The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-03-30

He took me through his great pack
ing house, showing me how he as
sorted his oranges, the different sizes
dropping in their respective boxes as
they rolled down the trough. He
watches the packing SO closely that
there is not o damaged orange goes
into the boxes. / was half afraid to
ask the old gentleman many ques.
tions, fearing it would annoy him;
but he was very kind, and took
pleasure in answering my questions.
Said /, Major, how long have you
been clearing this immense ham
mock some of these trees are from
four TO five feet over?"
Said he, Al came to Florida about
nine years ago and purchased this
grant OF land. / went TO work grub
bing and clearing this timber, leaving
the wild orange trees standing and
bulded them with choice buds.
After budding, l remove the young
trees and set them out in grove
form"
! asked him how many oranges he
expected to ship this season.
He replied, about 100000. l
have shipped 100000 and am not
done picking yet. If it had not been
tor the heavy storms | would have
shipped 5UO,OOO."
/ asked him his opinion in regard
to the best kind Of trees TO plant.
With smile he said, "Budded. /
wonld not think of setting out a
Seeding tree unless ! want to wait
ten or twelve years for fruit. Look
there at my four. year old budded
trees See how fnll they are; they
will pay me next year.
4 This conversation satisfied me, and
4 j have set ont 500 budded treeas .nf
the best varieties. They are growing
and looking fine.
will give your readers the benefit
of conversation that ! heard. 1t
took place between Maj. Norris and
another orange grower, on steamer
on the St. Johns river a short time
since. This gentleman asked Maj.
Norris how many oranges he had
shipped this season.
The Major said: "Three hundred
thousand"
ais 1t possible" said he. SHOW
many years have yon been in Flor
ida?"
"Nine years"
"Why," said he, II have been IN
Florida ten or twelve years and have
large grove. l have never shipped
any oranges yet"
Said the Major: "That is easily
accounted for Your trees are sweet
seedlings Mine are budded. lam
like an old man l saw the other day."
said he, iii was setting out this for
my grandchildren's benefit l would
set oat seeding trees"
SOMETHING ABOUT DeLAND.
Now, few words about DeLand,
and | shall close. We are having
quite a boom. People are coming in
every day. Scarcely any one goes
away without purchasing land or
town lots. We have had several
Louisville men here this week. They
were delighted with the country, and
have bought and arc preparing to
pUO out groves. This place is young
but it is growing fast. The hammers
and saws are heard from all quarters.
A few mechanics are needed badly,
and this is the finest opening for
good hotel that / have ever seen.
Hundreds of people pass up the
river who would stop, but our board
ing houses are full, and our accom-
modations are limited. Would it
not be well for some one to consider
his interest by starting first-class
hotel and livery stable at this place
The citizens will give five acres Of
land TO any one that will come.
There is not a more desirable loca.
ton in the State. 1t is FIVE miles
from the st. Johns river, and twenty
miles from Daytona on the coast. A
railroad is now under way. The
bridges are built and the road is
partly graded from the river to De.
Land. The society is OF the very
best, and this is one of the healthiest
parts OF Florida, so | learn from q
gentleman who knows that there has