Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-03-24
THE FRUIT BUSINESS.
Production of Semi-TropicaI Fruit in the
Southern States.

|
Southern States.
From the New York Evening Post
That the successful cultivation and
production of semi-tropical fruit in
Florida as source of profit is feasible
has already been demonstrated by the
experience Of the past few years, and
without doubt Embarrassing will through
patience and perseverance, ultimately
become one of the chief sources of
wealth to the State r#
To give in detail the results of the
production Of oranges and other varie-
ties of semi tropical fruit, the number
and increase of orange groves in each
county in the State of Florida during
the last year would require more time
and space than the writer can at pres
ent command, and he will only refer to
two or three counties, and ten give
the general result in the State.
| In Putnam county the product of the
orange crop for the year 1874was 1,O00,-
0O0-an increase of 10000 over that of
1878 The number of acres in this
county occupied by orange groves is
! 200.
A correspondent residing at Clear
| Water Harbor says: s'In this part of
Hlllsborough county, west of Tampa
Bay, there are 70 orange groves. con-
tanning in the aggregate about 10000
trees, nearly all young and comparative
ly few bearing. About 3, 900 trees bore
fruit this year. The product of all the
groves in this part of the county will
not much exceed 100000 oranges-pro-
duction increasing rapidly every year. :"
The same writer further adds: 1.-The
number of banana trees in the vicinity
Of Clear Water Harbor is said to be 1O,-
600, and the product last year was 1000
punches of the yellow and fig banana
Of excellent quality -f--- 8.
William ?. Wright, Esq, of Putin M
county, has a fourishing orange grove
of % acres, containing about 1900
trees, one of the largest groves on the
st. Johns River. The writer has no
knowledge of the product of this grove
the last year. The same gentleman has
nearly 1900 banana trees of the red,
yellow and fig varieties growing on his
g Island Plantation" on the st. Johns
River.
The red banana is believed to be far
superior in quality to the common red
banana of Florida, and would be the
best for market. It does better, stands
! both wet and dry weather, and grows
more luxuriantly than the yellow va
riety.
From the best and most trustworthy
information that could be obtained, it is
believed the product of the orange
crop of Florida the last year exceeds
! 10000, 900, and the increase of orange
/ 4 loo ~
rs per cent.
The number of orange groves in the
state may fairly be estimated at l ZOO
groves, at 100 trees each on an average,
besides many more containing from 200
will exceed $4,000.
The largest portion of the orange
crop Of Florida goes to Savannah and
! Charleston, and from thence by rail to
the interior, and by steamers to north
ern cities. Some portion finds its way
to Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati and
other large cities, whilst steamships to
Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York
take a large part.
The cultivation of bananas is mostly
confined to the extreme southern
portion of Florida, where their produc-
ton is receiving increased attention,
nd the efforts put forth for extending
the production have proved very sue
cessful. The banana is easily propa-
gated, and is to be found growing in
many parts of the state, but in some
localities it requires protection from the
! frost.
| One gentleman in Marion county has
hourishing banana plantation of twelve
acres i'll extent, which bids fair to yield
profitable return for the amount of
capital invested. From careful esti-
mates recently made it is believed that
an area Of five hundred acres is now oc-
cupied in the cultivation of The banana
throughout the state of Florida, and that
ing will exceed 100000.
The cultivation Of pine-apples, like
that Of bananas, is also principally con-
fined to the southern part of the state,
where for the past few years they have
been raised in sufficient numbers for
export Pines of very superior quail
ty and size are annually raised at Key
Largo and it's vicinity. The crop last
year amounted to 100000, and there
were over 100000 slips set out in new
plantations. The crop for the present
year promises well, and will probably
reach 800, 900,
It will probably be matter of sur
prise to many readers to learn the fact
that the cocoanut has become one of the
products of South Floril la, and is to be
foun,i along the southern keys and coast
as far north as Jupiter Inlet The CO.
coanut tree begins to bear at the age of
seven years, and bears continuously.
No account has been received of the
product for the past year.
It is only of recent date that much at
tention has been given to the cultiva-
ton of leraons and lines. The recent in
PRODUCTION of the Sicily lemon has thus
far proved quite successful, and it's in
creased production will necessarily soon
become source of profit. This fruit is
remarkable for it's superior quality and
| eiza as is also the lime The o,,I4;vo