80 FLORIDA FRUITS ORANGES. 



than two years, this erewhile sickly grove is one of the 

 finest and most beautiful sights to be seen in Florida. 



And just here we see why it is so difficult to lay down a 

 given rule as a safe guide in all circumstances for the 

 would-be orange grower to follow. It is emphatically true 

 in orange culture, as in many other things, that * ' circum- 

 stances alter cases." While the trees are young, and their 

 roots extend over but a small portion of the ground, it is 

 a good plan to cultivate the grove as a vegetable garden. 



The fertilizers used for the latter do double duty, as any 

 surplus left by the vegetables goes toward enriching the 

 land that by and by will be invaded by the hungry army 

 of orange rootlets ; the green stuff also that remains after 

 the crops are gathered supplies a very necessary element 

 to the successful grove, namely, vegetable humus. During 

 the first two seasons, when the trees are only four or five 

 years old, the vegetable rows may approach the trees 

 within four feet, but every year afterward the distance 

 should be increased one foot, until the cultivation of vege- 

 tables finally ceases, and the orange rootlets run riot over 

 the whole grove, reveling in the rich soil that has thus 

 been prepared for their coming. 



It behooves every orange grower to keep his eyes open, 

 to read, to watch, to observe, not only his neighbors' meth- 

 ods and experiences, but also to note the results of his own 

 work, and alter his course if it seems likely to wreck his 

 particular barque. 



