The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-04-29

From State of
Florida
Sent by Salmon f.
FariS.
SPRING CAME
Thirty Days Earlier
This Year.
Oranges Will Bring Advanced
Prices Until New Crop
Comes On.

Editor Index Republican:
Some time there arises a new king
that knew not Joseph. but Joseph must
take some risk to find ont.
1t is fair to presume that most of my
old neighbors in Logan county take the
Index Republican; some of them know
of Florida by experience, more do not.
1t is we'll named the land of flowers
It would fit the name Orange State bet
ter than that one in South Africa.
Still better could II be named the Pine
State. Other states abound In pine.
but here it is pine. pine everywhere.
Speaking OF the pine tree. it may be
well to correct fear that troubles some
of our visitors from the north. As they
travel and look at the boxing of the pine
for turpentine and rosin and then after
three years of that process has exhaust
cd the usefulness of the trees for that
purpose they see the saw mill men turn
ing these trees into lumber and ship
ping them to the far quarters of the
earth. they fear that the grow
ing pine leaves. called needles, will De-
come 90 depleted that there will not be
enough to medicate the atmosphere
with that healing balm SO soothing and
healing to weak lungs. In 1875 l inves-
tigated that n after in the mountains
of Pennsylvania and came to the con-
clusion that when the forest pines are
felled there comes up another genera
tion Of the came bearing twice as much
foliage as that which has departed.
Then there comes into play that much
exploited law Of ''the survival of the
fittest'' and the weaker trees die off
until there will be as much growth
as the soil can support. have watch
ed this process for the eleven years |
have lived in this state and feel sure that
there 10 no cause for fear.
Our spring was some twenty days ear
lier than usual and the orange crop is
now well established and very promis-
ing We are just now eating the last OF
our oranges and grape fruit. 1t is a
matter Of doubt whether consumers in
the north ever look into the question OF
varieties of oranges as they do among
apples. Now there are so many
kinds and furthermore there is little
danger of such multiplication of varie
ties among the oranges. The orange !:
not 30 necessary as the apple and IL we
should ship as mean oranges north a.
many::of the apples shipped to us th'
process would stop the business becaus,
of the loss entailed. All this is said con
cerning varieties for the purpose of cal
Hing attention to the variety of oranR'
which closes our orange season; that il
called Hsrt's Tardriff or Hart's Late
The orange season begins with N
about the last of October. but Hart
Late is not good until March and seem
to be at its best about the middle o
April. Another point in the orang
matter 10 worth a remark. Many peo
pie say, "Oh If could just pull my or
: anges from tine tree in Florida no,
much better they would ber' That
q mistake. No orange is at its bes
when pulled from the tree. Prope
, treatment requires the fruit to be clip
, ped off with shears and either house
{ here or wrapped and crseted for shol
time to pass through sort Of sweatin
process to bring the fruit to its best
Q Readers of the Index Republican ma
I wonder how we keep oranges throug
9 the winters. We have had Of late
gather them in April. Oranges hans
: ing within the mass of evergreen fol
Q age are not apt to be frozen by thil
Q ty degree thermometer and the te
acres of sheds of our village are such
protection that the mercury must drc
d below that before a fire is needed
% save the fruit
d A final remark may be needles
r Those who eat oranges that are goo
q may expect to pay an advance pri'
J. until the next crop is cut.
dI 8. G. FARIS.
sI Candlay Fla