Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-03-11
Florida Letter.

YALAHA, FLA, March 3, 1896.
Editor of TIMES:
As former resident of Rockingham,
who has been located in Florida IS years,
some facts in regard to the Gland of
flowers may be Of interest to your readers.
Florida is large state, nearly the size of
New England, hence has variety of soil
and climate. West Florida about Talla-
hassee, is billy and soil fertile. Tobacco
of fine quality is now being raised there,
as indeed the whole state is now aroused on
the subject. Samples have been shown,
which nearly or quite equal the Cuban
article.
"Yalaha, meaning in Seminole, "sweet
orange" is in Lake county, South Florida.
Before the freezes of last year it was one
of the most prosperous counties in the
state, shipping between two and three hun
dred thousand boxes of oranges each sea-
son. Large bearing orange trees, well
taken care of, bear from 10 to 20 boxes
per tree. These sold on the tree readily,
for from so cents to 81 per box, depending
on size and color of fruit.
The. expenses consisted of fertilizing and
working The profits were large. A coed
many went into the business without capital,
borrowing money and mortgaging their
property, paying 10 to Is per cent interest,
consequently they are now in bad fix. l
have been in Florida during three freezes.
In 1886 it came about the middle of Janu-
airy. Part of the crop had been shipped,
the balance was frozen. Many trees shed
their leaves but they produced full crop
the next year. The thermometer went to
"a and remained at and below freezing for
three days. Ice formed along the lake
shore and ground was slightly frozen. On
December 20, 1894, came the second
freeze, then went to Is. Oranges frozen
and trees here mostly shed leaves but trees
not hurt. Further north, trees consider
ably hurt. Then came warm weather and
trees began putting out green leaves, when
again on February z came the second
freeze, thermometer again went to IS, and
most of the orange trees in the state were
killed to the ground. Indeed saw forest
trees badly hurt, gums, oaks and walnut
trees, showed effects of the cold for many
months. Most of the orange trees in THU
section have sprouted from the ground anG
have put on fine growth. Infavored sec
tons protected by water they have retained
part of their tops and will bear some
oranges this season. One grove here hat
about so boxes the past season. Thei
crop should have been 5000 boxes.
Nearly one-third Of the groves have beer
abandoned. Many of them should nevel
have been started as the land was too
poor. Others should be kept up as Flor
ida oranges will bring high prices for mar.
years The crop Of 1894 and 1895 wa
over 100000 boxes, worth on the tree
from % cents to 81 per box, depending O.
location and quality. The past season
crop of '95 and '96 was about &C, 900 boxes
Those Of good quality readily sold for 5
per box on the trees. Most of thes
oranges came from south of the Mantle
river, $50 miles south from this point, tn
February freeze not extending so far south
Some 60 years ago it is claimed tina
Florida had cold spell in February whic
killed the bearing trees, which at that tim
were few and further north than most {
the later groves. If it is another 60 year
before we are again frozen out, the presen
i growers won't grumble.
Fl. L. WHITE.