Difficulties of Fruit-growing. 77 



to apprehend an occasional wind storm, plant a double row of 

 eucalyptus, pepper or cypress trees about the orchard for a wind- 

 break. Spa Iding, The Orange: Its Culture in California, 40. 



A place free from strong winds is best, but some that are 

 subject to them are otherwise exceedingly desirable. Some windy 

 places have been proved to be the best in other respects for 

 orange culture. If orchards be planted in places subject to wind, 

 wind-breaks should be planted at once. Garey, Orange Culture 

 in California, IS. 



The frequent discussion of the subject [advantages of partial 

 forest shelter] * among orange -growers, its impor- 



tance to all, and especially its importance to many portions of 

 the state [Florida] where success must ever depend upon either 

 forest or some artificial protection, demands careful attention. 

 Many persons have heretofore considered it unnecessary, and the 

 idea even absurd. But years of experience and observation, and 

 especially the experience of the winter of 1876-7, have made 

 many converts. Moore, Treatise and Hand-book of Orange Cul- 

 ture, 3d ed., 54. 



Forests and fruit-growing. One of the reasons 

 why fruit-growing is attended with increasing diffi- 

 culties is because the forests have been destroyed, 

 causing the country to become drier and hotter in 

 summer and bleaker in winter. Forest, then, aids 

 the fruit-grower in two important respects: 1. It 

 prevents the disastrous effects of sweeping winds. 

 2. It conserves and regulates atmospheric moisture. 



It is very doubtful if the extremes of tempera- 

 ture 01 fluctuations in annual means are more in- 

 tense in recent years from the effects of forest re- 

 moval. It may not even be true that there are 

 more high winds now than formerly, but it is true 

 that winds sweep over the farm with greater force. 



