The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1883-01-10
29()
Orange Culture.
men In Patnru, Countu J0alrnal,

III OOAeAOCI dOlOu IudU LAoOI N0lud~
BILE treatises have been published on
orange culture, it may seem egotisti-
cal on my part to attempt any add.
ton. Yet the enterprise is attaining
such large proportions and the inter-
est in the business is of such a gem
eral character, that few words in
regard to the industry from me may
be acceptable to your many readers.
We presume il is generally known
that. the proper orange belt" of
Florida, soAcalled, extends south
from line drawn nearly through
the middle of the State from east TO
west. True, oranges can be grown
north OF this imaginary line, but not
at profit, as the liabilities TO cold
are TOO great, 1t being nothing unu,
sual to receive severe cold snaps in
the northern section that will DIES.
troy the ripening fruit. This phe
nomena is of rare occurrence in the
more southern portion OF the State,
which renders the cultivation of the
orange, lemon, lime and all other va.
rieties of the citrus family as safe an
undertaking as that of any other ag-
ricultural or horticultural pursuit.
lis true that the bug hess has it's
drawbacks, like all other labor to
which man may put his hand, and it
may be possible that few would be
orange growers have met with dis.
appointment and partial failure, yet
the general results have been thus
far very gratifying and the orange
growers OF Florida may be set down
as prosperous class who receive
ample reward for their labor.
So much has been said and written
as to the best soil and localities for
the orange tree, with so wide di-
vergence of opinion in regard to the
subject, that stranger may find
himself confused by the conflicting
statements and rate US all as arrant
knaves and liars, wholly past belief
or a shadow OF credence. But the
great divergence OF opinions is found
ed upon the wonderful capacity of
the orange tree to adapt itself to al
most any condition OF soil or loca.
ton. Even the poor sand ridges of
Florida-so poor that no other vege.
tation will be attempted to be grown
thereon, will produce with proper
cultivation, tolerable good orchards,
while they can be grown on the low
pine lands, in the swamps and rich
hammock, with equal or better suc-
cess. Such another wonderful tree
is not known, and the various writ
ers may be excused, when treating
of its cultivation, OF INDUCING in SUI
pellative theories, and wonderful
generalities, which well might cause
the author of Aladdin to blush with
very shame for his lack of imagina
ton and powers OF description. Yet,
the general principles OF agriculture
apply with equal force to the orange
tree as well as to all other products,
and he who attempts any miraculous
methods of cultivation is bound to
reap disappointment and disaster.
The most important consideration
for the new conner is the soil and To-
cation. The orange tree is rank
feeder, and if not planted out on rich
virgin soil, the proper tree food must
be supplied by artificial and expen,
sive means. At the present time the
Stale is SO thinly settled that the i'm
migrant can select his location al
most at will, and in doing so will
find it greatly 10 his advantage to
settle near some reliable means OF
transportation, such as railroad or
some navigable stl cam, whose num-
bers are reckoned by the hundreds.
Oranges are heavy freight, the orr
binary box weighing fully eighty
pounds, and when grove OF one
thousand trees comes into bearing,
the freight OF its product is an item
OF no mean proportions, and should
be considered at the start.
In selecting trees tor the new
grove, l would recommend sweet
seedlings, three or four years old {;
these can be budded, if the owner
desires, as readily as can the sour
stumps that some recommend. A
native or sour tree is no more hardy
than the sweet stalk and no more IL
able to disease, although it is so cen
sidered by some writer's who evl~
IDENTIFY base their statements upon
theory that has no manner OF tact to
sustain it. In setting the trees nev-
er dig a hole in which 10 place them,
but make up hill five or six inches
above The Level ground, taking care
To perfectly puiverlze all the clods
and remove all chips and pieces OF