The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-03-31
Florida aud tho Orange Industry.

There 10 flavor Of romance about or
anHe growing that captivates the plod-
ding husbandman Of tho North and en-
tices tho fancy farmer. 1t seems to he
such n delicate occupation, where little
labor among perennial verdurc ana IRA
grant blossoms il supposed to produce
bountiful harvest Of dOubly golden fruit,
and thousands have plunged headlong
into il, both as small farmers ready to do
their own work, and as speculative and
fancy tillcrs of the Florida soil, while
comparatively fcw have realized their
expectations of profit and many have
given up in despair or bankruptcy. These
eaperences are in no degree the fault OF
the orangc.growing industry. but they
are precisely the experiences that South
crp orange. growers or cotton planters
would meet il thcy attempted Ponnsyl-
yania or Western farming with their
limited knowledge of the methods ny
which Northern agriculture is made prof
table. Orange-growing is just like the
growing of wheat, corn. potatoes, oats
or buckwheat: it must be understood, in
the most practical way, to make it pay;
aud that understanding must apply as
we'll TO the selection of the particular
soil and climate Of Florida ~ TO the
planting. rearing. tilling, fcrtilizing and
general caring for the orchards which
are expected to bring fortune to the own
or. Orange orchards thus selected or
planted and thus handled with the in
tcllipencc and fidelity they need are
among not only the most profitable but
also among the certain crops grown on
tho continent. present this statement
with the full knowledge, gained largely
by personal investigation, that more than
|. half the entire orange crop OF this year
has been destroyed. The loss of the or
hnye.growcrs this winter is not less thar
. one million dollars from the destructive
winter. md the loss of early vegetables
il from half Il million to million more
but this large loss to dishcarten the Flor
ida and vegetable growers. has led to eN
, haustive inquiry into the comparative
, losses of staple goods in all sections. o
: the country, and it clearly proves tina
there il no State in the Union wher
Y crops are more certain or more proilt
i, able than in Florida, and OF these, IN
more delicate products, which have SUI
@ fered so severely this winter. are amon
. Tho most certain and profitable Of all
Y When il is remembered that the &c
!. ,tructiye frost Of this winter in Floiid
has not been known since 1850, or 10
Y more than half century. and that Their
q Is not . staple crop Of the North that
- not half destroyed once in five years b
y some Of the many causes which reduc
:. or kill the growing crops of Norther
>. fields, the intelligent reader will under
stand the logic of my conclusions.
" HAP HAZARD ORANGE GROWING.
l. lIap.hazard Grange growing is just Ill
4 hap hazard wheat or corn'growini
Sometimes it will happen to pay; b'
le generally it will not pay, aud the disa
ia pointed farmer is usually ready to blan
everything but himself when he Is alol
81 in fault. There is no more inviting sta
o. than Florida for the laboring man wi
- aim. to acquire small farm and do Il
y own work. as do most Western settler
3. A small orange grove we'll located, We
planted, well titled and well cared fo
" all Of which are in the capacity Of q
m owner himself, is certainly the easie
, and surest way to increase the value
III both plant ard product. 1t will requ'
IN five to eight years before profitable Gro
:. of oranges can bc gathered, but good {
u anQe land is capable Of producing all Il
x. necessaries Of life, except wheat. wi