The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-05-22
DeLand, Florida, "Wednesday. May %, 1878

Here is a restraining force on over
production constantly and extensively
acting on this class of land. which
constitutes much the larger part of
all the lands we'll suited TO tic busi-
ness. There are lands well adapted
to the orange that are very fertile,
and for many years wonld need no
assistance in this direction from the
husbandman, but the proportion of
this kind ofland is small, and general
Iy this class ofland has the objection of
being heavily tirnbered and difficult
to bring into Immediate cultivation,
and besides much of it is situated un-
favorably amidst or on the margins of
swamps, which location mars very
materially its pleasantness as home,
and hence here arises also an infuenc
directed against this class of land.
The time generally allowed for
the establishment ofa grove bearing
the one thostsond oranges per tree an
nualIy, is too short. Any one who
can raise such grove within fifteen
years should be satisfied with hissuc-
cess, for where one will succeed
many will fail to reach this .fg,ae
within that time. 1t isnot pretended
that trees cannot be shown that will
give this average at much earlier
age, but there are very few groves
of any considerable extent in this
State that will give this yearly aver
age per tree at any age, and now as
it takes considerable time, proper
selection of location and the exercise
of industry, and all the better accom-
panied with some cash to establish
.fouriSting gyoCe -one thousand an
nually per tree-we will recognize
other restraining influences against
over production.
But there are many hundred thou
sand acres of land in the State well
suited to the business, and there is a
general feeling that there is money
in it, and strong current of money,
mind and muscle, directed to this
business, which current seems to in
oreaes, il IS tlaexetssjiia ,sisssss ssaascaalAc
that the production, Of this fruit in
Florida in the next thirty years viii
be very great Itmay be thirty times
as much as at present; it may be
more. Yet it is the opinion OF the
writer that the demand will be ahead
of the production. The present
prices paid by the consumer would
not, however be maintained, nor is it
necessary that this price should be re-
allied to make orange culture profit
able Before the business reaches
near the extent above intimated. the
facilities of transportation will be
much increased; the cost of freight
and handling, between the producer
and consumer, greatly reduced the
deliciousness of the fruit, combined
with its cheapness, will tempt the md-
tiondJ palate, and scarcely any in this
broad land will be so poor or live in
a corner so obscure as to be deprived
of the luxury ofthis queen of fruits,
and hence the demand will be cor
respondingly as great as the produc
ton. The Florida orange, when
abundant enough, will not only drive
foreign oranges from the United
States, but will find market in Eu-
rope. This prediction is based on its |
admitted superiority. Taking this
veiw of the subject, your correspon-
dent is fully ofthe opinion that orange
culture in Florida viii be profitable
to all who manage wisely and hold
out to the eEd-F NJ, IN Sooonnoh
Ne1rs