Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-10
COCoANUT GROWING IN FLOR
IDA.
Thousands of Acres Planted by One
Firm Features OF the Industry.

Thousands of Acres Planted by One
Firm Features of the Industry.
From the Nsto York Tribune.
f. t. Field, of Red Bank, N. j., is an
extensive Florida cocOanut grower. He
is member Of the firm of Field & Os-
borne, Ezra Osborne being associated
with him in the enterprise. To a reporter
the other day MIR. Field said: "We are
located in Dade county, Florida, which Is
near the extreme southern end OF the Pc
ninsula, on the Atlantic coast. There,
between Cape Florida and Jupiter Inlet,
we have now about 5000 acres of land
which we are devoting to cocoanut walks,
which is the distinctive name applied to
these plantations. We began our pur-
chase of land there about three
years ago, buying it from the gov
ernment at a low price. IL being
IN the Everglade region, as Will be seen
by glance at the map, the land has
never been considered OF much value for
any purpose, whatever 1t may become by
an extensive system Of drainage. Here
we are upon the shore OF the sea, a needed
requisite in the successful growth of the
cOcoanut palm. The soil is porous coral
sand. From Cape Florida north for dis
lance Of ninety miles, running parallel
with the coast, there are bays, rivers and
sounds disconnected by narrow strips Of
land, nut themselves connected by inlets
to the ocean, through which the tide Gibbs
and flows. Between these and the ocean
is our strip of land, which varies in width
from twenty rods to little over a mile,
being elevated nearest the ocean and slOp-
ing gently toward the west.
This chain of inland waters receiving
the fresh water flowing from the Ever
glades prevents its teaching through this
strip OF land. Easterly winds frequently
drive the Gulf Stream waters against the
coast beach as far north as Lake Worth.
IN Sc waters, being about so deg. Fahren-
heit, a tropical climate is produced and a
Tine growth Of vegetation is insured. We
are famed by the breezes waited to us
from the Gulf Stream, and everything
taVOrs rank, lnXuriant vegetable growth
Here during the past two wears we have
planted over 200, GOO cOcOanuts. We take
all our help and implements from the
North. The natives there are Il wild, lazy,
shiitess class, unfit and incapable for
work. The total population of Dade
county in 1880 was only 257. Our plant
ing IS done in winter, when | take my
family South with me, and superintend
the work in person. AtOtBer seasons the
trees help themselves. and very little Gull
tural attention is needed"
"At what age do the trees come into
bearingI"
"From six to seven years from planting
Then they will average about two nuts
per tree aud bear continually almost until
70 or 80 years old. We plant about 20 feet
apart, which gives about 100 trees to the
acre or little more"
"What about prices and profts?" Mr.
Field was asked.
During the last three years prices by
the cargo have ranged from $40 to $50 Il
thousand; $40 being the lowest figure for
the most common kinds. This Is Tor the
nuts delivered In New York; the freight
and expense from the tree to market will
not exceed s. a thousand"
SIS there no danger OF overlooking the
marketg'
"The demand for cocoanuts is now al
most unlimited. / have profitable offer
Tor all that | can possibly raise in years
to come. The nut will be used green to a
much larger extent than now, when peo-
pie know how good 1t is; and the water,
which is then clear and not milky, as
when ripe, will be highly relished as "a
beverage. Why, we eat the nut from the
she'll with spoon at the South, it is soft
and rich. Then the husk, which is gener-
ally thrown away in America, il a Valua-
BILE part which is soon TO be utilized. Ex-
periments TO separate the 1ibre by ma
vice is nearly perfected. In addition TO
this, there is not sufficient land in Florida
adapted to the growth Of the cocoanut TO
overstock the market If all was planted to
10. Perhaps not over 1000, 600 trees could
be grown there successfully"
Mr.. Field said that a sufficient number
OF cocOanut palms have been growing I'm
south Florida for forty years fully TO
| demonstrate the certainty OF success.
And these trees compare most faVOrably
with the most successful In other coun-
tries, both in quality and quantity OF
product. But not until about SIX years
ago was any attention given to this
industry in that State. About that time
a few thousands were planted at Lake
Worth, part Of which are now In bear
ing. Since then residents OF Key West
have planted several thousand on the
different keys, which are nearly all COM
posed Of this coral sand, varying in width
from 10 10 100 feet; and il is thought these
keys will soon be devoted entirely
to the growth OF the cocOanut. Messrs
Field g. Osborne already have about
$4,000 growing on Key Biscayne. An adj
vantage which Florida possesses over the
West India islands ard other tropical re-
giOns where the cOcOanut is grown is
nearness TO the United States market.
Those who visited the New Orleans expo
sti0u saw many fine specimen Of the CO.
coanut palm, some Of which we're 20 or 30
feet hign. They grow 10 a height Of 100
feet IN their native region, and the tree il
an interesting object. IL bears both male
and female flowers, the leaves curying
down ward being from II to 20 feet long.
The fruit ~ borne from long pointed
spatbe which is curious.