REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF GARDENS AND 



GROUNDS. 



SiK: I beg to siibmit the following notes on matters pertaining to 

 tliis division. 



NOTES ON ORANGE CULTURE, ETC. 



Recent visits to Florida in the interest of the Department have en- 

 abled me to acquire some knowledge of the climate, soil, and produc- 

 tions of that State, as far soiith as latitude 28 degrees. The following 

 desultory remarks, the result of observations made, are offered for 

 what they may afford in the way of answering some of the many in- 

 quiries constantly being directed to this division by prospective cul- 

 tivators and residents of Florida. 



For at least nine months of the year the climate over the larger 

 portion of the State may be considered as being tropical, so that most 

 of the vegetation of Avarm countries will find a congenial atmosphere 

 during that period. Occasionally this tropical season is longer thaji 

 that stated above, especially in the most southern parts; but there is 

 a liability to a brief season of low temperature about the end of No- 

 vember sufficient to injure tender vegetation, although the weather 

 may afterwards assume its tropical conditions for weeks. During 

 the winter months an occasional depression of temperature, running 

 down to or below the freezing-point, may occur at any time up to the 

 end of February or later. These fitful periods of low temperatures 

 are very injurious to early crops of culinary vegetables, as well as to 

 all plants which have started into growth. 



The early winter frosts are also hurtful to plants which have suc- 

 culent shoots not sufficiently matured to withstand the lov/ tempera- 

 ture. This is especially noticeable on young orange and lemon trees 

 which have been subjected to constant culture or to recent applica- 

 tions of fertilizers, causing a stimulation to late growths. Trees of 

 any age, if so treated, will be liable to injury from slight frost, but 

 when the shoots of the previous season on old trees are well matured 

 they are not sensibly hurt by frosts severe enough to injure their 

 matured fruits; but young trees are more susceptible in this respect, 

 HO that the management of young' orange groves requires a greater 

 degree of discriminate care and consideration than is necessary with 

 trees of deciduous habits. 



Orange groves located in the neighboi'hood of Indian River have 

 long been noted for their superior productions, and packages of 

 oranges marked "Indian River" command a higher price than those 

 from other sections of the State. Inquiries have frequently been 

 made with a view of ascertaining the cause of the reputed superior 

 qualities of these fruits, but answers to these inquiries have not been 

 explicit or satisfactory. A recent visit in that section of the State, 

 and a studied inspection of the soil, culture, and general condition of 



(687) 



