The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-12-25
FLORIDA.
Semi Tropical Products.

an interesting letter addressed to tn,
Department of Agriculture at Wash
ington, by Henry S. Sanford, esq.,, il
reply to a request for informationir
regard to his experiments in the cul
tivation of semi tropical fruits il
Florida. 1t will be seen that Mr.
Sanford looks confidently to the sue
cess of his own enterprising efforts
and to the ultimate full and profitable
development, under proper direction
and encouragement, of the semi-trop
ical advantages and capabilities o.
Florida. He says; II.
1 have been engaged since 1869 in
the culture of oranges, lemons, etc..
on my grant in Orange County, on
the upper St. Johns river. 1t took
two years and $4,000 expenditure to
satisfy me that all land in Florida
was not fit tor orange culture; on
the contrary, that the land best adap-
ted to it was in comparatively limit
ed quantity. While my original
grove of 100 acres, "Saint Ger
trude," is not abandoned, but is con-
tinued, though less successfully, and
with the advantage of more expert
ence, am having very great success
on another, " Belair," of 125 acres,
which is on high ground, with light,
friable soil, and there 1 am testing a
GREAT variety of Semi-tropical plants,
with view to their permanent in
PRODUCTION into Florida. Your de-
partment has kindly aided me in this
work by sending me the, past Spring,
many valuable plants which, under
the eve of skilled horticulturist,
will have careful attention, and, l
hope with useful results to the south.
1t is too early to give them now |;
next spring, however, l propose fur
nishing report in detail.
lam doing on small scale what
Congress should provide to have
done extensively under the auspices
of your department; and the coun-
try, especially the southern states,
would reap a rich harvest in return.
There are numerous products that
we now import at great cost which
I am satisfied can be raised in the
south with great profit, but the PEG
pie need to be authoritatirely in
formed what they can raise to adj
vantage, and the same facilities given
them in the distribution of seeds,
plants, ETC., adapted to southern cul.
ture as are given in respect to north
ern products.
For. the culture of the orange,
Florida has greater advantages than
any country have visited, in soil,
climate and market. Uulike to Italy
and Sicily, where artificial irrigation
is necessary throughout the Summer
for five months in fact-the Win
ter is the dry season in Florida, while
the copious Summer rains render ar
tifclal irrigation unnecessary. It's
fruit, too is of superior quality and
flavor, and is destined mot only to
take the place of the imported
orange in the vast markets Of our own
country, but will, doubtless, also be
in demand for export to those coun-
tries now supplied by the inferior
Mediterranean fruit.
vi have introduced from abroad a
large number and in every attalnable
variety of the trees of the citrus fam
lily, expecting to improve those worth
preserving by culture in our superior
soil. The cultivation of the orange
in Florida, till lately, has been rude
and confined mainly to seedlings Of
hap-hazzard varieties, but as it is
prosecuted on larger scale for com
merce, will be of choice and known
varieties and distinct grades, and
therefore, propagated by gratis OF
buds, securing quicker returns, ani
giving trees by their size and absence
of thorns better adapted for CONNER
cial purposes.
With regard to the lemon, which
is even more profitable than tn,
orange, / think its culture for com
merce, save in exceptional locations
can ::sbardly ":.be Esafely undertakes
north of the Goth parallel, as it i
less hardy than the orange. M,
experience is, that the lemon grow
from the seed is lees fit for CON
merce, because, with its thicker rint
more subject to rapid decay than tn
hard, thin-skined Sicily lemon, 8
called, which we import from tn
Mediterranean, but that the sam
fruit can be produced from the in
ported trees. These / have Intro
duced largely, and am quite success
full in Dronaoatinp from them on tn