davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-06-29
Report Of New Smyrna Il. and r.
g. A.


Editor Of Florida AgTicultSrisf.
Meeting held at the residence of
Rev. G. G. Selleck, June l6, 1881.
Meeting called to order by the
President. A letter was read by the
Secretary from Mr.. Al Robinson,
Commissioner of the Bureau of In.
migration, and a committee of four
chosen to write a circular which shall
be printed and sent to the Commits.
sioner for distribution as suggested
by him. II. soy 81
DIR. Hawks sta ted that he had re-
ceived from Mr.. Rideout news from
Camp Harwood he reports that he
has found some of the best land in
South Florida, equal to the richest
lands in Louisiana. MIR. Harwood
has purchased nine thousand acres :;
he will set one thousand acres with
orange trees, cultivate a large sugar
plantation and divide the rest into
village lots and farms to sell. He
has now working for him one hun
J dred hess'ls ss-asslsis u U = = Ss,ir4ng
more, paying from seventyefve cents
to one dollar day with board.
The camp is situated not far from
the Tomoka river. He has built two
two story houses and has the lumber
on the ground tor three more. Mr..
Selleck said person cannot 90 from
the head of the Indian river TO the
Tomoka without being surprised by
coming upon patches of the very
best land In the State. Being so near
the river. they are very easily drained.
For some time to come people can
come and take up land already
drained.
DIR. Hawks exhibited piece of
Northern gratting-wax to put over
the ends of stumps to keep them
from decaying. 1t is made of one
pound of tallow, two pounds of bees.
wax, and four pounds of resin. To
make it hard enough for budding
more resin must be added.
MIR. Fowler thought something
ought to be sent from this part OF
the State to the Atlanta Exposition.
to be held next October. DR.. Hawks
moved that the Executive Commit.
tee take the matter in hand immedi.
ately.
DIR. Hawks asked for the recent
Tor the corn cake which was on the
dinner table; it was decided bv all
to be the very best corn cake thew
mad ever eaten. Mr.. Smith said il
had captured him, and he had alwavs
been opposed to corn meal as AN ar.
ticle of diet.
Mrs. Fowler proposed the ladies
should bring in at each meeting re.
ceipts for bread yeast and other
things that will be help to each
other.
The meeting adjourned to meet at
Mr.. M. Lewis July 21st, 1881.
After the meeting adjourned, a
walk was taken through the orange
grove. The trees which are
in bearing are full of fruit, one bpd
a little over a year old having over
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-06-29
Polk County.
Secretary.
Iy, in Orlando Reporter.

John Snoddv, in Orlando Reporter.
Supposing that it might be an item
OF interest to your numerous readers
to learn something about Florida out
side of Orange, though would say
something i'll behalfof Polk county,
which is now looming up as the banner
county of South Florida. It's attrac.
tive lakes, beautiful scenery, rolling
lands, fertile soil, healthful climate and
mild winters, are at last beginning to
attract attention from abroad. Immi.
grafton from the older States is flow
ing in upon US. The public lands are
being rapidly taken up, and at no dis
tant day our county, with domain OF
some forty eight Congressional town
ships, situated upon the central divide
u itsss : ...--,'la and b.,,...-..sv.- ,i1l the
south by the frost line, will become a
thickly populated empire of wealth
and refinement. Holding a heavy
balance Of power in the destiny ofour
State, and with its productive re-
sources contributing largely to the
general wealth of Florida.
Transportation has heretofore been
the greatdrawback to this county but
since immigration has turned in this
direction, it will insure speedy devel-
opment OF our great resources in ao.
rlcultue horticulture, and fruit grow
ing, SO that the abundant products of
the county will insure railroad trans
portation soon. Our railroad pros.
poets now are bright and becoming
more hopeful every day, as two rail-
roads are liow on the way towards
Polk county, and others preparing
to start in the same direction.
The superiority of our soil and eli.
mate for orange culture, places it In the
ascendancy OF other counties in most
parts OF the State. From the facts
that, first we have rich, productive
soil, producing corn from ten to
twenty bushels of corn to the acre;
which produces orange groves by a
wholesome cultivation OF the soil with |
out terliliziDg; therefore we are not
dependent upon the bird rookeries of
distant islands, the bone crushers of
the North, or the gypsum quarries of
the coasts, tor plant TODD, Nature hav.
ing provided our soil with all those
requisite ingredients. And when we
get transportation, it will not take
the proceeds of our last crop to buy
fertilizer for the ensuing one.
Secondly, our close proximity to
the frost line renders our winters so
mild that orange trees can grow
nearly all the year, and sometimes
with mild winter grow the entire
year; which brings groves to maturity
much sooner than in the counties
north of here, where, on account of
the cold, the trees are stopped from
growing from two TO five months in
the year.
Thirdly, orange trees here are not
subject to the many diseases 50 com.
mon in s0me other localities. Our
groves here show but few trees with
dead limbs, decaying trunks, and
suffering with that general debility
so common in groves i'll the northern
portion OF the State. In short, We
have groves here started ana growing
on every kind of land in Florida Tex J
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-06-29
MuIching Orange Trees.
Editor, the Florida Agriculturist:

