the mere nlpped
tips to the dead trunks. This I'M
munity is particularly marked when
the trifoliata stock was used. The
obvious lesson, aside from the value
Of the Satsuna, is the deslrablllty OF
using the trlIoliata stock for all va
rieties to which 1t shows adaptation
One Of the essentials to the pfotec-
ting dormancy Is thorough rlpeness
of the wood Unquestionably the
early TALL working OF the groves is
conducive to continued growth, and
prevents the possibility of full I'M
rlunity. FertlIl2ing and working
the grove later than the middle of
september is ut the serious risk OF
susceptibility to cold. The reason is
obvious TO whoever desires the rea-
sons for things. Continued working
tends toward continued growth; par
tial dornancy IN place of entire dor
nancy and green wood i'll place OF
ripe wood are the inevitable results,
leading to tenderness of the tree in
the event of unusual cold.
The fact that trees suffered so
comparatively little, while all over
the state thousands OF boxes of I'M
picked fruit were frozen and los
leads to two natural suggestions.
Earlier maturing varieties should
form larger part of future paintings
The reply may cite the low prices du :
ing the past autumn, which result ed
in an unusually large part of the crop
remaining on the trees so long so
that the suggestion made might be
followed by worse rather than better
conditions. This possibility leads to
the second suggestion in mind. The
time has come when the Florida
orange and grapefruit grower should
be able to hold his fruit without
leaving it exposed on the trees He
should be prepared to use cold stor-
age Most Of our larger towns are
already provided with cold storage.
for home cured meat. The facilities
should, and might easily, be extend
ed to part Of the citrus crop. The
more practical plan, however, would
be for grove and community cold
storage, for private and local conve-
nience as regular part of the prepa-
ration for the business, as much as
the packing house is Il part of the
regular equipment for the business.
The prohibitiye expense. once so in
surmountable, no longer exists.
Complete refrigerating machines
ample for the protection of many
thousands of boxes of frui', may now
be installed at a total cost less than
that of most of the irrigation plants
now becoming so prominant fea-
ture in the production of oranges.
Even two to three hundred dollars
now provides a refrigerating machine
ample for indefinitely preserving
fruit worth MANY time thiS monav