HOW TO CULTIVATE. 



67 



plowed under, the trees did not grow well, or bear well. They 

 became sickly, insected, and the oranges rusted. Then clean 

 culture was tried, and a cultivator passed through the grove ev- 

 ery two weeks, from January to October. It was curious to see 

 how those trees brightened up under what was evidently congen- 

 ial treatment. 



Before one season was over they started to grow vigorously, 

 throwing out thrifty shoots from top to bottom, the insects disap- 

 peared, the trees lost their sickly yellow look, and joyously donned 

 their wonted dark green livery, and the fruit was large and fine 

 and bright. 



Another instance we know : a wild hammock grove, where 

 clean culture was practiced for several seasons, the trees, hitherto 

 healthy and in vigorous growth, drooped, turned yellow, became 

 the prey of insects, dropped their oranges, and seemed likely to 

 die. Then the owner stopped plowing and cultivating, allowed 

 the luxuriant grass to grow at will, and when it became too 

 rampant, had it cut and left it where it fell. Almost imme- 

 diately the drooping trees lifted up their heads, the insects fled, 

 and to-day, when the ground has not been stirred for more than 

 two years, this erewhile sickly grove is one of the finest and most 

 beautiful sights to be seen in Florida. 



And just here we see why it is so difficult to lay down a 

 given rule as a safe guide in all circumstances for the would-be 

 orange grower to follow. 



It is emphatically true in orange culture, ?tS in many other 

 things, " that circumstances alter cases." 



While the trees are young, and their roots extend over but 

 a small portion of the ground, it is a good plan to cultivate the 

 grove as a vegetable garden, in this manner : The fertilizers used 

 for the latter do double duty, as any surplus left by the vege- 

 tables goes towards enriching the land that by-and-by will be in- 

 vaded by the hungry army of orange rootlets, the green stuff 

 also that remains after the crops are gathered, supply a very nec- 

 essary element to the successful grove, namely, vegetable humus. 



During the first two seasons, when the trees are only four or 

 five years old, the vegetable rows may approach the trees within 



