GUAVA CULTURE. 179 



The guava is usually less a tree than a broad, straggling 

 bush, although sometimes trimmed up into tree-shape, and 

 in the more southern parts of Florida it grows so large that 

 it becomes a veritable tree, with branches stout enough to 

 support a person climbing among them, like an apple tree. 



Over considerably more than half the State, however, 

 the ' ' common guava " attains the height and shape of a 

 large bush only, from twelve to fifteen feet high, because, 

 unless carefully protected, it is apt to be killed back by 

 frosts ; but even when this mishap does occur the roots are 

 not injured. Very often the main branches are also unhurt 

 and the plant at once puts forth an amazing amount of 

 energetic growth, and in a few months replaces all it has 

 lost, losing but one season's crop. 



It is a common saying among growers that ' ' if only one 

 crop in three years is secured it pays well to raise guavas ;" 

 but there is no reason why a crop should not be secured 

 every year, the guava being naturally a constant and heavy 

 bearer. 



In setting out guavas where liable to frost, it is best to 

 place them in rows twelve feet apart each way ; this gives 

 them plenty of room, and yet is close enough to render it 

 easy to protect them from frost by driving down stakes here 

 and there along the rows, as close as possible to the main 

 body of the plants on each side, and then nailing to these, 

 long, slender slats, in such a manner that the outlying 

 branches will be pressed inward in a compact mass. The 

 stakes should be high enough to permit a covering of moss 

 or pine boughs to be laid across the top, from side to side, 

 supported by cross-slats here and there. This top cover 

 is very important, as it is the heavy dew that falls on frosty 

 nights, succeeded by the hot rays of the morning sun, that 

 makes all the trouble. To prevent this cold dew and hot 

 sun from touching his tender plants is the one object of 

 the Florida grower's winter protection. 



