The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-03-31
THE ORANGE PRODUCT.

THE ORANGE PRODUCT.
Very few people in the North have any
intelligent conception Of the orange in
dustry of Florida. 1t is less than quar-
ter of Il century since the Florida orange
became an important article OF COM
mcrce. and it is now much less than
one tenth the product of the orange or
chard consumed in the United States.
Florida harvested eighty millions OF or.
ang5s i'm 1885, and would have harvested
more than that number this year but for
the destructive winter, while we import
seven hundred millions annually. chiefly
from Sicily. California grows n large
orange crop, but the cost of Transports
ton has hindcrcd it from reaching the
market east of the mountains. Here Is
the great orange field of the continent;
the orchards which produce the finest
fruit in the world. ami the future of the
Florida orange product almost dciies cal
culation. Fully two.thirds of the
orange orchards of the State arr
under ten years Of age and half that
number, on two-thirds Of the whole, are
not five wears old. Most OF the old ant
bearing orchards have been grown care
lcssly and their product is lessened boil
in quantity ard quality by the failure t.
appreciate the necessity of growing TN
best trees in the hest soil and in the bes
manner; but the orchards now beginnin,
10 bear and the younger ones have, as
rule. been located, planted and nurture
with intelligent. care, and they. and tn
rapidly multiplying orchards Of the eal
" future must rcvolutionize the orang
trade within another score Of years am
exclude the less inviting foreign irul
from our markets. Neither the o!dc'
inhabitants nor even tradition can Fix TIL
period when the orange tree gives up it
. work. 1t will bear i'll from six
twelve years from the seed. or two yeal
: younger from the average nursery twlt
> according to climate. The kissimm,t
I tree will bear three years earlier than u
g jacksonville tree, and as the orange Gu
y tiyation extends southwark, the tree ha
h tens tho bearing period. Tie first ere
L from a tree in fair bearing condition WI
" be about two hundred. and with prop
L care its crop will increase from twen
Z TO forty per cent for twenty or tlllr
IL wears. There are trees in the Sta
n which bear ten thousand oranges yearl
!. and many which bear five thouSan
! but they are exceptional, of courSa.
II needs only little use Of simple arithnl
IT tic to prove that the orange crop OF rio
r. ida must reach ten millions of doi'a
III annually in few wears, instead OF I
~ present product Of two millions, a
RS "a the products must steadily increa,
e. although in n less ratio of value. ana
T. rapidly increasing facilities for transp'
n tation. and the accepted superiority
'cs the Florida fruit. must ever malnl;
~ profitable markets for this now imp
~ tant aud swiftly increasing product.
Il. CAPITAL ISIS As ORANGE GROWERS.
he | have snecialv discussed the qi
If ton of orangc-srowing from tho stal
og point of She small farmer, as that u
II. class that Florida most needs. ana Il
Ic- the class that most needs Florida. l
In Same general laws which govern succt
or full orangc.grow ing for small farme
re govern the industry in all its pha1
is but the capitalist who minGles pleas'
by and heathful winter enjoyment "
ice profit is generally able TO select his 10
IN ton and invest wisely. There are a NJ
pr her of such orangc plantations on
st. Johns, which pay largely On the
yestmcnt. besides furnishing hcaut
IL, and healthful winter homes for II
NV owners. and the whole line Of the I
-, way from sanford south to kisSinil
M. CITY is bcautiiied by attractive viii
M, homes with orangc-orchards either
ma ginning to bear or giving promise
nto early and beautiful crops. Just a.
,ho Elements and railways extend with tn,
III and better fruit and surer profits will
~, r attained. The Florida orange indu:
,s Il is wonderful development. altho'
or yet in its infancy, and the present :
ths Grafton will see it the first in value ~
,st products Of the State, instead OF fall
rf behind cotton, lumber and corn a
,;ra does now.-Col. \. *, MCCLURE. in
ops Philadelphia Times.
or -
the The PHILADELPHIA Ledger cclebf'