Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-11

n richly-endowed institution and elegant
structure, affords the best educational IA
cllities. Prof. |. H. Forbes is the distin-
gushed President, with Prof. r.. Alger in
the chair of languages, and Miss j. Bige-
low. -preeeptress. The curriculum OF
study includes thorough classical course
also. ~.i.e.
mentioned that branch Of the
Jacksonville, Tampa aud Key West rail-
road will soon be finished from De Landto
Lake Helen, and the latter is already con-
nected by rail with Blue Springs on the
st. Johns river.
M'BRYDE'S DAIRY FARM
at DeLand is we'll worth visiting. The
cows, twenty-four in number are all
blO0ded, and include some splendid speci-
mems OF Jerseys and other registered
strains of the best breeds. One animal
yields twenty seven quarts of milk daily.
The milk is shipped as far as Sanford and
Orlando and finds ready sale.
HOW ORANGE GROVES ARE MADE AND
WHAT THEY COST.
Mr.. A. Seaman, one OF the most reliable
citizens and experienced orange growers
in Volusia county, who has planted and
cultivates numerous groves for non-resi-
dents, gave the writer the following valu-
able information. The cost for cutting
down, clearing, grubbing, removing the
stumps, brekking, narrowing, fertilizing
and furnishing and setting out the young
trees, with a guarantee that they Will
''catch," is 500 per acre.
In leveling the virgin forest the ak is
entirely dispensed with and fire substi-
tuted. The process of telling the lOftiest
pines is simply this: First, the earth is
carefully removed at the base of each
| tree, and the surface roots exposed. These
are then scaritied and bruised, and in the
course Of day or two when the gum mas
exuded prOfusedly the torch is applied
and the flames begin their work. The in
fiammable material burns with tremen-
dOus fierceness, and soon the foundation
Of the mightiest giant of the forest is
sapped and utterly consumed, and down
| it tumbles prone upon the gorund with a
! terrific crash. BY these means the tedi-
! Gus operation OF digging up the stumps is
avoided, and all that remains to be done
| is to cut the trunks into proper lengths
and sell theme as they lie to the nearest
sawmill. The avails are the perqusite
of the contractor, to whom all the wood
End fallen timber is given, which, for lack
of a market, are usually gathered in piles
and burned.
COST OF EEPING UP GROVE.
After the land has been denuded of its
! SIUN I'LL anu pulHeTILtu anu
set with young orange trees. the cost of
! tending and cultivation (Which includes
| light fertilizing) for the first year is $25
| per acre. subsequently, from year to
| year as the young stocks get larger and
require more nutriment, this charge in
| creases, varying with the amount and
market value of the fertilizer employed.
| When the trees are in full bearing each
| Will require at least twenty pounds of
some standard commercial preparation
! applied twice during the year, half of
| that amount at each time. To sum
tup it is safe to say that an
Expenditure of $50 per acre an
nually is necessary to fertIlize and Gull
! tivate an orange grove in bearing on fair,
medium soil. And this must be continued
always if you wish to keep the trees in a
| thrifty and productive condition
Our informant gives the above as the
| ruling prices for the care of groves in and
around DeLand, when the contractor
furnishes everything.
Mr.. Seaman has groves under his charge
which were started years ago and have
| never been seen by their owners.
The crop OF, oranges this year will be
| cut short at least one-half, and unless the
ravages OF the new insect are stayed it
will not reach that figure. AS yet they
are confined to certain districts only, but
do their work almost as thoroughly as
the frost. H. H. j.