New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-14
THE ORANGE KING OF FLORIDA.
HE FURNISHES SOME INTERESTING FACTS CON-
cERNING THE GROWING OF FRUIT
IN HIs STATE.

Marion County, IN the centre of Florida. Is cello
braed for producing Fourth OF tho orange crop OF
that State II has large groves Of natural growth SIT
uated in the midst OF rich hummochs. those adjacent
to Citrs, its principal shipping point, covering over
$500 acres, and containing 1900 fullbearing trees
j. A. Harris, resident Of this district and known
throughout the State orange king of Florida
has been visiting NewYork and furnishes some inter
esting data concerning the cultivation Of this and
other fruit. He said:
sMarion County will furnish over half million
boxes OF oranges this year, more than any other
hree counties put together The CROP Of the State aver
ages from two and one-haH to three million boxes.
The majority Of the groves of spontaneous growth
and stand Just where nature planted bom hence the
fruit, being OF Wild origin, IS sour and bitter. This
stock Is the best to graft upon and whom budded to
the best sweet varieties the new wood Is all sweet
above the graft and produces the most luscious fruit,
tree taking three to four years TO bear. was born
and brought up at Lake Harris. and when at the age
OF twenty-five I moved to Ciita and bought grove
tho country was q wood boosting one Pine cabin and
fosr inhabitants. All of the oranges were OF Wild
growth and consequently sour, grated them and
made them sweet, studied tho nature OF the fruit.
kept the ground clean aud wefcrtized. and for
eighteen years have diligently pursued the business.
and as result my grove Of 200 acres this year yields
$4,000 boxes OF oranges, which is greater than the
yield Of any othor grove in the State Bishop, Holt
~ o., a
are tine second largest and the Lindsay or Crescent
Orange Company also In this district, tho third
largest growers.
AT Citra We conGne cur labor TO men as far as
picking. packing and shipping concerned. bun
boys do the wrapping and at groves girls also
assist at wrapping The wages Of the men average
from al to go day yet they DO the bulk OF the
heavy or outdoor work they, as rule. command the
latter figure the boys earning all the way from 90
~ 49,. A.
November and lasts untI April. The force IS about
equally divided between the coiored and white
people, the former doing the picking and the latter
The packing and shipping. What DO they do during
10 be laid out, land cultivated, wcedod ana kept
clear to prevent the trees from becoming diseased,
and this takes all summer This Of course does not
there is always plenty Of work between opening up
ton ' Some Of he hands hire out on fas
cotton, tobacco or sugar plantations.
You ask a,. d. many bananas Sr or pneagRss are
AZ Indian River, further south, bananas pineapples
and cocoaputs, which are largely tropical or open
more profitable to Us and next to thsm lines lemons
eitron and grape frult BY The way,
s sSDon and psSSmns sn Sdusss
especially the finer grades. which flourish on hummock
land and in quality arc eons. 10 any brought from
Spreading Of the fruit culture In Marion County.
II has only one drawback, namely, lack OF wafer
Ap4l and May being tho dry s.ason, the young frut
drops of hence there some waste and an Improved
system OF irrigation Is needed Wells have been
sunk successfully along the Atlantic Coast and 81
john River but IN te interior. although bones have
been mads to depth OF 1000 feet the now of waisr
Is insufficient for practical purposes Tho only dis
which sap the Life out OF the huit. bat by Keeping
the trees well trimmed and tho land clear and wen
fortified, the business cannot fail 10 be successful
OF one thing am strenuousiy in favor. ana thai IS
combining orr shipments 10 one Two Eastern
markets, whore all constgnmenis would be sold at
an exchange. This would guard against an hver-
stocked market and tho loss incden, to perishable
goods, and tho advantage gained would be this AZ
least that goods would soil on their merits and prees
could be regulated Citrs has now 500 Inhabitants
and ships 100000 boxes Of oranges a1nu hly aud in
other portions OF the county there arc nurnberess
groves that ship from 100 10 600 boxes 81 the ft>
with tho return of every seasons