20 



of attention to the subject of thorough fertilization, but it 

 may be as well to state that on the light poor lands of 

 Florida no success will attend the cultivation of those who 

 neglect it. It has been promulgated by some theorists that- 

 stable manure is too heating and stimulating and, if used, 

 will produce the "die back" and other calamities on young 

 growing tiees. 



We believe the theory is not a good one, and that the 

 disease of the trees may be traced to other causes, such as 

 bad locations, wet, soggy soil, the action of wind and rain 

 storms, moss and fungoid growths, etc. However others 

 may regard these heating manures, we have seen the best 

 of effects from their use, and shall continue to run the risk 

 till otherwise convinced. 



OTHER HELPS. 



One of the greatest helps in the successful cultivation 

 of a young orange grove,- is a flock of fowls. The small 

 breeds which have a disposition to range, like the Ham- 

 burgs or Leghorns, are undoubtedly the best. They will 

 clean out the grasshoppers, worms, butterflies, slugs, moles, 

 small snakes, lizards, toads, frogs, and every other crawl- 

 ing, flying and hopping thing which is not too formidable 

 for them to cope with. We have a flock of fifty, which 

 have the range of our home grove of seven acres, and it is 

 amusing to see these lively creatures range over the field 

 in pursuit of insects arid other animal food. Hardly a foot 

 of the field but what is scoured over every day ; and be 

 sides, they destroy a vast amount of grass and weeds and 

 obnoxious things generally. They will pay their way 

 better than any other stock. 



A flock of turkeys would very likely be better, because 

 their proclivities for ranging are proverbial. But then it 



