oo(] CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



miles from a railroad must not be overlooked in the pre- 

 liminary reckoning of expenditures and returns. If the 

 grove can be located conveniently near two railroads, so 

 much the better. Competition sometimes has an influence 

 on freight tariff. 



It may be safely said that few districts where citrus 

 fruits are grown within the confines of the mainland of 

 the United States are entirely free from the effects of 

 frost, still some localities are notoriously frosty while 

 others may 'be considered entirely free, so far as damage 

 to the trees, flowers or fruit is concerned. Freedom from, 

 or susceptibility to frosts is not dependent entirely upon 

 either latitude or altitude. A certain situation may not 

 be subject to the baneful effects of frost, while, within a 

 very short distance, another may be repeatedly visited. 

 Even in Florida where the land is comparatively flat and 

 level and where one might expect greater uniformity to 

 prevail, isolated spots are visited by frosts, while others 

 much farther north escape. The topography of the region, 

 the proximity of bodies of water, the presence of mountain 

 barriers, the direction of the prevailing winds are the 

 factors which largely control the climate of a given 

 region. 



It is frequently noted that frosts occur in valleys, 

 hollows and low areas while the adjacent hillsides or ele- 

 vated portions are untouched. The explanation of this 

 phenomenon is that the cold air drains off into the lower 

 levels and settles there, while the warm air rises to re- 

 place it. This interchange of air goes on until frost oc- 

 curs in the lower area while the higher portion escapes. 

 Low ground so situated as to receive the cold air from a 

 higher level should be avoided, a location on the side of 

 the slope or on the top of the elevation being much prefer- 



