The Florida agriculturist., 1883-04-18


become one of the important cities in
this rapidly growing country.
But these things have all been ac-
complished, and the bud has com>
menced- to open and it will not be
but short time until DeLand will
have forced her way into the foremost
ranks of the rapidly growing cities
In this prosperously growing State
where nature is ever ready to shower
her choicest treasures upon those who
come here and settle, and where for
tune is not the tickle goddess she has
the reputation OF being. DeLand
reminds one OF the western towns
that so rapidly spring into existence,
and is full OF that vim and energy
that makes prosperous cities out of
them. Six years ago only a log house
and clearing here and there, were
the only signs of civilization. and now
handsome store buildings, costly
churches, and beautiful residences
framed in circle of orange groves,
the delicate fragrance of whose blos>
SONS delight the traveller, and bring
a flush of pleasure to the cheeks OF
the invalid who has come to this de-
lightful climate for relief, are mum.
bered among the improvements that
have since taken place.
The town is situated. upon an un-
dulating ridge, and is in the heart OF
the orange belt. You look around
You and you find sand, sand every>
where; white glistening sand from
which the suns rays are reflected,
and, if you are stranger to the coun-
try, wonder how anything can be
made grow in such soil as that. But
stop and think moment! You no,
tice the shrubs and grasses in their
wild state, the giant pines whose
lofty tops sway TO and fro in the de.
licious breeze. These witnesses cause
you to admit that there must be
something more in this soil than
casual glance would lead one to sus>
pect. Then look at the thousands OF
healthy and steadily growing orange
trees, the golden fruit from which
will, at no far distant day, place their
owners in position where they will
be able to enjoy some of the luxuries
OF this world, and you are compelled
to admit that there is something in
this soil that is peculiarly adapted to
fruit culture. Ifyou have any doubts
about the matter, visit The thriving
If0ges, ,unu DTs.y swauviifi;'
ldlspelled.
Orange culture in this section Of
the country is not an experiment, but
a thoroughly established fact. Quite
a number of the trees have already
borne and thoroughly demonstrated
that nowhere in Florida can the fruit
be more successfully raised. There
is loan in the soil not to be found
in many portions of the State, and in
several instances successful groves
have been raised without the aid OF
fertilizers. There have been enough
oranges raised already to bring good
incomes to the owners OF groves, and
although this was an off year some Of
the finest oranges have been raised
in and around DeLand.
But we must not forget TO tell you
who was instrumental in bringing
about this wonderful change. Who
was the first man to develop possi>
bilities that IN few years might be
realized, and when we give IL. A.
DeLand the credit of being the found
er Of this ambitious and growing
place we are merely "giving unto
Caesar the things which are Cesar's. J"
IL. A. DeI4and, of Fairport, New
York, and after whom the town has
been called, drove through this coun.
Try six years ago, when it was moth
ing but blooming wilderness, and
he was So well pleased with the looks
OF it that he determined to build a
town, and the sile which it now oc-
cupies, was selected. Being a man
of ample means, he Immediately CON-
menced the work of transforming the
wilderness into the garden you will
find there. The gentleman opened
his purse and went to work with a
will. 1t was not. long until he sues
ceeded in interesting other gentle-
men OF means in the new town, and
the settlement was begun. 1t grew,
and the rapidity of it's growth is nev
er realized until you recollect that
six years ago there was nothing to
lead one to suppose that it would one
day be the thriving, prosperous place
it has become, and when Mr.. De1.and
has gone to that country from which
no traveller ever returns, this popu-
lous town, full of lite and activity,
will be monument To the memory