Editor of the Florida AgricetlturiSt:
In an article in your issue Of June
Sth, DR.. Il. II. Mason calls in ques-
tion the advantage OF mulching
orange trees as a means of culture.
From this article one would conclude
this practice TO be of recent intro
duction, an imitation of northern
methods, and its usefulness question
able in orange culture 1t has,on the
contrary, originated with our oldest
growers is the result of practical
experience; and is being generally
adopted after long continued expert.
ment has demonstrated it's practica>
bility. The Doctor objects to
mulchiug as producing surface roots,
and increasing liability to injury
from cold. The more feeding roots
a tree has, the greater will be it's
vigor. AS the orange is naturally
surface feeder, these roots must
necessarily be surface roots; and by
encouraging their formation mulch.
ing is really benefit TO the tree. 1t
also obviates the necessity of cultiva-
tion by keeping down weeds and
grass; renders the soil more porous
and friable than hoe or plow; and !,
Notwithstanding the roots are near
the surface, protects the trees in
drought by retaining moisture from
above and drawing it from below.
The force OF the first objection is
therefore not apparent. There might
be liability to injury from freezing if
the mulching came in contact with
the tree when properly applied,
however, space is left around the
trunk, the mulch being spread out.
side the radius of the branches. The
following from an experienced and
successful grower is practical reply
to the points raised, viz:
cit has been urged that mulching
makes an orange tree tender and
more liable to be killed by a freeze.
Believing statement of this kind,
was kept from mulching tor nearly
three years. Then 1 only began by
a trial of few trees at first. | am
satisfied by careful experiment and
observation that no harm can come
to trees on that account if properly
applied. Old trees and young trees,
trees just set out, and trees bearing
500 oranges each, have been alike
benefited. Trees that were muiched
last winter came out of the freeze
much better than those that were
without mulching. And now during
the present dry weather whilst other
trees are becoming yellow and curl
ing the leaf at midday, the mulched
trees retain dark green and healthy
color, and continue growing right
along
"The objection that the roots come
to the surface and prevent after cul.
ture with the plow or cultivator in
consequence of mulching is OF little
force. lido not think trees should be
plowed or cultivated where mulch
has been or would be applied with
advantage. The hand hoe is the
only tool l would allow near a grow
ing orange tree, and besides any sur.
face manuring in like manner causes
the roots to develop at the top of the
ground. The few feeding roots that
are cut off in a good hoeing no more
iniure the health and lite Of the tree
than slight pruning of its leaves
and branches"
For some time orange growers
have recognized the fact that clean
culture during summer was injurious
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-06-29

