The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-03-29
AGRICULTURIST.
Q. What systems of labor prevail,

and what is most satisfactory F?
A. In the cotton belt, or middle
portion OF the State, the share and
rent systems prevail, but in South
Florida, where vegetables and fruits
are cultivated, the labor is hired. In
the latter locality the tenant system
would not answer at all. | think
that the tenant system, as 1t exists in
our cotton belt, is prejudicial to our
agricultural interests. Many changes
in the tenant system will be necessa'
ry TO make it at all satisfactory.
@. Is there a growing sentiment in
favor OF diversified crops?
A. There is, and it is very marked
Q. Are your farmers generally
clear of debt?
A. AS rule they are. Those who
still depend upon the credit system
are found among the cotton farmers.
The vegetable and fruit farmers all
most wholly conduct their business
on cash basis.
IOI'
O. What is the increase in yonl
population in the last ten years
A. The census of 1880, furnishes
our latest statistics. In the ten years
prior to that date the increase was
84,116. immigration has been so
great in the last year or two, how~
ever, that l place our increase in the
last ten years at ninety thousand.
q. How much of this increase is
due to immigration?
4. Not less than ninety per cent.
q. How much OF this increase in
population is white aud how much
colored?
Il. 1t is almost wholly white. A
very large number of colored people
have gone out of the State in the
last few years, and only very few
have come into it-so few, indeed,
that the number is not worth consid,
ering.
ATLANTA ENPOSITI ON.
q. What, in your opinion, will be
the effect Of the Exposition lately
held in Atlanta, on the South ?
Il. l think it will be very beneficial.
The world there obtained, for the
first time, some idea of the greatness
of our undeveloped resources, and
our farmers and our planters learned
many things that will aid greatly in
making til cir crops more profitable
! felt much gratitied at the position
Florida took at the Exposition, and
| am confident that the State is feel
ing the good effects OF the advertise
ment she got there. Although only
few of our enterprising citizens
with very limited means, undertook
the work of making an exhibit for
Florida, and although no presenta>
ton Of many of our productions was
made, still our agricultural display
surpassed that OF any other Southern
State, and was only second to that
of Kansas We took the first pre-
MUM for. Sea Island cotton, for rice,
hemp, sugar cane, and, Of course, Tor
all tropical fruits.
ORANGE CULTURE.
q. Governor, is not the cultiva-
ton OF oranges attracting more at
ten.ion at present than any other in
dustry OF your state?
Il. It's certainly attracting a great
deal OF attention-as much, perhaps,
outside OF the State as in it.
q. Has not the industry attained
very considerable proportions?
4. 1t has, and, apparently, very
suddenly. Oranges have been grown
III desultory sort Of way in Florida
ever since the first settlements. Al
the close OF the war, however, the
business OF growing oranges amount
ed to little or rothing in the CONS
mercial sense. Orange culture Is now
one OF the leading industries Of the
State.
Z. At what do you estimate the
value of the crop last year:
Il. would not like to make an es-
innate because l have no reliable in
formation. LII 1879 it was estimated
that the number OF oranges produced
was forty,fve million, and it is calcu
lated that fully that number was ex'
ported in 1880. 1t is also estimated
that the crop OF 1880 was fully twenty
five per cent. larger than that OF 1879
The value of the orange business III
1880 was placed at one million dol.
lars.
4. How much do you think is in.
vested in orange groves in the State:
Il. Between ten million and twelve
million dollars. am inclined to think
that this estimate is below rather
than above the truth.