Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-09-08
Soil, Crops, &C.. OF Orange County
Florida.
SORRENTO, ORANGE Co., FLA, |
Angusl 18th. 1876. {

SORRENTO, ORANGE Co, FLA,
August 18th, 1876. !
Ed. JoURNAL:-lIavIng received nu-
merous letters from parties North in re-
gard to land &C., of Orange county, send
you an extract OF DIR. q. II. Mason's report
to the Florida Settler on our country,
which is reliable and may be Of interest to
many of your readers:
"Thc ndaptability of the county to the
successful raising of oranges, lemOms, lines
and all the varieties belonging To the cit
rus family is directing the attention of en-
igrants to this section, and each year the
number of permanent settlers is increasing.
The country is now studded with orange
groves, varying i'll extent from one to one
hundred acres, and this year a largcrnum-
ber Of trees have been planted than during
any preceding year. The hanara is
another fruit that is proving profitable, the
great demand for the fruit induces many IL
start groves.
Our most remuncralive field crop issugar
cane. 1t requires rich land, or tint which
has been highly manurcd. The yield on
this land is from 800 to 400 gallons Of gol-
den drip or from 1900 TO 1000 pounds
'
400 bushels to the acre. 1t is a crop that
pays we'll on most Of our pine land and re-
ouires but little labor. By planting in
August and September what is called stand
overs, large potatoes can be had the cnsu-
ing spring and summer We lack tame
grass for pasturage. Quite q number Of
kinds have been tried aud failed. The
SOIL becomes so hot in summer MS to Kill
the young plants. =
Corn will average on pine land 10 bush
els, upon hemlock 1t docs mnch better. It's
usual price is from 81 30 to 81 90 per
bushcl.
Orange County Cotton (long stsplel has
high reputation in market for ineness
and length Of fibre The usual yield is a
333 ID bale from acres OF pine land. To.
bacco, both Virginia and Cnban varieties
succeed here; ns high as 1900 pounds have
been raised upon an acre. Our climate is
so mild that we can make three cuttings a
year. Upland rice will pay to raise for
family use. Twenty TO thirty bushels Of
rough rice is the usual average per acre.
Watermelons OF large size and fine favor
can be had by May. We can have con-
stant succession Of garden vegetables all
the year, making our regular planting in
spring and fall. Our Innate is peculiar
one.
Situated as we are in low southern lat
itude the natural supposition would be
that Orange county must be a hot place
almost uncomfortable. The fact is, however,
entirely the reverse, the thermomC ter rarely
getting higher than go during summer and
not a. low ms the freezing point in winter,
Our nights are almost unifOmally cool
enough TO require some bed covering. Be
ing near the center OF the peninsula, we
| enjoy constant succession OF sea hreczcs,
both from the Atlantic Ocean on the East
and Gulf of Mexico ON the West, giving
us climate unsurpassed and n saluhrIty ni
atmosphere lhatalmosl insures good heal ?
Springs are abundant; many OF thcm
sulphur. We. however obtain our drink
ing water from wells which very in dept
| from lS to 80 feet
The majority Of Onr lands are pine u,'
often OF good qualify. Homestead on
state land can he had in good and healIi ,
localities. We have one saw and grisi mi
in our neighhorhood. Lumber sells at lh.
mill at IRON 81 so to Sl5 90 per thousand.
There are number OF mills in different
parts Of the county. l. f. A.