DeLand VOusia County, Florida Wednesday, June 49, 1884,

to the trees. To obviate this many
methods have been resorted to.
Some have ceased cultivating during
these months, allowing the weeds
and grass to cover the ground : on
the whole this method has proved
unsatisfactory. Some have planted
COW peas, or other crop drawing
lightly upon the soil, affording shade
in summer and fertilizer in the fall
this mode OF culture, so highly
praised by the Doctor, is practical
and efficacious. Still others have
mulched their trees to accomplish
the same result.
The most common and least ex-
pensive way Of mulching orange
trees is to spread dried or partially
decayed vegetation, devoid of woody
fiber, around the trees at the ex.
tremity OF the branches. Grass,
weeds, straw, pine needles, the under,
growth of the pine woods, bagasse
and similar substances are thus util.
lied. One or two cart loads TO each
tree, according to its size and the
space to be covered, is sufficient, 1t
should be spread upon clean surface
deep enough to prevent the growth
OF weeds and grass. The space be-
tween the mulching should be culti-
vated in some green crop TO shade
the ground, and affording either fer
tilizer or additional mulch. When
the mulching becomes thin it should
be removed, and the space covered
by it enlarged as the trees increase in
size. A top dressing OF lime, ashes,
or potash will l--sen decay aes.
quicken its action as a fertilizer,
where this result is desirable. The
writer has used oyster shell lime for
this purpose during the present year
with excellent effect.
In some older groves the entire
surface has been mulched with the
very best result. In one instance
where the trees were large enough to
bear, two cart loads to the tree, cost.
ing twenty-five cents per load, COW
cred the entire surface between the
trees. The trees, i'll poor condition
when it was applied, soon recovered
showing remarkable vigor. The
mulch last ed two years before there
was necessity to renew it.
Last year l combined the two
methods OF mulching and turning In
green crops. The loose earth was
first carefully removed from about
tie roots Of the trees. Two cart
loads of rank weeds and grass
freshly mown from neglected bot
tom were then spread around each
and covered lightly with the earth
which had been removed. This COW
ering retained the moisture, Fastening
decay, and absorbed escaping gases
rendering it much more valuable as
a fertilizer. / thus secured an eff.
cient mulch and at the same time a
better fertilizer than a green crop
grown upon and turned into the soil,
being larger in quantity, not derived
from the soil sustaining the trees, and
applied directly where needed.
Cultivating orange trees by mulch
ing the entire surface is profitable
under some circumstances the feasi-
bllity OF its general application re-
mains 10 be demonstrated. Where
the trees are young. shading but a
small portion of the ground, it would
be costly and perhaps not practicable.
Mulching individual trees, however,
is inexpensive; certainly beneficial
and can safely be recommended for
general adoption. 1t is especially
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
LUnenburg.

Mrs. H. A. Cutting has a very bad
erysipelas sore on her face.
One of the best pieces of hotel pro-
pcrty in this region, now lying idle
and held ut very reasonable figures, is
the Sumner House, situated at the head
of the l5-miles Falls on the Connec-
ticut river.
Last Tuesday Thomas Brock was
brought before Justice Bell on Il case
of assault and battery on one Harry
Plaice, II years old, of Dalton, n. II.
The facts of the ease are rs follows
On Tuesday, the 10th, John Hartshorn
had hired Plaice to drive some cattle to
pasture, and when going by Brooks
house, Brock stopped him, accusing him
of stealing pair of stockings when he
went away from his place some time
before. The boy asserted his innocence,
but Brock was not satisfied, and seized
him, threw him down, and endeavOred
to take his shoes and stockings off. Not
DtlHS dDlc 10 no IL dlOllt. lie Cdlltu HE
wife, and between them both they sue
ceedcd, obliging the boy to go to the
pasture and back home, some four OF
five miles, bare foot in Il bitter cold
rain. Mr.. lIartshorn was an eye-wit-
ness to the whole affair, but being lam,
was unable to offer any assistance t.
the boy, other than offering to pay fol
two pairs of stockings if Brock would
let him up, and take fair means to re
cover them if he had stolen them. Mr.
IIartshorn complained to the tow
grand juror, and the necessary stept
were taken. Mr.. Brock was fined S20t
and costs.
Several cases of the Dutch measle
have made their appearance. Dicl
Bells family have nearly all got The
genuine measles.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20

During the exciting political canvass
of last fall the republican state COM
mittee sent to the town committees
copies of the New York Tribune for
circulation among the voters. In
an adjoining town the town committee
received one package of Tribunes with
notice from the state committee that
they would be sent regularly. But
they did not come regularly. 1t was
ascertained that they were sent every
week. The explanation has just come
to light On Thursdays the mail bag
coming to that Office was taxed beyond
its capacity and packages of papers
The carrier to that Office was n demo
crdt. A few days ago a man who lives
on the road from the depot to the office,
was repairing fences and found in n
clump of briers ten feet or more from
the road, package of TribuneS, b in
number, addressed to the chairman of
the republican town committee. The
papers were dated Aug. 1S, 1880. Now
the query is, who was to blame for the
non arrival of the papers, "Sdm" or
"UncIe Sam ~
The grand list for this town has been
completed, and the total is S14, ITO.
Last year it was 5000. The increase
is over 50 per cent and is about equally
divided between real estate and per
s0nal property. Only two persons re-
fused to fill out their blanks, viz. S. S.
Thompson and S. NJ. Folsom. Mr..
Thompson's list is the largest individ-
ual list in town, being over $500; James
Trefren is second with $3.50.
Rev. C. b. Hubert preached at the
Centre last Sunday.
The "Pudding Hill" school district
makes more sugar than any other in
town. This year they have made from
! l3, AS trees, all within one mile of the
school house, 81, ABS pounds, an aver
age of p pounds to the tree. A. c.
Rice leads with 4,440 pounds, and E.
II. Ruggles and w. Esterbrooks follow
with 1850 and $500 respectively.
The Lyndonville Dressing Mill has
Just received the first installment OF
two million feet of lumber that they are
to dress for Connecticut firm. This
mill now employs about 60 men.
T. f. Parker has commenced repairs
on the Chesley block lately purchased
by him.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
Sutton.

