The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-08-18
{ PRICE 5 CENTS.
) $500 PER ANNUM

| ana invite new, Industrious people
of limited means to settle among
them. While it is said that few
years ago it was impossible tor a
man of limited means to obtain
foothold in that region, or to pur-
chase less than an entire estate, it is
now we'll known that these lands are
being divided and offered for sale in
lots of any size to suit the customer,
AMI at prices fabulously low, con-
sdering locations and quality of soil.
1 have spoken elsewhere of the great
varieties Of soils in our State; here
sandy loan, upon a red subsoil,
largely predominates. This, at the
n orth, is known as "mulatto" soil,
and is considered the richest and
most durable of all our soils, and the
most productive of the cereals, fruits
and grasses. These plantations have
been used "time out of mind" for
corn and cotton, mostly for cotton,
until one would suppose the cotton
element had all been exhausted yet
the cotton grows and bids fair at
this writing 20 give an unusual yield
the present season but these time
honored staples are fast losing their
prestige and giving way to the pro-
gressive notions of new men, and old
citizens, who see the advantage and
necessity, with change of the sys-
TEN OF labor, Of a corresponding
change of product and management.
The time was when there was sup
posed to be an orange belt some
where in Florida, variously located.
Yet in my rambling through West
and Middle Florida, l have seen
many fine orange trees, vigorous,
healthy, and loaded with fruit as
bright and beautiful as l have ever
seen elsewhere. l find these trees
and small groves extending quite up
ITO me -Ge0rzi zszs1 I ttftrc.t
find them, too, of all stages ofgrowth
from the nursery to bearing groves
and isolated trees, producing 5000
to ii 900 marketable oranges, and of
the age, possibly, OF forty years or
more. Ii the groves here are not so
extensive or numerous, and if these
planters have not this golden fruit to
gladden. the hearts of their wives
and little ones, it is only the result of
the grossest negligence or inditfer>
ence.
The fig is at home here and pro-
duces enormous crops of good fruit.
Peaches do well; apples are planted
sparingly, and probably produce
more so. Pears do better, and the
celebrated LeConte pear promises as
well here as in South Georgia, where
it has gained it's great renown.
Truck growing tor Northern
markets has not as yet received the
attention it deserves. Enough, how.
ever, has been done to prove the
value of these rich soils for this pur>
pose. 1t is said by old citizens that
in the lake regions around Tallahas.
see and other favored sections, vege
tation puts forth its young growth as
early, and earlier, than in less pro-
tected situations many miles to the
southwark. We need not make in
vidious comparisons, or array any
one section against another in
Florida. The experience of the past
few years has proved to all observ-
ing minds that however rapidly our
fruit and vegetable products have in
creased, our markets have been ex-
tended more rapidly; the demand
has steadily increased; prices have
continually advanced, transportation
companies have every year offered
improved facilities and reduced rates.
Hence every possible inducement is
offered our people of all sections, to
enter more largely into the fruit, the
orange and vegetable business; and
we hope ere long TO see hundreds and
thousands OF industrious men settled
on our waste lands in all parts OF
Florida and wherever transportation
can be secured. We hope to see the
hundreds of thousands OF crates of
vegetables sent forward that we have
seen from other sections the present
season. Then we shall see our State
prosper and our resources developed.
Then, and not till then, shall we
have found the true road to future