Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-12-18
Maine and Florida.

l T. fffOFs htftNEbkS obA' nut
We have heard much during the psst
Few years shout the wonderful opportuni-
ties of investment in the orsrg, groves OF
Fl3fiia aud 1t 10 true that when the entet-
prise has been properly conducted it has
given large returns. To : art an orange
grove requires good deal Of capital.
thorough knowledgs OF the business aud
| instant care. The grove should be sita'
s,ed near lake or other never failing sup
ply OF water, az an immense amount must
be pumped up and supplied TO the trees in
order 10 get anything hse satisfactory re-
| :urns. LAud most favorable for the grove
| costs hundred dollars al acre aud is COW
cred With fores. which requires consider
abie expense to remove. The orange
trees cost three times as much as
apple trees and the land has to be
instantly titled snd fertilized, reqnir-
ing, when trees are bearing and have
gaiGed considerable siz ,, from forty 20 fifty
dollars an acre expended in paosphstes
every year and the lanor OF one man ard a
mule constantly employed on every Fl 70
acsss
The apparatus for supplying the water is
q large expense and II requires an ex-
petieaced and watlhful eye TO gusrd against
insects and disease. The trees need sprsy-
ing several times a year. II sn Grange
grove IL neglected for few years it Is
ne srlY ruined as many s northern investor
has found to his sorrow. The business
therefore, requires more cspitsl, more cste.
more experiences and Involves a much
s'eiter rick tran orchsrding Ia Maine.
Though the profits per acre are very large
the ret profit Oh capital invested is no
greater in fruit raising in Florida than in
this section.
S,ms twenty years ago or more man
wrh large supply of common seuse who
wss brought up on the banks OF tue
Ksuaabse and had had a good deal
of experience in business went Fforid'.
purchased land on the border of lake
covered with stately pine, and there hered
him out a home. After many yesrs of
hardship and close app icaticn to ousiaess,
G yu;uctesi slwsys with much courage and
.ense. he has nov one OF the best grove 3
In the State ard is sbundsnsly able to live
a, he likes while be husbands on. LIES
taper st the close"
Another Of Names sturdy s1ns having
great faith 10 fruit culture. settled IN
franklin County, thi, State, instead Of
seeking distant Geiis in the suaoy South
His cspi 81 when he commsnced WAS not
en- )ugn 70 have paid tn, railroad fake for
himself aud family to Florida.
He bought 8 piece of rough land for
few dollars An acre, made small
"a, msnt and commenced setting apple
irses, ard by pluck and persevsr-
aace he il row il possession OF az
.vsrsge snLuil income fr,m his orehud Of
mere than three thousand dellsrs though
oaly third Of his trees are yet in besricg
ana as re las been setting trees every year
hi, iacnme il rspid!y increasing.
Mr.. Y is florida il now in possession of
the larger fottune BIZ, il you take into &C
run, the capital invested. the hardship.
endured snd the risk incurred the sdvar-
,sges are altogether With Mr.. in Franklin
county.
have 10 fear of oversaiius The sdssr-
tsres in sprlc culture. When about to
speak on this subject 10 Yerk eounty, Mr..
Ellis, ore Of the most successful farmers
ia tie State told me might make any
statement wished shout the profits OF Or
chsrdirs and he would prove 1t true.
VIZ. surprised zt the time but have studied
the sueiscs . great deal since sud sn con-
vinced IL wss perfectlT ssfs as I would not
state the halt of uhs. believe to be true
on the profits Of orchx,iing. There /.
! enoush to coavitcs anyone of al! l have
written Of this business in the orchards
usr.iszed by the North Vssssleorc cores.
pendent If The Journal. fhe resulss Of
thss little gssening orehsrd OF Mr Smiley
has sIxsys been wonder and has yielded
. pro tis much greater thar what have men
tened While riding over shs wild rrsirie
Of TIE West with gsuiismsa some yexrs
xgs be remarked that he los: ten th3assni
dollars the ysxr before BY not hsEiag car
lie enough to eat the grsss, and BY $
.imiisr reasoning BIZ. Smiley has 10 {
Thousands Of cellars b. not having several
acres more Of his fsm covered with spple
trees, yieiting as tbsY would jast as goai
results ss his rsEasksSls half acre has
/ done.
| There are many farmers ia the Sts'e
| lshorirg h4rf from yesr 10 yesr sho nus,
realize a. they look ever the pass that ba ]
they served t.sis orchard vith hall the zeal
stssy 40 richly deserved. they would no,
have left ,hera in thsir CID age TO unces.ias
| toll. E. Cook,
MASCHEsvERs