The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-01

Into this there is now moving a good popu-
lation, which is taking the place of the plo-
neer settlers, and will in few years make
this one of the most lovely spots in this
''land of flowers" The harbor abounds in
the Injuries of the ocean, and furnishes fine
water for sailing and bathing. The means
,fertlizing the land are furnished in the
of decomposed shell found on the
and in the seaweed washed ashore
tides, and the millions of fish which
bay in the fall and early winter
these there are, on an average of
lie, fresh-water lakes, Of from one to
bcres in extent. Connected with
vast deposites of exceedingly rich
ough to fertilize the whole country.
thfuIness no location can be supe-
lie for the comfort of climate, taking
r round, few localities can compare
ply with it. The constant breezes,
from the gulf, so temper the summer
that such thing as an oppressively
tday is very rare. The thermometer sell
lom reaches "a degrees.
TROPICAL FRUITS.
Experiments have proved satisfactorily
that nearly all the fruits common to the West
Indies can be successfully cultivated. Or
anges, lemons, lines, citrons, guavas, man
COS, sugar apples, alligator-pears, sapodillas,
pine-apples and bananas, all grow well, and
stand the ordinary winter without damage.
Several cocoa-nut trees were growing finely
on the writer's lot, but were cut down by
the intense cold of the last winter. They
were, however, only retarded little in their
growth, as they are coming up and look Wig
orous, and bid fair to do well, as the extra
ordinary cold of the early winter did not in.
iure them.
Perhaps some statement concerning the
cultivation and profit of several of these
fruits would be as acceptable as anything l
can write.
Oranges, LINES and Lemons. When the
siocks of the native wild orange can be OBJ
kned, it is best to get them and bud into
I'm. When this cannot be done, they must
btained from the seed. The only objec,
to this is that it requires longer period
the trees into bearing. When the
Etocks can be obtained, four or five
will be sufficient; from the seed it re-
from six to eight, Generally at six
old, if the trees have been well at
to, the ground around the trees well
|hed, and kept in good filth, they may
Expected to bear, on an average, 200 or
ees to each tree. From this their produc.
IN increases rapidly. At ten they will av-
rage 1000; at twelve, 1900. 1t is not
uncommon to have individual trees bearing
5000, and some have been said to double
that number. The trees are planted at the
distance of from twenty to thirty five feet
| prefer twenty-five, which will give SO to
an acre. Ten acres will make a grove of
convenient size, and one hand can do all the
work of cultivating it after it is planted =
This would give $50 trees to the grove
Until the trees come to bearing size,. the
ground can be planted in any other crop de-
sired, care being taken not to injure the
trees while young by crowding them with
other growths At ten years they may be
considered to be in full bearing condition,
and will then generally average 1000 to the
tree. These at one cent each sold on the
tree, the purchaser being at all the risk and
expense of marketing, will yield $40 to the
tree. and the whole grove will bring the sum
of $4,000 per crop-a very handsome crop
and income for the outlay. But these long
wears of cultivating and waiting-what is
to be done with them?
Bananas you have to do to fill up this
gap, is to plant the same ground which is
occupied with your orange grove in this most
delicious and productive fruit. In its native
tropical climate it forms large part of the
food of the inhabitants. 1t is propagated
by suckers coming up around the root of the
parent stem, and grows off readily when
transplanted, and yields very largely. In
planting oranges it may be set out at the
distance of about II feet apart, so as to
make one row of bananas between every row
of oranges. 1t will come into bearing in
two years, and as it is well supplied with
suckers, it keeps up succession of bearing
plants to supply the places of those which,
having brought their fruit to maturity, cease
to bear, and are taken off to give place to
the young shoots which are coming on
Each stem which bears fruit will give about
one to succeed it, and three for transplant
Ing. If the ground is made very rich it
i'll do more. 1t grows well on ordinary
hit pine land enriched with leaves, or rot
wood, or dead grass. The rushes grow
so abundantly along the beach and mar
of our ponds, is found to answer the
,ose admirably. By this method, while
orange trees are coming slowly and
idly into bearing condition, you have an
Ter crop on the same ground, which in two
EARS brings you crop, not only supplying
four family with delightful and wholesome
article of food, but one of the most profta-
BILE articles known in commerce; more so
than oranges. 1t grows well here, will bear
transportation to market, as well as oranges,
and sell as readily.
ITO BE CONTINUED.