56 ORANGE CULTURE IN FLORIDA. 



the orange, was unhurt where so protected. One 

 other instance. On the south or south-east of Or- 

 ange Lake stood two beautiful and extensive orange 

 groves side by side. They were wild groves budded 

 and just coming into bearing. They both had the 

 same water protection. One grove was judiciously 

 protected by forest trees left standing at suitable in- 

 tervals ; the other grove was without such forest pro- 

 tection. All the forest trees had been cut down. 

 A few days after the severe frost of the winter of 

 1876-7 the sheltered grove was still as green as in 

 midsummer, while the other appeared as though a 

 fire had swept through it. Its leaves were dead or 

 fallen, while thousands of dollars' worth of fruit, 

 frozen and spoiled, hung upon the naked branches. 

 The owner estimates that if he had left a few forest 

 trees in his grove they would now be worth to him 

 twenty thousand dollars. Are not such facts suffi- 

 cient to check somewhat the reckless destruction of 

 our noble forest trees and nature's chosen pro- 

 tectors ? 



In leaving trees for purposes of shelter for the 

 orange, the direction given in Chapter III. on bud- 

 ding sour groves should be attended to. Suitable 

 trees at suitable distances should be left. Three 

 things are especially desirable : ist, the rays of the 

 early morning sun should be kept from falling di- 

 rectly on the frosted trees. As the sun hangs far to 

 the south during our coldest weather, tall forest 

 trees on the south and east would materially benefit 



