The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-09-08
The Lemon Trade.

OF late ! have repeatedly met with
articles on lemon culture in the
columns Of your valuable paper, con-
tributed by various correspondents
from different sections OF the State
and county; and as | believe any
information on lemons or oranges,
whether Of the culture or the sale OF
them, would be interesting to Flor
idans, 1 submit the following facts
gathered by myself, trusting you
will find corner for them in your
journal:
Having planted some lemon
(Bracey) trees, naturally wished to
know the condition OF the market
in this city, and consequently started
out on tour OF inspection, visiting
some tirst-class commission houses
down town, who make specially of
oranges, lemons, etc. l am particu-
larly indebted to Messrs. Mason d
Ketcham, 1914 Greenwich Street, and
Messrs. Gordon, Son & Co., IL Har
rison Street tor information received
last winter. The prices OF oranges,
as shown by their ledgers range
from 1925 to SIS per box, selling
higher as the season advanced.
The poorest prices were realized
early in the season. AT present,
poor dried up, thick skinned Medi-
teranean fruit is selling at very fancy
prices, and as early as May aud June
| was told the imported fruit sells
from 81 to So per box OF 200 TO 225.
Now here are plain facts: II we
can place superior Florida orange
in the market IN May or June, we
can realize almost double as much
as on our winter fruit. If Harris late
Tardiff orange is all that is claimed
for it, | conclude it is the most pro-
titable variety to plant.
was also informed that rust on
oranges is drawback as they sell
tor 81 per box less than bright fruit.
Much complaint was made by the
merchants about the careless and un-
tidy way of packing fruit, and they
assert If small oranges are mixed
with large they are compelled TO sell
the whole, at the price of the small,
Well wrapped oranges did not
freeze so bad during transportation
as those poorly wrapped. Oranges
averaging 100 to the box were the
most desirable. SO much about
-olapges, npHs.sslssSsn demons. What
do you think fine Messinas are sell
ing for at retail? Forty lemons for
% cents is what you see and hear at
the stands. One firm told me they
had sold them lately at SO cents per
box This must be loss TO the pro-
ducers, but this will last but few
weeks, and the market will assume a
healthier aspect. The commission
men say, and they without exception
declare there is always agood paying
market for lemons from the latter
part OF September on. This l be-
lieve is the time Florida lemons
ripen, which is TO our advantage,
but it is evident Florida lemons are
of no value at this time OF the year,
as they are considered inferior to
imported stocks.
l found CONSIGNMENT OF Florida
lemons at Colon, Son d Co.. sent
by +. S. Woodward, OF Leesburg,
and in the opinion of the consigners
and myself they were fully equal TO
Messinas in regard to smoothness OF
skin and general appearance. They
were not fully ripe and were being
held over for an advance in prices at
So per box the consigners being ad,
vised of further shipment OF l5O
boxes shortly which they are conf
dent they can dispose OF at fair
prices.
Judging from all this, does 1t not
occur to you that we had better pay
more attention to producing late
oranges than lemons?
III. c.. STRACK.