The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-09
1T BEATS A SILVER MINE.
THE PINEAPPLE INDUSTRY
AROUND ORLANDO, FLA.
THE

IL Was I'm Its Infancy when the
Freeze ParaIyzed IL, HUT IL Has
Recovered and Is Mine of
Wealth 10 Those Who viii Exer-
else the Proper Care-A Survey of
the Pineries OF OrIandO-The Cost
Of Pineapple Cultivation.
Orlando. Fla. Aug While the keys
and islands OF Florida have been largely
occupied by pineapple growers for years.
Orlando has become the center OF the
cultivation OF the larger and inner carrie
ties OF this luscious fruit.
Until within few years the fine varie-
rieties were only grown by few, who
were willing 10 bestow unusual care and
considerable expense upon them, in order
10 secure the finest that could be pro-
duced. The first plants were imported
at considerable expense. and in order to
protect them against injury by frost In
winter they were planted inside a tight
board enclosure. the top Of which was
covered with stats of lumber three inches
wide a space of equal width being left
between them TO admit sunlight and rain.
Experience showed that the fruit pro-
| duced under this half-shade was Of a
higher flavor. and contained less woody
fiber than the same variety grown In
the open air. At the same time the fruit
attained a greater size. These facts be-
ing established, those who undertook the
cultivation of the choice varieties adopt
ed the half shade plan. While the ex-
penso was greater, the results fully justi-
! fed the outlay.
Until eight or nine years ago no one
| thought of engaging in pineapple grow
| ing under this system as a business.
| Those who produced the fine fruit found
a ready market for their surplus, and al
ways at fancy prices. One to three dol
| lars each was frequently realized for the
large speciments weighing from five to ten
pounds.
George ]. Russell was the first man in
| this vicinity to drop all Other
undertakings and go into the
dustry. He began on a small scale. He
| could not secure the plants to make q
| large beginning. But as his plants in
| creased he added to his area. He soon
| found himself in possession of a comfort
| able income, and from "A very limited area
| of land. When his plantation had been
| extended to three acres, he sold in one
! year fruit and young plants enough 10
| amount to upward Of 5000. Others caught
the fever; plants were in demand; ana
the pineapple industry began to assume
proportions. Thousands of plants were
imported from the Azores, and those VINO
had small patch found a ready market
for every young plant they could pro-
duce
Two years ago there were two or three
| plantations equal in size to Mr.. Russell
and a number of smaller ones from a few
yards in extent to an acre or more each.
Then in the winter of lS94-95 came tn,
I Frnaa f11aF ctr II garA a IN n
orange industry of Florida. In spite oil
the protection of the sheds, the pineap
pie plants were killed to the ground, AND
| il was believed that the last one of thesS
choice plants was gone beyond hope. Pros
| pectiVe fortunes were swept away in Z
single night, and thousands of dollars
worth of late fruit was destroyed.
That was only a year and a half ago
| The resurrection has been marvellous.
: Although killed to the ground, the root.
: lived, and in month young shoots be
gan to appear. Where a single plant hal
z stod half dozen sprouts appeared. Hop
! was revived, and the pineapple men wen
! to work. AS the young shoots ATTAINED
sufficient size they were taken off anC
reset. They made rapid growth, while
5 the old roots kept on producing young
plants. To-day the business is restored
new plantations have been set out, Others
are projected. The earliest plants ar
fruiting bountifuly and the pineapple
men are riding the crest Of the wave.
A representative Of the News recent!
spent a couple Of days among the Orlando
pineries. What he saw was revelation
, Henry Beeman, who owns the San Jual
hotel has a beautiful place two mile
. out on a lake front He began his pine
apple business seven years ago with %
: plants. He now has an acre and hal
enclosed, under which are about 100
fruitfng plants. On some of these tn
fruit is already well grown, while other
: are just beginning to show the brillian
= colors in the crown, which proceeds tn
coming of the fruit bud. These latest one
will mature next winter, giving winte
fruit Mr.. Beeman has, sold hundreds o
dollars worth of young plants, and esti
mates that he will have $4,000 plants t
1 sell or set out by the first of January
} next At one time he sold 800 worth o
plants from half an acre Of land. He l
2 a member of the firm of Menefee, Paine
D & Beeman that a few months ago bough
Z a tract of forty-two acres of land adjoin
2 ing the town. On this they now hav
) about six acres under shed. Ten thou
Z sand plants have already been set. TIL
) firm is clearing and preparing NOR
ground, and intend to go on until the
! cover the entire tract of land They ar
t young men, full of energy, and will carr
out their plans.
In addition to his old pinery of thre
acres, surrounding Mr.. Russells home
that gentleman has a new place, wher
six acres are covered, and where addition
| ara being made as fast as new plants ca