no 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
northwest winds the other two, 1 saved 
much of the fruit that still remained on 
the trees in a perfectly sound condition, 
to a still greater value at an expense of 
about $i6o as nearly as I can figure it. 
Nor is this all as my trees were fully 
protected from injury and now bearing 
heavy crops of fruit while the unprotected 
trees lost all their foliage and some of 
their wood and are now but scantily cov¬ 
ered and carying but light crops, many 
trees no fruit at all. 
I am satisfied that by firing my groves 
I have saved more of value in the coming 
crop than in that of the past season. 
But, figuring on what has already been 
realized, I can safely say that after all pro¬ 
tective measures up to date have been al¬ 
lowed for, and I still have fuel to last a 
week in case of cold spells, I have cleared 
at least several thousand dollars on ripe 
fruit alone. 
Just bear in mind that comparatively 
few people save a surplus of even one or 
two thousand dollars in a whole lifetime 
of struggle and hardships, that the cost of 
protection is no more than any energetic 
man can easily meet in one, two or three 
years and he may do the work of prepara¬ 
tion himself, bear in mind that the orange 
tree retains its leaves three years under 
normal conditions and that even if the 
wood and fruit could escape injury the 
loss of all this foliage at one time is a 
heavy shock that means less profit for the 
coming year, don’t forget the peace of 
mind that comes of being prepared and the 
assurance that you may safely hold at 
least a portion of your fruit for the high 
prices late in the season rather than take 
desperate chances between the Devil of a 
cold wave and the deep sea of glutted 
markets that may rob the improvident of 
their season’s income, or even the rewards 
of years of strenuous effort, by killing 
their trees to the ground while they mean 
but profit to you if you but act your part 
vigorously at the right time. Bear in 
mind that in most parts of the orange belt 
of this state years may intervene between 
the seasons calling for protection, even for 
the fruit, giving a chance to spread the 
expense of preparation over a considerable 
time. 
Bear in mind that the ablest and most 
successful business men of the world deem 
it good business prudence to take liberal 
advantage of insurance opportunities both 
on person and property. Bear in mind 
the chagrin as well as hardship, that comes 
to him who fails, while others with like 
opportunities succeed about him. Bear in 
mindvthat realty values, the prosperity of 
the state and every interest in it are deeply 
involved. 
Yes, let us carefully consider all these 
things and the many more that will sug¬ 
gest themselves to us and then ask our¬ 
selves if it does not promise fair returns in 
any case and splendid profit in some to 
prepare for the cold waves that are sure 
to come sooner or later and when they 
do come be ready and on the spot to put up 
a good fight for our own ? 
Twenty acres protected means a whole 
lot if others lose their trees, ten acres of 
good bearing trees when Florida’s crop is 
mostly cut off means a good income, an 
acre, or even a half acre, means much to 
the man too poor or feeble to protect more. 
How shall we do it? 
I will not stop to describe the many 
more or less effective plans that have been 
tried throughout this state and California, 
as even the best of them, with the ex¬ 
ception of that of building small fires in 
and about the groves possess drawbacks 
that must yet be overcome to bring either 
