New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-12-13
GRAPEFRUIT HIS HOBBY.
Hoe KimbaH c. AtyoOd; the Pr
oneer. Made a Florida Wilder
ness PRODUCTIVE.

Kfmbau c. Atwood president OF the Preferred
Accident Insurance Company. recently returned
from a two weeks trip Florida where he went
10 inspect his extensive grapefruit interests He
Is enthusiastic the prospects for the coming
crop of that appetizing fruit. which he terms the
"aristocrat of the breakfast table" Most men
OF wealth have hobby TO which they devote their
surplus energy. but few have chosen more prac-
teal side line have turned 1t to better advan-
tage than has Mr.. Atwood, and what he cannot tell
you about growing grapefruit is hardly worth
looking
1t is a long time since grapefruit was first in
troduced to fruit growers in America. For years
after its introduction little attention paid TO
its culture The trees thrived IN the same climate
and under the conditions oranges and
lemons, the market for the grapefruit
appreciable and special effort made by
growers to aCquaint the public with its good quail
ties AS a result the crop was light and the
methods of handling and marketing crude and I'M
satisfactory.
After making a careful study OF the subject Mr..
Atwood became convinced that grapefruit could
be cultivated a large scale a profit and that
the consumption would be greatly increased If a
finer variety could be produced and the fruit mar
keted in an attractive manner and in good condi-
ton AT that time the total crop Insignificant
and the methods of marketing primitive. The fruit
was picked in an unripe state, and much of the
crop was lost by decay before it reached market
That which fit to offer of poor duality.
This the condition Of the grapefruit trade in
+
and made tour Of the state to select for his
operations. lie sought the soil best suited for the
growing of the trees and facilities most advanta-
geous for shipping. With the information he ac-
quired Mr.. Atwood in 1896 negotiated the purchase
of $50 acres of .ich hummock land in Manatee
County Fla. the Manatee River. which af-
forded a water outlet.
OBSTACLES OVERCOME.
At the time of purchase the land in the wild
state literally a jungle of oak, cabbage palmetto.
scrub palmetto and tropical vines. In August of
the same year five hundred men we're put to work
clearing ditching and fencing. and by January.
1897 1900 trees planted. This task
accomplished in the face of the most adverse
criticism. The native fruit growers could not
comprehend a project of such magnitude. and to a
man predicted DIRE failure. 1t beyond their
belief that crop of grapefruit such would be
the yield of sixteen thousand trees could possibly
find a market, especially at time when a thou
sand boxes would glut any m lrket in the world.
They did believe il possible, in the first
place to bring that 16o-acre jingle into state OF
cultivation within five years. but the energy and
capital supplied by Mr.. Atwood readily overcame
this obstacle. ard trees were growing in less than
five months
1t was no small task to obtain 5000 grapefruit
trees in Florida at that time, and TO accomplish il
nearly every nurseryman in the state contributed
his quota. In this connection Mr.. Atwood gives
recognition to the Department OF Agriculture
at Washington many valua BILE suggestions in
propa cation of the grapefruit tree. Mr.. Atwood's
purpose TO produce the highest quality of fruit
With this beginning there was a gradual develop
ment Of the plant from year to year. An additional
tract Of ninety acres purchased reaching down
to the Manatee River. where large pier was built
Dwelling houses for employees. a store for supplies
a large packing house equipped with all the appl-
necessary for handling fruit. tool houses sta
bles and various other buildings were erected as
necessity demanded. and the number of trees was
increased 81 500 in 1905
PROBLEM SOLVED
But there We're other problems be solved be
sides planting OF trees and Improvement OF the
fruit. Comparatively few people realized the value
Of grapefruit a table decacy. or. IA Mr.. Atwood
believes a breakfast necessity. To gel a market
for this output OF ESQ trees a regular ana
extensive campaign Of education begun Many
thousands of dollars expended in advertising
The medicinal qualities or grapefruit enlarged
upon. and its dietary value came 20 be recos-
nized the consumption increased enormously. This
year crop OF CO., boxes valued 5000 600 will be
marketed from Mr. Atwood's grove.
As the situation stands now" said Mr. Atwood