Our village and town were startled
on Monday morning by the news of
Mrs. Reuben Ellis's sudden death at
Boston. We mentioned that she had
gone there, few weeks since, for med
zeal treatment, and since have had en-
cOuraging reports of her condition.
Mrs. Ellis was one of the few of whom
it can he said she had not an enemy on
earth. She was Christian woman, Il
member of the Free VIII Baptist
church, faithful in all her church rela-
tiOns, the leading soprano singer in the
choir, always connected with the Sab
bath school, and a large share of the
time a teacher. Her remains were re-
ceived Monday night and the funeral
was at the church Tuesday afternoon.
Rev. NJ. C.. Henderson preached the
sermon, the other services being CON
Quoted by Rev. b. A. Sherwood
The remains of Mrs. Alfred Evans
were brought here for burial last Satur-
day, from South Barton.
Our Sabbath school held its annual
meeting May 6th, and chose Joseph
Parker superintendent l.. w. Gordon
assistant A. O. Eastman secretary and
treasurer
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
The Coventry Accident.

Miss Ann Quinn, who was injured at
the Coventry accident last winter, has
returned from the hospital ut Montreal,
where she went for treatment, fully re-
covered, or nearly so. We understand
that since the Passumpsic road settled
with Jack Brown, the hotel keeper ut
Barton Landing, also injured in same
accident, he is rapidly recovering.
Some are so uncharitable as to think
that the bare fact of settlement had
much to do with his rapid recovery
but this is not probable, as no person
would he likely to take any undue adj
vantage of II corporation or town foI
injuries sustained-such an instance
was never heard Of
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
East IIardWick.

While Albert Bradish and Fred SUIT
ton were riding, lately, the horse took
fright and ran, throwing them out and
injuring Mr.. Bradish's shoulder.
Gary Knight, of South Walden. had
two of his fingers taken off by a circu-
lar saw, and his hand badly injured
otherwise, one day last week.
The storm of last week did consid-
cradle damage here in the way of wash
outs.
Edgar Hunt has moved his business
into the new store lately purchased oi
Capt. Davis. Henry Babbitt has
moved into J. T. Williams house; Mrs
VIM. Boutelle of Montpelier into f. C
Cummings house, and j. Black ha,
moved his family to South Walden.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
Last Weeks storms.

The violent storms of last week
were not confined to this region, but
were experienced all over the state.
and in many instances did considerable
damage. In some localities it was dan
gerous To he outdoors, so large We're
the hail-stones. At St. Adams win
dows were broken, streets washed ont.
bridges carried away, 50 that it took
several days to repair damages.
In Montreal it hailed some. but not
severely at st. Johns there were
small showers mt Rouses Point it
rained for a few minutes to the south
the rain extended to Randolph and
Ncrgennes. On the Central road no
damage was done, all trains running
on time on the MissiSquoi road there
were two waShouts above Sheldon.
At Derby Line the storm was partic-
ularly severe, washing out roads and
uprooting trees. Lightning struck in
many places. At North Derby, on the
Passumpsic, there was washout which
delayed the mail for some little time.
Montpelier, Barre, Brookfield, Wash
ingtnn and WilliamstOwn had Il share
of the tempest. In Chelsea the Meth
odist church was struck by lightning
and damaged slightly. A second in
stallment of the storm raised the
streams, carrying off bridges and flood
ing dooryards and gardens. Hail-stone,
fell as large as English walnuts and
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
PERSONAL.

