The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-10-27
The much boasted of chain-bolt can now
be drawn back from the outside with
only piece of silk thread having
match tied to one end of it."
Young Orange Groves.

AVuhS OAoh5S
An article in the Chautauguan by g.
NJ. Snyder gives pleasing view of or
ange culture, and of native orange
groves: In the hummock lands of Flor
ida the native orange-groves are found.
These were originally so dense that in
some places it was almost impossible to
make way through them. Some of the
most profitable groves were made by thin
ming out these sour stumps and budding
those remaining with the sweet orange.
Those taken up are re-planted on pine
pine land, and budded. A natural grove
in its wild state, says MIR. Snyder, is
beautiful sight, as it is generally found
in the heart of some heavily wooded Sec
ton, where through the wells of hanging
moss with which the tress are co7ered,
peep the golden fruit and snowy bios
SONS. The native orange tree is an un-
symmetrical growth, probably so from
being crowded and shut up among larger
and overhanging trees. From the time
it is budded, however, and receives light,
circulation, and room to expand, it
makes the shapeliest of trees. A bearing
orange-tree is about equal in size to our
larger apple trees, and can be easily
made to grow in globular form so that,
when number of them are systematic
ally arranged, the effect is most beauti-
full.
Hummock land is frequently selected
for the planting of an orange-grove, rs
the soil will not require enriching for
five or six years after setting out the
trees q great point to the oranee-grower.
The most satisfactory groves, however, are
found on pine lanus, where, although
the soil has to be fertilized, are to be seen
some Of the finest a..d most profitable
groves of Florida.
In making an orange-groVe on pine
land. strip of ground is selected on
which there is fair average of large
pines. This is cleared, fenced, ploughed
and planted, at a cost of about eighty
dollars per acre. The trees are planted
in rows, from twenty to forty feet apart.
and thin commences the slow and often
tedious process of nursing the seeding
trees into maturity. When fve.year old
sweet stocks are used, careful cultivation
will bring the grove into bearing within
five or six years from the planting; and
when five-year old sour stocks are planted
and budded, a grove can be made to bear
alb ut two years sooner.
while the care of a growing grove is
interesting and delightful work to one
who enters into it earnestly, it is also
unremitting, or must be when good and
speedy results are reached. The plough
is kept lightly going between the rows,
and is followed by The harrow, for it is
necessary to subdue the grass so that all
available nourishment may be absorbed
by the tree. When the ground is thus
kept clean, the roots reach out more rap
idly, and the tree will show in acceler-
atcd growth the difference between clean
and negligent culture. A great many
orange growers mulch heavily by making
o covering of pine-needles about the
roots of the trees.
During the latter part of February the
groves of Florida ore in blossoms
period never to be forgotten by those
who have experienced its delights. The
weather has not yet lost the agreeable
temperatures produced by the influence
of lingering winter at the North, and
this, together with the countless bios.
SONS, so perfect both in formation and
fragrance, forms one of Florlda's most
attractive features. The fragrance from
large grove in blossom is almost over
powering.
The most interesting event in conuec-
tion with an orange grove, for more rea-
sons than one, is when the fruit begins
to riren. Certain varieties ripen in the
latter part of August, but the majority
of the crop is ready for picking from
the last of October until January. This
is the period selected by shrewd land
agents for bringing investors to inspect
O grove: for if ever one desires TO own
what his eyes behold, an orange-grove
with it's golden crop certainly prompts
the desire.