The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-12-30
Letter from Florida.
Correspondence ofthe Democratic Advocated
McIyTesH, December %, 1893.

Correspondence of the Democ ratio Advocated
MCINTesH, December %, 1893.
MEssRs. EDITORS Your paper still com es
to us by Mondays mail. 1t is welcome
visitor and through it we are enabled to keep
posted as to how things are progressing in
Carroll, and, in fact. Maryland. Speaking
of muddy roads and snow, have seen neither
of them these ten years and have forgotten
how sleigh runs. As to travelling over
mud road just frozen up, don't care to try
any more of that.
Cur orange crop is moving along and |
suppose fully one fourth of the fruit has been
sent to market. Much of it was sent green,
and did not carry well, was sour and unat.
tractive when opened in the markets and
ran low This had a marked bearing on
the prices realized for the good fruit. Five
and six tram loads of fruit pass by our place
each day and is scattered over the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains. The
fruit is now very fine. Our place ships about
20 cars per week. A description of how
oranges are gathered and packed may be OF
interest TO you. To start with each negro is
equipped with ladder, pair of shears, with
blade slightly curved and about two inches
long, and half round basket, with strap to go
over the shoulder. The oranges are cut from
the limbs one at a time, as pulling them
breaks the skin around the stem. When the
basket is full they are emptied into boxes,
loaded on wagons and carried TO the packing
houses, where they are allowed to remain
from to 6 DAYS, so as TO cure or allow the
skins TO become plant Then the graders
start to work on them, generally making four
quafities-Choice Bright, Brights, Golden
Russets and massachusetts the culls, and
it takes a careful as well as experienced eye
to find ali thorn peeked and defective fruit.
From the graders they are run through a
sizer, the most accurate Of which IS an endless
chain with octagonal expanding links. The
oranges are fed on to this chain from hop
per and when an orange drops on to link it
is carried along until the link expands sufh
GENTLY to allow it to drop through, when it
falls into a runway and is carried along with
its fellows into a bin. Here the wrappers
are ready to pick them up and wrap and pack
into the boxes, which, when filled, are hoped
and marked with size, quality, packing firm
and destination. Some growers are now using
wrapping machine, which is not perfect as
vet but does its work very nicely. These
machines stamp the paper and wrap ready
for the packer,
We have had but one frost this season; In
fact it has been warm all fall We burn
wood fire ON the hearth and leave door or
window open. To-Day we hau thunuer
storm, with plenty of rain, and il is little
cooler tonight. Garden truck, such as peas,
beets and cabbage, is growing nicely. man
can get into buggy and ride around this sec.
ton Of country and view as much as 1000
acres Of cabbage in day; and if be had an
extra fast team might do even better. Some
cabbage is punching to head and will be
ready to cut by February. Farmers are busy
land for potatoes, beans, squashes
and tomatoes, most Of which will be planted
in january. Wishing Merry Xmas aud
many returns of same | am very truly yours,
BILL