New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-09-17

ter. Ihey are then Duddeu Win buds from
the choicest sweet trees, and all the sour
sprouts cut off, and the tree kept clean. The
buds will start of at once, and, by the fol-
lowing January, one years time from the
setting out, will become from two to five feet
in length. Not much work is then required
from the time of setting out till they are in
full bearing, except to pick the fruit. Some
of the trees will bear in two years from the
time of budding.
will now say something Oh my visit to
the grove of Mr.. Harris, which is on Orange
Lake, about twenty miles from Ocala.
Having an opportunity offered me a short
time since, l left Ocala early in the morning
and arrived at Orange Lake about eleven
O'Clock A. NJ; but, Mr.. Harris being absent,
l was invited in the house, and in a few mo-
ments more up came Mr.. Harris and trav-
cling minister. n few minutes nore VIC were
invited TO feast upon a kings dinner. Din
ner over, we mounted our horse for a ride to
the grove, which is one mile from his main
orchard, and we were soon found gliding
through the largest grove in the State.
Mr.. IIarris's grove is situated on the south
cast side of the lake, and has twelve or fifteen
miles Of water to the northwest, the point
from which the railroad crosses. Locklucy
is directly north of Orange Lake, which has
some five miles across--in all about twenty
miles Of water protection. We rode through
the grove which now covers sixty acres in
living orange trees, the tops Of which have
been cut off and grated since 1871. This
grove was perfect wilderness of sour trees.
He has caA the tops off to about three feet
from the ground, averaging not less than ten
feet apart. They are laid OF in rows, so as
to permit passage through.
Planted alternately between these rows is
all kinds Of vegetables, such as carrots, bcets,
Irish potatoes, beans, peas, onions, squashes,
pumpkins, tomatoes, all Of the different
kinds of cabbage and turnips, and great
many rare vegetables, which can testify to
their delicacy in taste, having done so at
the dinner previously. The peach tree forms
its portion at one end, while the banana ex-
tends one solid mile on the other end of the
grove. The peach in this section is entirely
free from the curculio and other insects, and
worms have never been known to infect the
fruit in this section. The banana leaves are
Of a rich and luXuriant color, and range from
three to six feet long and one foot broad
having the delicious fruit on them now.
They have a grateful flavor, aud of all the
fruits is the most nutritious. The banana
was not injured at this lake by the fiosts last
nj 10 l-,,o l.
: edge, which extends some distance, regard
ing these groves and their various fruits. 1t
has been asserted by some (who have evil
IDENTIFY never made triaD that the pine
apple in the interior would not thrive. having,
of course, laboreJ ,;nder the impression that
a great many people did in relation to the
oraneo before the experiment was found to
he profitable. Mr.. Harris has now growing
rapidly to maturity six Or seven hundred
pineapple trees, which he obtained from
Key Largo, near Key West, in 1872.
Mr.. Harris has all Of these different fruits
and vegetables growing elegantly in connec-
ton with his grove. He will make the
interest on the money he has expended to
fit his grove in growing order on the fruits
he has. lie surely made a good bargain
when he bought this forest of wild trees. lie
bought it when land was selling high in this
State for 5000, there being five hundred
acres in the tract. lie has since sold one
hundred and thirty acres to Mcssrs. Bishop
Il Hoyt, and one hundred acres to lady in
New York, getting for the two hundred ant
thirty acres 5000, who are making rapiC
progress with grove. They were taker
: with the ''Florida Orange Fever" and sought
, this lake for cure from Cleveland, Ohio.
For fear | have also already gone into
dilated detail, will now give Mr.. Harris:
figures and close. His figures are about the
same as l have before calculated. He says
''This year l have at least two Thousand
< trees that will bear on an average twenty
five oranges to the tree, which, at two cent
piece, will amount TO 81 900 in 1875 there
= will be at least three thousand bearing trees
e averaging fifty oranges each, amounting t
1 $4,000; in 1876 four thousand trees, bearing
e one hundred oranges each, $4,000; in 1877
q five thousand trees, bearing three hundre'
f oranges each, $4,000; 1878 five thousan,
: trees, bearing five hundred oranges, $5O, 900
i 1879 SIX thousand trees, bearing one thous
and oranges, $4,000; 1880 eight thousan
: trees, bearing one thousand oranges, slG0,
4 OOO."
e lie says these calculations may seem eS
), tremc to some, yet there are many other
e who started groves before he did that hav
d given almost the same statistics-his figure
y being below some, in fact most all.
o While l was in the grove of Mr.. Harris,
e was surprised at a great many things that
g saw growing. so fiourishingly. twould max
It any rich mans mouth water, much less
n poor mans, to visit this section of the STATE
If Being nov completely carried away by til
n beauties ali facilities offered, exclaimed
s Mr.. John Harris, a cousin of Mr.. j. A. Harri
e that never saw such a beauty before in m
II life, even in an orange country, where tt
n orange is more plentiful than the apple
a the North.
e 1 cannot help but think, Mr.. Edito
a that if you were to see this grove of Mr.. ia
e A. Harris, that you could not help fro
}, taking a part in the "fcver;" for,
"If thou would'st favored land,
BLESSED with the flower and orange tire