The daily gazette., 1881-03-02
GENERAL cAMERoNs TOUR.
IN THE LAND or ORANGES AND PER-
ENNIAL FLOWERS.

ENNIAL FLOWERS.
From STAFF Correspondent OF the Press
| FLORIDA, February 10,
This State is the poor mans para
disc. he can come here and start on
smaller means than in almost any
place in the country and get on faster
for he does not have to spend all he
can earn nine months in the year in
keeping himself and family warm the
other three.
We have been storm bound on this
peninsula for nearly week, and have
been travelling to various points TO get
a steamer 10 take us to Cuba. We
have been twice across the State from
the Atlantic to the Gulf and both
times severe storms ON the coast have
delayed the boats and Obliged us to
return. The first we were to take the
Josephine of the Morgan Line, from
Cedar Keys to Havana, was lost in
the Gulf two days before we were to
have boarded her. Others were sim
| Ply driven out Of their course by the
winds or delayed by the storms. Flor
ida is really seen at its worst this sea-
son, which has been an exceptional
one everywhere. and she has exper-
fenced the coolest weather for years.
In many sections of the State 1t has
been cold enough to cut the orange
leaves from the trees and destroy the
fruit. The destruction, however, is
greatly exaggerated at the North, for
there is still an abundance of oranges
here uninjured. 1t is estimated that
had it not been for the frost the orange
crop of Florida this year would have
aggregated 80, 200. 900 of oranges, and
it is safe to predict that over 80, 0C0, 900
will still be marketed. This seems a
vast number, but how insignificant it
is by the side Of the authoritative esti-
mate that over 800 ,000,0 900 Of foreign
oranges were brought into the ports
OF the United States last year, nearly
60O, 100000 coming into the port of
New York alone. l cite these figures
OF the immense consumption of
oranges In this country to show how
impossible it will be for Florida, great
as will be its product of oranges in a
few years, to supply the demand for
them.
FLORIDA ORANGES.
The oranges grown in Florida ar
the finest fruit OF the citron family
grown in the world. There is but one
other variety known which at all com.
pares with it in sweetness or delicacy
Of flavor, and that is the "Wozelh
orange of Brazil, and this has been
lately introduced here, but is not con-
sidered by any means the equal of the
native fruit. Mr.. II. +. Armstrong,
who has visited nearly all the orange
growing countries and handled nearly
all kinds OF oranges grown, is authori-
ty for the statement that no orange
yet cultivated can compare with the
Florida. 1t is even being imported to
Europe, and is there noted as the
best.
The finest fruit grown in the State
comes from that rich and undeveloped |
portion known as the Indian River
country. This orange on account of
It's size, succulence, sweetness and |
delicacy of flavor, like the fig, must be |
eaten here to be fully appreciated, as
1t does not bear transportation by the |
present slow and crude appliances for
the market from The section |
where it is grown. This Indian River
country consists Of narrow strip of |
wonderfully productive land bordering
On each side of an estuary of the sea
which extends due south over three
hundred miles and forms perfect
and-locked communication 10 the lati-
fnhn of hn al Erka |
portion of this country being below The
'rost line, pine-apples, bananas, guayas
md oranges can be grown in great
Quantities. All early vegetab les which
orm such an important traffic between
he Atlantic coast cities aud the Seulh
AN be grown here with great profit
md delivered any day in the year. 1t
S the natural home of The orange and
md the spot where it first grew in
florida. 1t il also desti ned to be a
,reat sugar country, the cane Iattoou-
ng for three or four years.
THE PARADISE OF FLORIDA.
Florida, on its Atlantic seaboard, pre-
ents some curious physical features
ghich are destined In The future TO exer-
Use an important influence on the ma
srial interest of tue State. From the
Mouth of the great st. Johns River Gone
I the few rivers In the world reversing
he course OF nature ami running from
he south TO the north) stretching to the
outward over 300 miles, is perfect
1ater comm unication which, with the
expenditure of a few thousand dollars,
lould open up to settlement and cultiva-
ION an almost tropical region, and even
nally take from us the reproach OF being
be best customers of the Ever Faithful !
sland in the article of sugar. What is
nown as the "sarly vegetable traffic.
as assumed such large proportions that
be rail and steamship lines to the
Iorlhsrn cities enIer into lively COM
etiton to secure it. The history OF this
pecial American Industry Is interesting,
nd as the Indian-river country is
estined to become the seat OF the pro-
uction 1t may not be amiss 10 trace
riefy its commencement, rise and pro-
ress.
TRUCK FARMING.
The cream Of the trade is, of course, In {
10 high prices obtained during the early {
art of the season, and someLiInas a daV !