The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-08-30
Market Gardening.
= III .Snmter Countu Adrance.

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you will excuse delay.
Six years ago market gardening
was but little thought Of in Florida,
and then only in the middle and
northern portion of the State, but
now we find it engaging the atten-
ton OF men in every part Of the State,
but more particularly in the south>
ern portion. In conversation with |
Mr.. w. II. Gleason, of Dade county,
he informed me that during the WIN
ter of 1879, there were only 400 or
500 packages OF vegetables shipped
from this section, and that during
the winter and spring of 1880, be-
tween 10000 and $4,000 were ship
ped. and that the shipments next sea
son would far excel those OF last.
He stated that most OF their vegeta~
bles were shipped to New York,
New Orleans and Galveston. Ships
\ ping once week TO each OF the last
Cities, and that Key West was an ex-
cellent home market. Why Is 1t that
Sumter county has not done as well
as some of the other counties? 1t
cannot be said that her lands are MOI
suitable or her locality desirable. tor
we have as fine lands as any county
in the State, and our locality is ex'
cellent and far ahead OF most por'.
tions OF the State. I saw a patch OF
snap beans last February that was
planted by w. p. Copper, on Lake
Harris, in December, that were not
killed by the freeze OF December 80,
and we are told by the oldest settlers
that the winter OF 1880 was the Sc
verest that they have ever known.
had melons, tomatoes, cukes, okra,
squashes, egg plants and beans that
were not injured at all by any cold
that we had after the freeze. have
no doubt that with our lake protec-
ton, vegetables can be raised all the
year round. Our great drawback
has been transportation. We havP
had gardeners to visit our county tyr
the purpose of engaging in truck
. farming, and after examining our
cilities for marketing their try PIX,
have returned, saying that our ms
portation was too slow for gal lens
ing to be profitable, but, from res
ent indications, think that our ans
portation will be much bette bext
seas 1 7. ,S,et dr. G ]a, c 3 ldmar,
OF $4,140. The average price
throughout the country tor the past |
five years has been between $50 and |
$25 per thousand to those who have
shipped their fruit. They will be
likely 10 exceed this sum the present
year. / see no reason TO doubt that
the market will remain the same for
many years to come"
This statement shows what oran.
ges brought in 1874. Mr.. Shorb's
prediction that the market would re
main the same for many years to
come, has thus far been fully realized.
/ find from a careful examination OF
San Francisco prices current for the
season OF 1S77--8, that the average
price of Los Angeles oranges was
$3.50 per thousand. In the interim
between 1874 and 1880, the price for
any season has not averaged less than
the above figures, except for the sea-
sons OF l878-9, when prices ruled
lower, owing mainly to the smalluess
Of the oranges, caused principally by
over bearing.
AT the Citrus Fair held in Fehru>
aly, 1880, at the thriving settlement
of Riverside, in San Bernardino
county, California, Mr.. Shorb said
his profits tor the season of lists,
exceeded $1,000 per acre. The
present season, $3.50, prices have
ranged from SO to $50 per thous-
and for oranges delivered in San
Francisco. the prices being governed
by the quality OF the fruit. These
prices bring the average higher than
received in 1874.
The Riverside Press says Mr.. III.
NJ. Beers, of Riverside, has on his
block tree that bore sixty oranges
Two years ago, the tree then being
nine years old. Last year it bore
500; this year 1000 oranges were by
actual count sold from that tree, at
an average price OF $37 per thous
and, making the snug little sum OF
$74 from one eleven year. old tree.
Seventy-tGve Seeding orange trees
or 100 budded trees are usually set
on an acre. Seedlings eleven or
twelve years old can be relied ON to
produce 1000 oranges each, and
budd,d trees the same number annu. !
ally per tree at eight or nine years |
of age provided, TIE buds w"re first
..lAAA "a nDu snl and both buds and |