"what will it cost?" 127 



cart-loads of rotten sap and grass, hauled from outside and 

 spread around the orange trees, would far surpass it. We 

 do not consider the gain, even considering the small first 

 cost, at all compensates for the after-clap of falling pine 

 trees and crushed orange trees. 



Another and a better way is to cut down the trees, chop 

 them up in convenient lengths, pile and burn them. This 

 method costs from twelve to eighteen dollars per acre, ac- 

 cording to the number of trees to be disposed of, and of 

 the amount of "small deer," in the shape of bushes and 

 young oaks, to be grubbed up by the roots. 



But then the stumps of the pine trees are left in the 

 ground, and it is a sad mistake to leave them there as so 

 many do. They are not only a constant eye-sore — that is 

 the least of it — but, no matter how often and how com- 

 pletely the field is cultivated, these stumps scattered all over 

 the grove will harbor ants and weeds, especially that curse 

 of many cultivated fields in the South, called maiden cane 

 grass. It is very difficult to eradicate that grass where it 

 becomes established ; but it can be done by constant use 

 of the cultivator for one or two seasons. Its roots pene- 

 trate the ground to the depth of several feet, and every 

 joint makes a new j)lant. For this enemy the pine stumps 

 afford a strong rallying point, and it is simply impossible 

 to destroy it while the stumps remain. 



Even if the maiden cane can be kept at bay as the 

 orange trees grow, the stumps interfere with their proper 

 cultivation. When the orange trees become large the 

 stumps can not well be burned out on account of damage 

 to the trees. They must be removed by cutting out, which 

 is A^ery laborious and expensive. 



Better, by far, to burn out the stumps before your trees 

 are planted, and have your land clear and smooth with no 

 broken lines in your avenues of orange trees. Stumps often 



