2 BULLETIN 462, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



majority of those who remained in the industry moved farther 

 south, where the danger from extreme cold is not so serious. The 

 financial depression that followed the freeze caused the abandonment 

 of practically all the irrigation systems, and many of the owners 

 took up the pipe and sold it for old iron. Only about 25 or 30 

 acres of irrigated groves remain in this section at present. 



In the southern counties, where the effects of the freeze were not 

 so disastrous (although very severe), the trees were cultivated and 

 cared for and soon were bearing fruit. The period following the 

 freeze was so favored with rainfall that most of the irrigation 

 systems fell into disuse and many were taken up. 



The excessive drought of 1906 revived interest in irrigation, how- 

 ever, and when this was followed by four more dry years many of 

 the most skeptical installed irrigation plants. 



The comparatively rainy seasons of the last three or four years 

 have discouraged recent extensive development of irrigation in citrus 

 groves, but the large development of the trucking industry has 

 brought about a considerable extension of irrigation in that field. 



ESTIMATE OF TOTAL IRRIGATED CROPS. 



An accurate estimate of the total acreage of irrigated lands in 

 the State is difficult to make. Many of the irrigation plants are 

 miles from any others, while some of the territory containing a 

 considerable percentage of irrigated lands would have to be surveyed 

 very carefully to secure any accurate estimate. 



Several methods were employed to secure a rough estimate of the 

 acreage irrigated. Much of the State was covered by the writer in 

 an automobile and estimates for each locality were obtained from the 

 best-informed residents. Another source of information was several 

 hundred inquiry cards sent out by the Department of Agriculture 

 and returned by farmers who were practicing irrigation. These 

 cards afforded a good index to the methods and costs of irrigation in 

 the various sections, but were of little use as a general census, since 

 only a small percentage of the plants was reported in this way. 

 Valuable information was obtained from several of the prominent 

 irrigation supply men of the State and from well-known irrigators, 

 who gave estimates of local irrigated areas. 



The acreages irrigated are estimated as follows : 



Acreage of irrigated crops in Florida in 1915. 



Irrigated truck crops : Acres, 



Surface irrigated 12, 000 



Subirrigated 2, 500 



Overhead spray 3, 000 



Irrigated citrus groves 8, 000 



Total 25, 500 



