New-York tribune., 1867-04-09
PRUJ7S FROM FLORIDA.


ADDRESS BEFORE THE FARMERS CLUB BY soJoN
ROBINSON.
l have placed upon the table few specimens Of
Florida oranges and lemons, which gathered ~ 90 %
any rarity 90 the members OF this Club but that tneI
exhibition viii serve az an Introduction to lew "os %
about my recent visit to climate that will produce suGn
fruit as this does not Ia sufficient quantities 10 supply
the home demand. You see Florida oranges anu
lemons III this city unless brought like these IN some
travellers trunk. Yct | saw orange trees. which had
produced assured, from 1000 TO 1909 OfanSt.s
per year sure that the quality is fully equal 10
those of any region Of the world 1t is true, the trees arc
sometimes killed by frost That was the ease IN ~ ~
The new trees planted after that, seriously hclou
for 10 or Is years with the scale insect cOccs hSRrdi
but that Of late has not been troublesome but ndoeco
has so that there but few orange orchards in Foda
AT ST. Augustine told that large tracts of land
now lying idle and growing up to brush and Drar WeI
counted by the million, and cargo after cargo shipped 10
market. What was, may be again. 1t is very ar o tbt
being the now For oranges are so scarce there S 10
they cannot bc obtained in quantity oneqarter equh
the demand Of visitors; Such as these would sel
while was there, at eight or ten cents eaeh ny 0
large orange orchard in the vicinity of St Augustine
upon the place Of Mrs Anderson which has an area OF ~
ISrs' bnt the s0 trees are not yet ali in bearing
great many trees have been planted within twp n
mostly by new immigrants from tins region de ood oiI
members OF this club will remember Geo w. alwoUu, %
who used to meet & MIN y HS ge s NOW settled M upon
beautiful place Just outside OF the town Of ST. Augustine
from now he will doubtless be able ship fruit from trees
bndded last year and this. The common way OF srns
an orchard TO go to the woods and dig up some orange
rees which are found abundanty in some localities ana
out off the entire top, and bring home the stump WIN
large enou Oh can budded with any variety OF the orange
family which very numerous including AL the S0Its 1i
oranges lemons lines, shaddOcs and citrons There Is
no fruit propagation for the seeds OF each sort
nroduce It's like The buds take readily and produce
ut in four or five yearsfrOm the seed in eight OF Ten
years Notwithstanding that nurseries are easily grown
they are extremely rare noticed in MI Atwooq gar
den small Just started Those extraordinary lenlos
I picked from the tree | stood upon Mr.. Atw0Ods
piazza The largest there weighed % p o. ana the nehe @
over pound. Yet these were not the largest ,nN lhe
free produced. This is OF the smallest ana WEIGHS
over half pound The garden is sheltered ON the h9rn
,fclr ODD Of
which / might have gathered wagon LOAD larger
and handsOmer than these sweet oIankefs.
Very little is made OF the sour rut Sometos ~ ~
~ wine s made OF the uice. When left st. Augustine
March 49, the orange blossoms had nearly all tale ana
peaches were large as hnzel nuts teas Dfes,
lettuce. cObbages, SC, were abmgAp4 t9lAt2sS corn,
beans tomato plants, were AL Largo eno1gh FOR eglIye
ton Yet that summer climate Is only four days from
NeT-Yofk Indeed, you may leave ST. Augustine Mon
dsy morning ATSr breakfast .and your Friday morn
ing breakfast in Boston. The distance, mostly by la
about lOO miles. There is no doubt In my nlnd tnat
Florida offers the greatest opportunities Tor pracee en-
ergetic fruitpOwes OF any section oil the thteu otes
A man would be pretty sure OF fortune ltoul
a nursery established immediately at 81 Augustine
or rather preferable. at Jacks0nyllle Tor tue country II
rapdly settling with people who VIII want 10 pant
few oranges, lemons lines, citr0ns shaddocks gtla
bananas, peaches, aud ornamental trees anu htin
Thousands of wild trees have been tfn-pidhIcu iroIh
tLe woods 10 gardens the present year In some places
OF converting into sweet fruit commenced KNOW
two Young men who have started grove upon
River some 45 miles south OF ~. AUGUSTINE wnon % 'gy
rapidly the work can be aecOHplLsheuiu lnvap np
are. undoubtedly, great opportunities an a S'el c
Florida for cnterpTislng TO make new MONIES hhu
cumuate wealth; but wish TO be distinctly mndeIstoVu
as saving that IL is very far from Dcng an ~ DoIauo
The country generally is a wilderness, and there are
ot many dscomfoTts to be encountered before all the
pleasures and advantages Oi the dell6hum ch'c N"h
bh fully enjoyed