The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-12-13
Letter from Florida.


Correspondence ofthe Democratic Advocate
ORANGE LAKE, Dec. I, 1884.
MEssRs. EDIToRs-Dear Sirs:-Since last
wrote you, we have had very pleasant
weather and to-day it is real warm, and we
have the doors and windows open. The
bright sun shine tempts one to roam DER the
"hills'' in quest of gophers and other flow
ers. The former are very plentiful now. 10
day we had young beets and lima beans fresh
from the vine, for dinner, although our fall
garden was not a perfect success on account
of the dry weather in October and November.
have patch of strawberries now in bloom,
and if nothing happens expect to have few
for Christmas dinner. But let me tell you we
can scarcely realize that Christmas time is so
near, and not bit of winter. Nevertheless,
if you will come down about that time we will
try and catch one of our turkeys for you. |
saw quite a drove of them not quarter
from my house the other day, and such fine
large ones. think some of them would have
tipped the beam at % pounds. They were as
large as any ''pen fed bronze, and just to
think | was in easy gun shot of them. Oh,
how | did wish for my gun and n few shell
loaded with buckshot, but by the time | went
home and returned they were in the hammock
and had to go home without any turkey.
Would mt you liked to have taken dinner with
me tnat Jay we nave plenty Vi uuch oH inc
lake and small game in abundance. Two of
my neighbors were out but a comparatively
short time the other day and bagged even up
so birds.
We are making some progress and IN a very
short time expect to have a station, within
two minutes walk of our house land we expect
the surveyor here in few days to lay out a
town and a town we'll have. Now you just
note that on your finger nail and see if Will
liam knows any thing about the matter.
We have a lake in front with an abundance
of fish and duck and a nice hammock for five
miles back, affording plenty of game for the
man who wishes to come to Florida to spend
the winter and have a pleasant time; and the
man who wishes to plant grove need not go
any farther, for this is the best section for
oranges, and not handful of fertilizer neces-
sary. Land is selling off quite rapidly here
and it has never been advertised at all. |
have not seen single line in any paper. If
it were properly advertised twice as many
sales would be effected. The outside world
does not know that there is any land here for
sale, but when once man gets here he gen
orally leaves the possessor of a few acres, I'M
less he is trying to get below the frost line"
which is not to be found in Florida. One Of
our neighbors three years ago went south
about ninety miles to make fortune raising
vegetables, and left his wife at home
to raise a small crop to help defray household
expenses. At the end of the season, on COM
pairing accounts, the wife had made the hard
cash and he enough to get home on. His
vegetables were frosted, ninety miles south,
while here they were unhurt, probable due to
elevation. The wife here sold $4,000 worth
of tomatoes from three 81 acres: for freer
ence address H. P. Price, Boardman, Fla.
At present the orange harvest is at its
heighth. or as an ice factor advertises, sin
full blast" and train loads of the fruit are
moving north every day. | was at one of our
largest packing houses yesterday, when about
fifty men were at work sizing, wrapping, pack
ing, etc., turning out over car load of fruit
per day.
There is a similarity between orange an
apple gathering, the most pains being taken
with the former, shears being used to clip the
orange from the tree, as they are injured more
or less by pulling. The picker carefully puts
the oranges into box and they are loaded
on wagons and hauled to the packing house,
where they are run through sizer, separat-
ing them into about ten sizes, ranging from
90 to $50 to the box. Then they are wrapped,
which is mostly done by boys. Next they are
pushed over to the packer, who must be an
experienced man or one that can learn an
idea quickly, as each size has to be packed
differently, so as to get just so many in the
| box and have it full and no room to shake
about. From the packer they pass under the
brush of the marker, who puts stencil, brand
and number of oranges in box, and then the
cooper puts the finishing touch on, and off
they go. | had charge of the men in the
grove while picking q crop near me, and how
| | did wish for some of Carrolls citizens to
| help me eat some of the fruit that was going
to waste. WILLIAM NJ. GIsT.