THE CITRUS INDUSTRY 89 



tion, cultivation, and marketing are large items 

 of expense. The trees are planted close, come 

 into bearing at an early age, and soon pay ex- 

 penses when carefully handled, turning a profit 

 at from five to six years from planting. A 

 good grove in full bearing is not only a most 

 beautiful sight, but it is highly profitable unless, 

 perchance, it is overcapitalized or poorly man- 

 aged. With these crops, as with all others, 

 overcapitalization, bad location and manage- 

 ment all lead to the same destination. But 

 under the best of management there are apt to 

 be, from time to time, severe losses from cold. 

 In fact, severe freezes have been the cause of 

 the greatest disasters known in this industry. 

 The first great insurance to the success of the 

 industry is a frost free location. The second 

 is a suitable variety, and the third good mar- 

 keting facilities. 



Location. With all highly sensitive fruits 

 the question of suitable location is a most im- 

 portant one. Much can be done to remedy a 

 bad bargain in location by the use of smudges, 

 smokes, and heaters, and while these means of 

 protection should be borne in mind as emer- 

 gency measures they should not be a fixed an- 

 nual maintenance charge, but should, on the 

 contrary, be found among the insurance items. 



