Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1884-04-17
For the CryrEE DrH-fH,r.
Line Upon Line from Florida

For the CryrEE prH~rHv.
Line Upon Line from Florida
Nr. Ei5r In my communication.
a Line from De Land, which appear.
ed in your issue Of January lith,
promised your readers some facts and
figures bpaHrg on orange culture. 1t is
time redeem that promi q. There are
i'm this business, as in every other, two
sides-cost, and profts-and | wish to
make as honest statement as can OF
both columns of figures. Some assert
that Figures never lie and vet we
know that figures so manipulated AS to
lead astray are false in the last degree
Ny belief is that it can be fairly shown
that with all the cost of orange culture
the business is really profitable. OF
course the profit viii be greater or les
according to circumstanc,s.
First, let me state the items OF cost.
In various parts of the country | find
there are people considering the de-ra
bleness of investing in this orange field.
SO many have correspondei with mc
and want to know the facts. hence this
article. Here about the cost Of land is
considerable, and it is rapidly adyauc
ing. Near the city o' De Land it costs
$50 to $500 au acre. \ couple Of mi @.
out similar land can he got at about $50.
Clearing, fencing, etc from $50 to dou.
bic that amount. according to the way
in which you want it done. Flowing
and preparing the cleared land would
cost about g. an acre. When ready 10
stake the land whero the trees are to be
set, say at a distance of twenty FIVE feet
apart, YOU procure your buddci or seed.
ling stocks, as YOU choose. The former
is in greatest demand, for two or three
reasons: II is claimed that of budded
ttces you have finer varicties, quicker
return, better fruit. Trees from the
nurseries are worth from thirty five
cents TO dollar or more according 10
size and thriftiness. When being set
the trees should have fertilizer TO secure
successful growth, and thereafter should
be fertilzci in February and June Of
each year There are a dozen or more fer.
tiizer. in the market, each claiming to
be Just the thing YOU need, costing about
$40 per ton. Experienced orange grow
era toll YOU that you need put on FIVE to
twenty I've cents worth to each tree
when set out. and afterwards from s. to
$40 worth per acre for an annual dress.
ing. Il is but just 20 state that some
have got along we'll with little bought
fertilizers and much extra toll, buryiug
cod and weeds around the roots. etc
This j. not the end, but the begiGir. i.
outlay. Your grove must be- cared for
constantly, or il cannot but prove a fHl.
IRE. II will get oycrrun with weeds ;
wood lice sill girdlc and destroy your
trees the orange dog. not unlike the
tomato worm, will deyour the foliage f.
the scale will eat out the very life
Of the bark, etc, unless you keep on
the track, and forever fight the foes of
the orange tree. II was said that eternal
vigilance WAS the price Of liberty. The
same is and will be the price Of success.
ful culture Of these apples Of gold
Every tree should have the soil around
1t stirred about once in two weeks
throughout the season-from February
TO September.
Thus for half dozen year, or there
abouts there isa constant outlay, both Of
money and labor. After that tho bar.
vest will begin to appear. Atfrst slowly,
a. the growth of the trees, then r, pidly.
until in q few years you get your hund.
red fold and more, despite an occasional
biting frost
Now for the bright side-the profit
column Of the acoou g. Ny ncighbor
across the road resp,d nis fret return
three years ago ia the sale Of only four
ooxes Of oranges. The next season he
sold teo.fold that amount; last season
about sixty-fold, and, Judging from the
email oranges already set on his bearing
trees, he exTects an increase Of two