The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-12-21
Tampa Bay.-Pinellas.
Editor of The Florida Ag,ScustwriSt:


Now that we have had several
showers, and warm delightful wealth
er still prevails, feel more than ever
that few lines from here might do
good. Our gardens are now smiling,
and our hearts feel light Elephants
are plentiful, but no good reports
from sales because of tardy transpor-
tation. True, New York has been
the point of consignment, which l
think a mistake They should go to
Atlanta, Charleston, Savannah, or
New Orleans. We have lots of
Young tomatoes, out cukes have not
been planted. / will plant to-day
few, and again middle OF January, if
these do not come on rapidly and
thriftily.
Quite a number of strangers are
coming in, and the idNa of buying
out the old settlers prevails; but the
cid settlers smell rats, and are dis
posed to hold on or sell for fair prices.
have thought great deal OF this
thing of the value of places here, but
am yet in a muddle as to the true
value of improved places. Suppose
man with ordinary intelligence and
little extra thrift and energy devotes
eight or ten years to making grove,
not farm, what is the value OF that
place? You ask OF the kind of land,
OF location generally, of the kind of
fruit trees, of the condition of the
trees, ETC., etc. Of course, in this
case, location, condition of trees, kind
of trees, etc., is all right. What is
the place worth? Now you want to
know hoao many trees? As many as
one man has been able TO attend TO.
Should man nave at least $1.00 per
day for his time and labor, and be-
side be paid $500 per acre for his
land, and be paid the actual value Of
rails or fencing, and for his house,
etc., ETC.? This conceded, the place
would be considered dear indeed!
Well, suppose we put the trees at so
much apiece, and have the other mat.
ters to stand as above-say $4,000
each for orange trees that have borne
fruit, and $500 each for all that
have not, but will III one or two
years, and lemon trees at fair price;
then mango, alligator pear, and other
valuable and successful fruits, and
sti the place seems dear to an cup
country man." very dear. What is
TO be done? l would like some of
your correspondents to think of this,
and write on the subject. think
that mutual interests can be subserved
better by the new mans buying out
the old one, and the old "stager"
making another place. He is pres
pared from experience to make the
"edge cut" and can save time and
money that the new man would lose.
l write :hus in order TO try and
check the great average waste of
time, money and labor which / think
will result from the operation of the
average man. People take a pencil
and paper and set down so much
land, 100 acres-enough for five men
but we go on, SO much cleared,
fenced, grubbed and plowed; so many
trees; so much work per year, SO many
years, so much; an orange grove very
cheap. But now we double this, and
still the grove is cheap. Now sss. st:,s
is to say if you have not met with
any catanaity! Oh, p'sbaw! who ever
heard of a calamity? Did the sea-
sons come all right? Did the land
prove neither too high nor too low?
Did the workman do just right, and
full duty? 1t so, it is wonder! But
Twill not follow this thing full length.
Suppose everything comes out right,
how old are you when your grove is
fifteen years old? How long can you
bet on living to enjoy an Orange
grove? But we will suppose you are
doing this tor your children. Then
by all means "make certainty dou'.
bly, sure" and buy the grove ready
made, and know that you have a
! grove. And We. "old stager," with
your greatly increased knowledge OF
how to do it, be sure OF the reward