The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-02
MORE ABOUT THE ORANGE.
Facts and Figures Cor Those Who are In.
clined TO Doubt.
LAKE HARVEY. FLA Ian I6
II. ". G., in Atlanta Constitution.

has perfect Independence for himself
for his wife, and for his children who live
after him"
1t Is clearly within the province Of any
man OF moderate means and energy to
secure this great boon. The quality most
needed ior such venture is patience
q man who wants an orange grove must
make up his mind to wait ten wears be-
lore he can realize the promise of his
enterprise. AS to the cost / submit some
figures given me by Colonel Markham.
SAID he: "a man should not start an
orange grove and depend on making il
support him while the trees arc matu.
RUG. The orange region is net worth a
cent Tor anything but oranges. A man
may raise his vegetables, but he can do
nothing with corn, grain, cotton or grass"
What money would you say was re.
qnired ?"
mo man ought to start with over 500
trees unless he intends to hire some one
to help him. This is all he cap .tteud
to, and this will make him independent
TOR life when he gets it in full bearing.
a model investment, and one that could
not fail to bring wealth and prosperity.
would be this: Let him take 81 900 and
buy twenty acres of good orange land at
$5o an acre. Then let him get 500 young
trees at 5O cents each. II would cost
MN 70 cents each to set them out. or say
S50o for the trees and planting. Then
ior 81 900 he could build a pretty good
house. This would represent $2, 900 out.
lay for his home and grove. To be safe
make 1t Sd, 200. Then he should have in
cash st, ,Vo0 TO support his family for six
years. In the fifth aud sixth year he
might hope TO get some return from his
grove, but he should not count on this rs
part of his support. All the revenue
from the grove for the first five or six
years should be devoted to putting out
new trees and in fertilizing and improv-
proving his place. With what vegetables
he could raise, and poultry, ETC., he ought
10 keep his family very well on the 81 900
year. He might supplement this by
WORKING at profession or trade when
able, but he would need all his cash.
This would make $4,000 for his invest.
ment aud $4,000 for his expenses, or
$4,000 i'll all. Now, add 81 600 for exi.
gencies, and make the total $4,000.
Ihis Is as little as any man ought to start
with, and feel certain of getting through"
But" continued Colonel Markham,
see what he would have when he got
through. He would have five bundled
trees in bearing and good for $4,000 in.
come for the seventh year and q steady
increase until it reached $4,000 from the
five hundred trees. But these five hun
dred trees would only occupy about eight
acres of his twenty. In the meantime
he should have set out say one hundred
new trees year, lat seventy trees to the
acre, the trees twenty six feet apart) un.
til on seventeen acren of bis twenty he
had one thousand trees ranging from
seven years to two in age This property
would then be worth S25,0G9 at least.
In three more years, or ten years from
starting, it would be worth probably
200, and would increase in value
every year."
"What would it represent ?"
1t would represent ten years work and
an investment of $4,000. Half of this
would be invested the first year, the other
$4,000 would be used during the first six
years as needed. This expenditure
might be decreased by an active man,
and the result might be bettered by a
shrewd one. But put the figures at
fair average, and even at this | do not
think $4,000 or ten years time could be
put anywhere that it would pay better.
or more certainly"
Colonel Markham's caution against a
man without capital undertaking an
orange grove is wise one. From the
first day of planting the trees need cul-
tiyation as long as they bear. A great
many men with only capital enough h to
buy the ground and put out their trees
have settled in Florida and was led two
or three years only to see their trees die
and themselves return to the homes they
left They were misled by the idea that
they could scratch the soil and it would
laugh harvest, and live like princes by
hunting and fishing. OF course, failure
has oyertaken all such people. A mum.
Der of poor men who are carpenters or
mechanics, have built up fine properties
by living cheaply and sticking out few
orange trees whenever they had surplus
dollar. There is plenty Of work for nj
mCst any workingman in Florida, and
every orange tree he brings to maturity
is worth from $50 to 500, and will give
him from So to $40 every year. As they
cost only so cents for three year old seed
lings, any hard working, economical me-
chanic ought 10 put out fifty or hun
dred year.
| submit. for the use of such men an
estimate of the cost of bringing up
small farm. 1t is said to be fair and
based upon actual experience. l think
the estimate of the yield is too large, but
the price put for the oranges Zone cent
e.ch) is certainly low. 1t will be noticed
that the estimate allows nothing for the
support of the proprietor and his family
This must be provided by his wages as a
mechanic or by work in some other field.
This estimate calls for the very highest
culture, and supposes that the owner
shall hire all the work done.
Take an average acre Of your land,
and the cost Of starting will be
Cutting down and removing trees SIS 90
Taking out stumps.. Is 90
Grubbing, when nccded..... 10 90
Ploughing ............................ 90
Fencing, not ver...................... 25 90
100 trees, four years old, and one
year from bud. d.................. rs 90
Setting stakes and planting. 7 so
Fertilizer, when planted ......... 2 so
$158 90
This start has been completed by De.
cember /, and nothing need TO be done
to the trees until March, when the cult
walton begins, which is kept up till Oc-
tober
Your total Outlay for the first five
years, Including -.art and land, will not
exceed $500; and at the end of the five
years your acre of trees is worth from
81 900 to 81 500. You have also received
more for the crop during the last three
years of the FIVE than the total outlay.
This is not bad showing; but the large
profits in the business are but just COM
mencing.
The total expense, including fer 'liser,