The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-03-19

In the midst of these eleven groves
on the shore of Spring Garden Lake,
beautiful sheet of water, Major
Norris has erected large drying
and packing house, capable of hold
ing $4,000 oranges at one time. A
novel and we should think a useful
feature, connected with this estab-
lishment is the new way of having
the drying racks work on pivots. so
as to bring the fruit into more easy
access for handling and drying.
The settlement proper of Spring
Garden, is cluster of some score or
more houses, extending over quite
an area, each surrounded by its thrifty
orange grove, and nearly every
one showing evidence of taste and
no small architectural skill. The
main avenue is five and three-quarters
miles long, and hundred feet broad,
along the center Of which, is planted
row of oak and magnolia trees,
that in time, will make it one of the
finest houlevards in the country.
Another runs parallel to this of equal
length, and five others cross these,
sixty-six feet wide. 1t is estimated
that an entire homestead (160 acres)
is taken up in these different avenues.
To accommodate tourists, casual
visitors, and permanent boarders, a
pretty and picturesque, as well as
commodious hotel, with a fine Wig
orous orange grove in front-has
been completed and opened for guests
by Mr.. E. M. Turner of Chicago, fit
ted up most tastefully, and replete
with home accommodations and com
fort. Every effort seems to be made
by the host and his hospitable wife,
to supply the wants of their guests.
Some OF the many attractions for Wis
itors, may be found in the hunting
and fishing, and also in magnificent
natural, medicinal spring, so large as
4 to 4affard Two lSlnaa If sgase8
in a strong stream of several feet fall
of sufficient power to run a large
mill or factory. Our time was toe
limited to explore this famous spring
SO its description must be left for a
future number.
Seven years ago this settlement
was forest; now the following are
some of the families of responsibility,
education and refinement, who have
made it their residence or have in
vested in groves, each having theil
grove in more or less stage of de
velopment: Prof Stone, Mass, %
acres; j. G. Shapley, Chicago, Ia
.acres; Rev. Mr.. Bardwell, Des
Moines, Iowa, 6 acres; Mr.. Bliss
American Publishing House, Hart
ford, Conn, 6 acres Mr.. Gregg,
Homer, Mich, 5 acres Messrs Hall
and Hammond, Chicago, 5 acres
Major Norris, 6 acres, and 10 more
clearing on his house lot; Col. Wei
kiser, Chicago, 10 acres ; Mr.. Haynes,
Illinois, very fine grove of % acres,
coming into bearing; Mr. Maynard,
Mass, 10 acres Mr.. Dyer, Mass, 5
acres; Mr.. Lyman, 10 acres; Mr..
Buell., Utica, H., 10 acres Mr.. Bre-
dow, Mich, 5 acres; Mr.. Drury,
Mass, Z acres; Mrs Boutell, Mich,
acres Mr. Wheetou, Mass,
acres; Messrs. Barnett aud Aimball
Mass, 10 acres; Mr. Delano, Chi
cage, 20 acres; Mr. Hart Norris,
Chioago, 5 acres ; Norris. Kelly q
Co., 40 acres AIR Lyman, Canada,
81 acres in oranges and . In choice
lemons Fred. Norris, acres Nc
Kee &c Co., New York, Is acres Glr.
Morse, Mass, 5 acres Mr. Clark,
Mass, 5 acres making a total OF
over 400 acres IN orange groves,
every acre Of which, in q few years,
will be in fall bearing Not the
least assistance by any means to the
progress OF this settlement is the fine
saw-mill on MIR Mekeel's lot, under
the efficient management of Mr..
Conilling.
On our return we could not re-
frain from passing through the groves
Of Hart Norris, and Mr. Hyman.
The stupendous work that has been
done on Mr.. Hyman's rich hammock
Place, particularly in clearing away
the enormous oaks and dense under
brush, required pluck and industry
OF no ordinary kind. We saw the
best evidence Of the capability OF
the place, for the successful growth