The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-09-01
A BEAUTIFUL GROVE HIDDEN IN
THE HEART OF NATURE
To the Editor ocala Banner:

inspiring scenes of nature beautiful
where, with delicate fringed edges,
she weaves herself to the borders of
art.
1t is a favored nook of Florida s
grand old forest we have longed to
see, but have ben denied the opportu-
nifty until a few days ago: the AK
line orange grove, recently purchased
by Mr.. W. r. Brice, of Island Grove,
this state, and successfully managed
by Mr.. Henry c. Martin. This par
ticular beauty spot on the face of
nature is five miles west of Island
Grove, bordered on the north by
Lake Lochloosa; on the south by
Orange Lake, on the west by Cross
Creek. Lochloosa is one of the most
famous fishing lakes in the state,
covering an area of about sixty-four
square miles. Orange Lake is some
thing like 20 to 25 miles in length,
averaging about one-half mile in
width. Cross Creek is only three
miles in length, but one of the pref
test, and most picturesque streams
the south.
Plotted by the clever manager, Mr..
Martin, the drive from the railway
station to the grove is both pleas
ant and instructive. The road leads
one through a portion of woods al
most surrounded by the animals and
fowls that live upon the open in this
portion of Florida. OF yonder to the
right is a meadow with a small is
land in the center where the wild
birds nest and raise their young. To
the left it tall yellow pine standing
In the opening of Orange Lake, the
home of a family of eagles, and high
up out of reach of the common enc
mics of their young is their stick and
straw house. But you have heard
that there is a person created for
every purpose, good and bad" mot
good doctrine) and We are told that
the eagles nest has been robbed of
its eggs for commercial purposes.
First, We approach the owners
home, a modern residence with every
convenience, it appears; standing
alone in its grandeur like an appro-
pirate fronticepiece to some rare-old
volume In the yard stand towering
cabbage palmettoes like faithful SOL
diers guarding some important pass,
under the waving foliage of which
nestle laughing flowers and twining
vines. The low, plaintive call of a
disturbed Bobwhite, calling to his
faithful little mate that has been
rudely chased from her hiding place
in the garden hard by, is only an
omen of some untold tale of love sug-
gested by the expensive buildings
and rare beauty of the entire premi-
ses standing unoccupied at the pres
emit
Just around the corner and we ar
rive at the managers home, ala
bama"-or here we rest, as we were
impressed to call it. We were told,
however, that Mr.. Clyde Axline, in a
jolly mood, had called the place the
"Hurrah HOTEL" in Consequence of hav-
ing heard Mrs. Martin remark one
morning that she had to clean up
the hurrah nest" that day, meaning
the house. We found it indeed a
place of peace and plenty, nature in
her abundant grace seemingly toss
ing of the good things of life in the
lap of this immediate home. Jersey
COWS furnish plenty of milk and but
ter. and to spare. and keep sleek and
fat on the meadows near by abound
ing in wild millet. a very valuable
vegetation, we have never seen mol
heard of before. Honey white and
fresh from the hives, favored with
orange blossoms and palmetto. Eggs
Well, Manager Martin went out while
we were there and found a nest con
tanning forty eggs. Pretty fshy, We
admit, but its true Then there is
the cabbage palmetto in abundance
Don't know that you have ever eaten
of that. Well. it is the tender bud OF
the cabbage tree. white. crisp and
tender. and when properly prepared
is very palatable dish indeed.
Squirrels laugh in the acorn trees
and FISH loiter in the cool shady
hooks OF the lake just waiting to be
caught.
But we must hurry on. Here is the
packing house where the fruit is pre-
pared for shipping. 1t is said to be
one of the most thoroughly equipped
and complete packing houses in the
state. II is 50x50 feet. three stories
high, with an additional lookout on
the roof The fruit is brought from
the groves on specially prepared
trucks. double geared so that the rear
wheels follow directly in the tread of