LETTERS FROM


FLORIDA.


wind,


from


danger


frost.


There is


seldom


any frost, but occasionally a cold snap warns


the orange-grower to be careful, and the experience of


those who have groves


advanced


that those


lands where all the trees are cut off


from frost and winds.


suffer most, both


The land being thus exposed,


the sun
growth


sucks
needs,


all the


and injures if


moisture


the young


not quite destroys it.


It is sad to see large tracts of land, like a desert, with-'


out any shade-trees


when


the fields and crops


would be so much benefited by them, aside from the
great pleasure one derives from the grand and beauti-


ful trees.


The eagerness to get the land in a


produc-


state


in the


blinds the judgment.


shortest


possible


time


True, the growth of


sometimes
all things


here is


soon


so rapid,


that new trees


from


cover a cleared field if allowed to


the old roots
; but nothing


can replace


giant


trees


for centuries


have


been the patriarchs of


forest.


And added to the


regret for their


is also the


thought


that, if


little


judgment


is used


in destroying the forests,


will not


be long before the fuel now so plentiful will


be greatly needed.
 A sensible man will clear only so much land as can
be properly cultivated, set out as many oranges as the
working force which he has on hand can bud or graft,


give


all needed


care


then


start


a nursery


planting seeds.


This


done,


the vegetables or other


varieties of fruits will claim his care.


But,


as a homestead


embraces


one hundred and


sixty acre, and only a small part of it should be under