Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-04-23

prising and restless pioneers into tls
river counties, with loud "ho fos the
orange growers and has placed these
far in advance of all other portions of
the State in orange culture To plant.
tend, pluck, eat and ship oranges has
become as much the business Of Orange
county as to gather gold was once the
business of the ear ly settlers Of Caiifor-
Lila. The mania is not ablted, and n
very catching, not only by newcomers.
but by the old Floridians and passing
in all directions, until everybody ev-
erywheTe supposes that all the ipAabi-
tants are engaged in planting, tending.
or gathering fruit from orange trees
"How big is your orange groye.?" il
the first question asked Of an inhabi.
tant Of this belt.
But this belt will produce other fruits
not less proitab.y grown than the or
ange; also, crops needed for tho support
and comfort of the inhabitants. IF now
some few resemble the one crop farm.
crs of other States and regions who
grow corn. wheat or cotton, the more
prudent are looking forward to diver
sity Of fruits and crops that shall keep
the soil in good heart and their lands
never idle, or permit their sources Of
gain ever to clos,. The year possesses
SO equab'e climate that. in the esti-
nation CT the inhabitants, the present
season is always better than tho past.
Summer ana winter vary from each
other rather by the months in the al
manac than by the markings Of the
therm ,meter. The warm winds from
ocean and gulf make winter delightful.
and the same win Is in summer caaso
the shade to be not lcss enjoyable.
The temperature BY night is always
measured by the exact degree for he
most refreshing slosp. The breezes BY
day or night are loaded with balmy fra.
GRANGE, and The atmosphere is but tho
breath of health. No wonder the poets
have not sung its praises; they are
bound in ietters Of custom, and must
speak in symbols anlcomparisons. Hero
they find the incompatible and they
are lost in the infinite This Floridian
heaven clnnot be described in tho
words Of Greek or Latin rhapsody, nor
in the dialect Of European poets. All
the senses are captured and enchanted
by what ls here seen and felt, relieved
Only by dreams Of a brighter future. as
civilization and refinement shall ad.
vance. No wonder why the sick ling.
or in the orange groves and draw long
drau5hts Of their fragrance and BAL
sonic odors; no wonder pleasure. seek
era, like birds, return TO such climate
and feast of all their senses. Nor is it
strange that the "barren sands" Of such
a region bring fabulous prices. 1t is
not the richness OF the soil, or even the
marvellous productions; it is the incom.
parable c,im.tc that is purchased With
the soil that is paid for.
The Creator has mad. bat one Flor.
ida, made it to differ from all the rest
OF His works. That Florida is our in-
heritance to squander o. to improve
AMI enjoy To compare 1t to any 9th
CT country or region is but to degrade
it. 1t has no counterpart, is incompar-
able The question Of the future lies
between ignorance anl intelligence. be.
tween faithfully kesning and improv-
Ing the Iaad covered by the best eli.
mate Of earth, and yialdiug UP the
to the range Of small cattle and small
er hogs. The question is, shall this
land and this elm .tc, where ten acres
is more than enough f,r the mainte-
nance Of family, be owned by the til
Ter or held by the few who like tho
great barons OF Europe, rent it out and
thus rule over add oppress y half-fcd,
half-cad peasantry? Tho answear
should be, let those who will be free.
holders in this, the richest, best, and
brightest of all the States.