The Red Cloud chief., 1886-01-08
IN II
Thousands OF Acres Planted by One firm-
Features Of the Industry.

f. T. Field 6f Red Bank, n. D., Is an
extensive Florida cocoanut grower. He
is a member Of the firm Of Field 4 Os
borne, Ezra Osborne being associated
with him in the enterprise. To a Tri.
Lune reporter Mr.. Field said: I'VE are
located in Dade county, Florida, which
il in 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 mann ap-
piled to those plantations. We began
our purchase Of land there about three
years ago, buying it from the govern
ment al a low price. Ii being in the
Everglade region, as will be seen by a
gli:ce at the map, the land has never
been considered Of much value for any
purpose, whatever ii may become by an
extensive system Of drainage. Here We
are upon the shore of the sea, q needed
requisite in the successful growth Of the
c0coanut palm. The soil is n porous
coral land. From Cape Florida north
for a distance Of ninety miles, running
parallel with the coast, there are bays.
rivers and sounds, disconnected by mar
row strips of land, but themselves o n
nectcd by inlets to the ocean, through
which the tide Gibbs and flows. Between
these and the ocean is our strip Of land.
which varies i'm width from twenty rods
to a little over a mile. being elevated
nearest the ocean, and sloping gently
toward the west.
This chain Of inland waters recciv-
ing the fresh water flowing from the
Everglades prevents its teaching through
this strip of land. Easterly winds fire.
guently drive the gulf-strcam waters
against the coast beach rs far north as
Lake Worth: these waters being about
so degrees Fahrenheit, a tropical eli
mate is produced and Il fine growth Of
vegetation is insured. We are famed
by the breezcs waited to us from the
gulf stream. and everything favors rank.
luxuriant growth. Here during the last
two years we have planted over 100000
cocoanuts. We take all our help and
implements from the North. The ma
tives there are n wild. lazy. shiftless
class, unfit and incapable for work. The
total population of Dadc county in 1880
was only PSI. Our planting is done in
winter. when { l take my family South
with me and superintcnd the work in
person. At other seasons the trees help
themselves and very little cultural atten-
ton is needed"
AT what age do the trees come into
bearing?'
From six to seven years from plant
ing. Then they will average about two
nuts per year, and bear continually al
most until 40 or so years old. We plant
about twenty feet apart, which gives
about 100 trees to the acre. or n little
more"
What about price and proiits?" Mr..
Field was asked. O..
During the last three years prices by
the cargo AVE ranged from $50 to S75
Il thousand. $50 being the lowest figure
for the most COMMON kinds. This is
for the nuts delivered in New York: the
freight and express from the tree to the
market will not exceed 81 Il thousand"
rs there any danger of overstocking
the markct?'
almos, unlimited. have Il profitable
offer for all | can possibly raise in years
10 come. The nut will he used green To
a much larger extent than now when
people know how good it is: and the
wafer. which i, then clear. and mo-
milky rs when ripe. will lie highly rel
ishcd rs Il beverage. Why. we ga, the
nut from the shell in the South. II is
soft AMI rich. Then the hu>k. which is
generally thrown away in America. i Il
valuable part which is soon to bc u,iliz-
ed. Experiments To separate the fibre
by machinery are now in progress. and
the device is nearly perfected. In addi-
ton To this. there i not sufficient land
in Florida adapted to the growth of the
ocoanui to over>tock the market if all
WAS planted to ii. Perhaps not over
1000. 600 trees could b. grown there Sue
ce>>tully.
Alr. Field said that Il sufficient num-
Der of cocoaAni palms have bcca grow
ing in South Florid2 ;s :.g:y wears fglly
TO demonstrate the certainty c; s'icctS>.
And these trees compara Tio>t favorahiv
with the most successful in other coUn-
tries. both in quality and quantity of
product. Blu. not Unit! about siN Years
400 was any attention ~i.en to this in
duS:rr in that state. About that time i
few thousand were planted az Lake
Wos;;,, y part If which are row in bear
ing. Sisce then residents of hey West
have planted sesrTs, thousand on the
different KEYS. which, are nearly al com
posed If this coral sand. varying ~
width from ten Ia !, hundred feet; and
it i, thought these keys viii soon be de-
voted entirely tn the growth, 1T the CO.
coanut. Mcs,rS. Field 4 Osborne III.
ready have about So.o,n growing on
Key Biscaync. An advantage which
Florida possesses over the West ln';ia
islands and other tropical regions
where the cocoanut is grown Is nearne>S
to the United States market Those
who visited the Nc~ Orleans Exposition
saw many fine specin,ens If the cocoa
nut palm, some Of which were twenty os
thirty feet high. They grow 10 the
height Of 100 feat in their native region.
and the tree is an interesting Object. Ii
hears both male and female flowers. the
eurying downward being from
twelve to twestty fee; long. The fruit is
borne from q long poiate:i spa;ae which
is curious.-NtU lerk irrbeas.