Letters from abroad report the safe
and measurably pleasant voyage of
EX-Gov. Fairbanks and family in nine
days from port to port.
Mr.. II. b. Davis is still very sick.
His disease soon developed into ty-
phoid pneumonia, but this has been
suhducd and the blood poisoning is
now dominant. There has been no
material change in him for few days
past, and the issue is yet in doubt.
Rev. II. w. Jones returned home on
Monday, and is suffering from Il severe
cold taken in the change of weather
last week. Since his return he has
been very much Frustrated, the cold
having affected his throat in ii manner
similar To previous attacks. We trust
this late attack will be but temporary
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
n7rafHs.

In this place, May 1s, j. d. Stoddard Esq, aged
sO-the oldest member of Caledonia county bar.
In this place, of paralysis, May 10, Mr.. Martin
W. Carr, aged 50.
In this village, May Is, of diphtheretic Group,
Christiana Amelia, aged years and months,
daughter of Henry and Amelia Brook.
In this place, May g. Nina G., aged IT, wife of
C. II. Prebles.
In West Barnet, May g. Capt. William Warden
aged 70 years.
In Boston, May IA, Mrs. Adeia, aged 49, wife of
Reuben Ellis of Sutton.
In Stannard, May 8 Curtis Hood, aged Is years.
In Hardwick May 6, Mary A. Nichols, aged 81
years.
In Hardwick, May 16, Mrs. COnant.
At Waupaca, Wis, April Is, Mrs Lois d. Lord
aged Smoother of Mrs. C. L. Kittredge of this
place.
In Marshield, May ;, Mrs. Sarah K, wife OF
Richard Mears, and daughter of the late Joseph d.
and Mary Il. Mears.-"B Blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord"
We shall sleep but not forever
There will be a glorious dawn;
We shall meet to part no never,
On the resurrection morn
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
Big CalIas.

An exchange has been boasting of a
Gala lilly at Montpelier which is III
feet long, with leaf and stalk of 3 feet
and 10 inches. But we hear of one at
East Burke, owned by Mrs. H. p. Cush-
ing, which puts the Montpelier calla in
the shade. This Gala is four feet six
inches long in stalk and blossom has
Il leaf 2O4xIl4 inches, and the leaf with
the stalk is 5O5 inches long.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
Rycgafe.

The listers have completed the list of
this town, and so far as we can learn
they have complied strictly with the
letter and spirit of the law. Below we
compare the list of 1880 with the list
just completed:
Real estate in 1880, $26I ,1I2.S6; i'll
1881, S496, 957 personal in 1880, S92,
725; in 1881, $3O3, 625.77 254 polls for
1881, $500; making grand list, So,
515.S3.
There are eleven individual lists OF
more than 800 each. We give here
the names with the amount of their list
cnmnnrcd with the same one Xear ago
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
DanViIIe.

l.. n. Woods lost Il COW last week
On examining the intestines it was
found that she had been eating hoop
skirts.
The rain storm last week Wednesday
evening washed out J. NJ. Harris's dam
and undermined his mill, doing dam
age to the amount of $500.
Mrs. ID. j. Saunders has returned to
Lowell, Mass. Mrs. Lydia c. Stevens
has returned to Danville, and intends
to occupy her house now occupied by
Benz. King.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20

We believe the listers have had the
sympathy and cooperation of all the
good citizens of this town in their ar
duous and difficult duties.
One of the greatest drawbacks to
keeping house in this town is the diff
Guilty to procure help. To obviate this
difficulty, w. w. Wright arrived i'll
town last week with Il few Swedes,
very bright and intelligent girls, and il
the enterprise proves a success, fur
ther importations will follow.
Three clergymen made their exit
| from town this week.
The oldest inhabitant fails to remem-
Der vegetation so forward at this sea
son of the year.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
81. JOhnsbury Centre.

Miss Georgia A. Wright has given
up her school on account of her health,
and Mrs. Kate Vaughn has taken the
school to finish.
Jeremiah Vaughn and wife left last
Tuesday on Harvey's excursion for
Leavenworth, Kansas, on a visit to Geo.
G.. Vaughn
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-05-20
North DanViIle.

There will he preaching at the Free
Baptist church, North Danville, on
Sunday afternoon ut half-past two
o'clock. We understand that measures
are being taken to secure a permanent
pastor for that church.