SYSTEMS OF CULTIVATION. 9 



their best and most natural protection against extremes of heat and 

 cold. 



CLEAN CULTURE OB MULCHING PREFERABLE TO CROPPING YOUNG 

 GROVES. The practice of planting crops between the rows of young 

 orange trees is not without certain evil consequences in attracting dep- 

 redators. Many of these do indirect damage only. Cotton, for instance, 

 is attacked by the Cotton Worm (Aletia xylina) which, after stripping 

 the cotton plants of their leaves, gather upon the orange trees and make 

 their cocoons between the leaves. The orange trees are fouled with 

 their webs and tangles, which foster Scale-insects. 



A very appreciable amount of damage is always inflicted by locusts or 

 grasshoppers (AcrididaB) when succulent plants, like Cotton or Cow Pea, 

 are planted in young groves; and when the system of allowing weeds 

 to grow about the trees is pursued, the loss of growth from these in- 

 sects is sometimes very serious. Older trees do not greatly suffer, and 

 are, moreover, able to spare a portion of their foliage ; but very young 

 trees when surrounded by weeds are more or less defoliated and checked 

 in growth. The tops of young trees being small and low their leaders 

 and tender shoots are gnawed and destroyed as fast as they appear, 

 and most of the summer growth may thus be lost. 



Objection is sometimes made to mulching orange trees with leaves or 

 vegetable refuse, on the ground that the mulch attracts and harbors 

 insects. Most of the insects which lurk in such places, however, are 

 predaceous species, and may be considered either harmless or beneficial. 

 Very few of them are injurious to the orange tree. 



White ants (Termites) must be considered an exception to this rule. 

 They are attracted by decaying vegetable matter, especially by dead 

 wood, and sometimes attack the living tree at or beneath the surface of 

 the ground. To avoid attracting such dangerous neighbors care should 

 be had in mulching to leave the crown of the tree uncovered and ex- 

 posed to the light and air. It is also best to exclude from the mulch 

 all solid masses of wood material, such as chips and branches. 



It is to be noted in regard to the common practice of scattering in the 

 grove and about the trees bits of wood, bark, branches or logs, and al- 

 lowing them to decay upon the ground, that the danger from this sys- 

 tem of fertilizing is not always immediate, but consists rather in attract- 

 ing termites and inducing them to establish colonies in the vicinity of 

 the trees, which may indeed escape injury while an abundant supply of 

 dead wood remains, but are liable to be attacked if this should become 

 dry or partially exhausted. 



SEASONS OF GREATEST INSECT ACTIVITY. Although in Florida some 

 insects breed continuously throughout the year, there is a very general 

 winter rest from November or December to January or February, ac- 

 cording to the severity of the season. The awakening in spring is 

 gradual and not sudden as at the North. 



In February most of the species of insects injurious to the Orange 



