IN FLORIDA 23 
from the sea by the wind, proving very destructive to foliage and 
small limbs, especially on the side of vegetation towards the 
wind. At such times forests that are not overthrown may be 
almost destroyed, partly by the salt spray and in part, per- 
haps, by the passage of electricity from the clouds to the earth. 
This salt spray does not especially affect vegetation when there 
is an abundant rainfall or at any great distance inland. 
Most of these hurricanes originate in the Caribbean or to the 
eastward of it, moving to the west and north until they reach 
the Tropic of Cancer, when they veer to the northward and 
finally to the northeastward. The wind may blow from any 
direction. 
Much has been published on the subject of protecting plants 
from frost and a good many devices have been used for this 
purpose, but so far as my experience goes I cannot help acknowl- 
edging that we can do but little to defend ourselves from severe 
freezing. Almost any kind of covering will ward off a light 
frost, but in case of a sharp freeze such protection does but 
little good. If by any means the morning sun can be kept 
from falling on frosted plants they may come through with but 
little injury; therefore tall trees or a forest standing to the 
eastward of one’s garden should be preserved by all means. 
If an open space lies to the westward of such a forest the cold 
air during a time of frost may settle there and a heavy frost 
result. 
A good many growers have installed irrigation works on their 
grounds, and if water from an ordinary well can be thrown on 
vegetation during a moderate frost it will be protected, but in 
case of a very hard freeze it will form thick ice all over the plants 
and the chances are that they will be ruined. When once water | 
is turned on, it must be kept going until all danger of frost is over. 
One generally has tender plants scattered all over his place and 
his irrigation works are not sufficiently powerful to keep up a 
flow of water over the whole all night. It is claimed that if 
water is sprayed over frozen plants very early in the morning 
it will save them but I have never had much success with this 
plan. 
A clouded sky at night is an excellent protection against frost, 
