The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-12-14


a recent letter of g W. H. b. the Jack
sonv;lle correspondent of the Savsanah
Morning. Neacs, and commend what is
said by him to the thoughtful attention OF
every inhabitant Of Middle Florida:
"There are men in this State who apnualJy
raise and sell oranges 10 the value Of $25, ,OO6.
These persons would smile in ,ontempt at an
offer OF 100000 Tor their groves, planted by
them within the last welve years. The cuItiva-
tion of this fine fruit is becoming big thing in
Florida, and is continually assuming grander
proportions. There are merchant princes in
many OF the large cities, and in few years we
shall have IanSe nabobs 10 Florida
"If The cotton growers in fhe Black Belt
would sorswear their fealty to the monarch, of
whom they have been for so long time o6se-
quious coul ers, and put but portion of their
broad and fertile lands in orange Trees the scales
that now close heir eyes would drop of, and
they would awake to Q new revelation as well as
to revolution in previous ope, ations These
men have cboie lands cleared and generally
convenient 10 transportation. Take an acre o :
their lands and plant it in orange trees. In ION
ten to twelve years it will be worth from two TO
five hundred dollars besides paving for itself
during that period. CONTINUE 10 plant it in COT
ton, and in ten years il will bring little if any
mole than it would at present.
In your last Wednesdays issue under the
bead Of Florida Affairs was this notie briel.
bat wonder fully suggestive: "A gentleman OF
Sumter county has refused $50, 900 for az 1S-acre
orange grove, with three acres in bearing Now,
Messrs Cotton Planters Of GadsGen, Leon, JEFF.
ferson and Madison, wouldn't any of you Jump
at such an offer for your "staies OF Two, three,
four or five thousand acres? You work hard
from March to January, 70 make and gather half
bale OF Coz ion, wsr'h $25 per &C e, while there
are hundreds Of orauge trees in East Florida
each annually netting for lis owner more than
the sum mentioned, with less than fourth of
tine labor, trouble and expense. II you would
only staff small groves, say Of five ARES, along
the line OF your raiload, where they could
be seen by travellers, in a very short time you
would be receiving proposals from cash pu, chas-
ers that would fiii you With astonishment Let
me whisper . little secret in your ears Hun
dreds, nay thousands of rich Northern aod
Western people come out to this section of the
State every winter. With scarcely an exception
they make frequent trips up the ST. Johns and
Ocklawaha rivers All aloug the banks of these
streams they gaze with delighted eyes upon
orange groves, and iDeir Iich foliage dotted wi b
golden Iruit. They see neat residences, subsf n
tial fen es, and all the evidences of ilrift and
prosperity, and being generally men Of q very
Practical urn OF mind, hey get 10 thinking, and
this is the train o. their reflections: NV health
or comfort makes it necessary for me TO 90 to
florida every winier. II is quite expensive 10
pass two or three months with my family at
hoiel ! believe III buy small place in some
pleasant neighborhood, where can feel at home
and where my friends can visit me, and where |
can find sonnet hing 10 occupy my time. Besides,
it would be q capital idea TO na0ke the pace pan
az my ezpenses' II doesn't take long to reach
this conclusion, and ere great while Mr.. Yer
mont or Mr.. Wisconsin has purchased his little
estate and is learnedly discussing he scale insect
thn nj t.a ait nd 10
various modes of grating. Florida has gained
family OF good citizens, and the South some
friends 70 fight her battles.
"If our Middle Florida friends would demon
straie that they can raise the orange as safely
and as probably on their soil as in Putnam
Orange, Volusa or Sumier counties, they would
soon effect great change 10 their condition for
the better, and at ract immigration. Their lands
are better and cheaper than those in East
Florida, beautifully unduating, and with 2; eater
diversity OF o. Renery. II Tallahassee and the
surrounding county will do their level best to
get up . frst-class fair in January, wi q special
display of the cirrus family, and make arrange
men,s for . cheap excursion from this city, much
good might be Effected. The train should run
by day, so afford visitors az opportunity to see
the country through which they were passing
Excursions should be arranged also to st. Marks
and 10 that enchanfing spot, WakulIa Spring
Besides these attractions, the presence OF that
ofStnSulSneQ DOOy, tne lOflo8 Leg sl9tofc,
should serve 40 an additional inducement
"A degree Of cold that wiIl seriously ipjure the
orange at Tallahassee may well cause the grow
ers ia .ne East to be alarmed. Orange belts >
are more imaginary than real, and are devices
gotten I'D by land Spectators and interested par
ties. They are bugbears and decisions. Flour
ishing and profitable orange govs line the
Chattahoocbee river, and should ornament the
line Of the Jacksonville, Pensacola and MOBILE
n~S It'll La, $n Avem shn
residents consult their true iateresis
"When the cotton men learn by experience
that bearing orange grove Of twenty acres h
worth more than cotton plantation Of Eve
hundred, and can get rid Of some Of their old
hioned e-belum notions they will be richer,
wiser and more independent They can manage
such business without the assIsi ance of Sambo
staple TO get in the grass, or be beaten out by
storms. If there 10 polii al satheriBg or camp
meeting anywhere In the neighborh0od. This
alone would be q conaummafion most devouty
10 be desired, and would saye much trouble Of
mind and triJulaiion Of spirit.
Why not get up display Of the citius family
fsm Middle FloFida for ihe fair 10 Be heldin this
city The latter part Of January ct il be
placed in charge Of . commlttee Of genilemen
from taat section, thoroughly conversant with
their county, i:s sofia, produc iona pri 20 Of
landn, etc 6ach collection wOnld be given .
pFpminent posiilon, and the committee would 10
kept busy in replying 10 questions Com eager
inquirem. Make . suitable selecsioa o. articles
from those On exAini ion 81 the Thllahsssee lAsf
and Jon will not regs ek he tima troabls and
cxpeiss invslved throw cat thess sanaom
su9gessIons for The benefit Of my fiendsin Middle
Florida, who can. ] verify believe. share TO o
great exteDt II The prozFess and prospaity ofthe
B. Johns river rszioa
Is II not worth ths e6ot % make % acre Of