National Republican., 1883-03-28
AMONG THE ORANGE GROVES.
The Rich Soil, Luscious Fruits and Lux
uriOnt Vegetation OF Orange County,
EIoriua.
Special Letter.

uriOnt Vegetation OF Orange County,
Florida.
Special Letter.
STARK LAKE, FLA, Mar. 16-1t has been
but few years since winter visitors to Flor
ida extended their travels no farther south
than Jacksonville, or believed any of its un-
occupied lands suitable for orange growing
away from the st. John river. Latterly,
however, tourists availing themselves of tho
fine transportation which that river affords,
have travelled southward, landing at the
town of Sandford on Lake Monroe, astonished
to find somo Of the best groves in the state
in its vicinity, and "A section better suited
to the growth of semitropical fruits than
they had supposed existed ON the continent Of
America.
The peculiar adaptability of the soil and
climate of this part of the state to the culture
of the most delicious oranges in the world
renders the coguOmen which it bears pc
culiarly appropriate.
Orange county, which is achieving almost
u world wide reputation on account of the
abundance and superiority of its oranges, lies
In the very heart of the peninsula of Florida,
below the limo of damaging frosts, rs Is
proven by tho fact that not only does the
orange flourish in an extraordinary manner,
but the banana, pineapple, and guava ma
tvcs of the tropics yield their luscious fruits
peronnially with but little euro, while the
peento or China peach, Japan plumb, kaki,
surinam cherry, camphor coffee, and tea
plants thrive in close proximity to the fruits
and plants indigenous here. Orange culture,
however, is tho chief industry, and at the
present rate of progress the maj part of its
available territory will soon be set in trees,
which in another decade will present the
wonderful spectacle of an almost continuous
orange grove larger than many of the princi-
. III A IL .s.ls ,4N
skilled labor, and care, coupled with money,
required to bring about this result can bo
estimated only by those present on the scene.
| Everywhere over the county these combined
| forces are at work with the persistent energy
that guarantees success. The successful
grower must prepare the ground designed for
u grove as carefully us for u garden, work the
young trees as closely rs cotton, and look after
their health rs if they were members of his
iamily. Fertilizing. pruning, and budding
are necessary adjuncts that all interested
persons soon learn to perform properly. To
| the enthusiastic cultivator this onerous task
reformed in behalf OF tho exacting orange Is
regarded as labor of love, and he looks for
ward with bright expectations to the time
when the queen of trees shall fill his hands
with her nectarous globes that in more than
| one respect are golden. By budding the
young trees they can be brought into bearing
in two or three years. Seedlings bear in
from five to seven years according to location.
Notwithstanding the fame Orange county
has acquired abroad her most fertile and in
viting portion remain an unexplored region
to strangers on account of Its remote position
Bordering on the great Lake Apopka are those
immensely rich bodies of land known as Ham
mocks clothed in their natural state with
magnificent groves Of wild orange trees and
forests of live oak, hickory, magnolia, satin
| wood, cabbage palm, and Florid mahogany
interspersed with numberless towering shrubs
and vines whose dense growth form an almost
impenetrable shade. The soil Is usually dry
down to the very brink of the beautiful in
land sea, whose blue waters studded will
green islands, stretch away beyond the line o
vision. Many acres of these lands are beinI
cleared and cultivated in gardens, in which al
vegetables common to northern climates attail
size and perfection unknown in ssfavoret
regions.
In the portion known us South Apopka
which has the great lake TO the north, thu
tenderest fruits and vegetables ripen at Christ
mas Strawberries begin to fruit in January
and continue until May; mulberries are rip
in February, and the running blackberry
which is of extraordinary size, is in perfection
during the month of April. Some of the fines
bearing orange groves are to be found here
and rich harvest is reaped each season b.
the fruit and vegetable growers despite til
want of transportation. This Inconvenience
will soon be obviated by several railways noN
in the course of construction. These, connect
ing with steamboat navigation on Lake Apop
ka, will make it one of the great conters.
The sheltered position of these extromel
rich lands make It most desirable place 70
tho experimental garden suggested by Gen
lie Due.
Our state senator, the Hon. j. G. SpoeI
after "a residence of twenty-five years and
thorough examination of the whole state
found this region less liable to irosts than tn
country two hundred miles further south
Tho success of fruit and vegetable growing
and many other industries yet in their in
cipiency or perhaps unthought of, will in tn
= near future make this section the wonder an
admiration of the world.
MRS. JENNIE S. PERKINS.