The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1919-05-19
SUPREME JUDGE MAKES
GOOD ON ORANGE GROVE
Came From Cotton State Thirty-five
Years Ago to Study Citrus
Culture

Judge VIM. c. Mclean, of Granada,
Mississippi, former judge of the SUI
preme court, spends about nine
months year practicing law and the
remainder on his orange grove seven
miles south of Tarpon Springs, on the
Clearwater road. At all times a
booster and promoter for the good and
welfare of the community.
He first came to Florida in 1884 and
purchased, 1856 acres of land on which
was a small grove of 254 trees, the
balance being in pine timber. At the
present time there are $500 trees,
consisting of oranges of many varie-
ties, tangerines, mandarins, lemons,
and grapefruit; One grapefruit tree
icing sixty-fve years old. The grove
is splendidly cared for by Manager
j. H. Hays, who has had charge of it
for the past twelve years. An irriga-
ton system that pourS 400 gallons of
water minute from an artesian well
over the grove gives the trees a won
derful and picturesque appearance.
A small park is being laid out near
the road. The sage, Canary date,
cocus plumoso, and many other COR
geous palms are nov growing, also
the jacaranda and royal poinciana, the
most exquisite plants of the tropics;
the poinsettia, bougainvillea, hibiscus
in varied colorings, and rubber trees.
All these will be in thei1 greatest
splendor when Judge Mclean has his
artistic bungalow finished, the plans
being under consideration now.
The careful attention given this
grove and the results from such have
made it one of the most TALKED of
places between Tarpon Springs and
st. Petersburg, and it is pointed out
by passers by with pride as an exam
pie of what can be accomplished along
the western coast of Florida, in Pinel-
las county.
In little creek at the south side
Of his grove the judge harbors pet
which he asks every one to treat with
reverence and respect. 1t is an ALI
gator over twelve feet long, which was
there to greet him on his first visit to
the grove over thirty-five years ago.
The big saurian regards this particu-
lar spot as his very own, by right of
discovery and long residence, and his
claim is recognized and upheld by the
judge. So, while visitors roam at will
over the big estate and enjoy the
beauties of nature and the wonderful
fruits of mans industry, when they
arrive at the frontier of Gatorland
they are not permitted to encroach
upon the personal liberty of Mr..
Gator, to question his complete au-
tonornv. or his sacred right of self
determination.
Judge Mclean is a royal entertain
er. His guests are at all times given
the freedom of the place. He encour-
ages them to eat of the fruits in the
good old grove STYLE" as he calls it,
or any way just to be happy, congo
NAL, and to have a good time. Then,
when the guest has reached the ut
most limit of his capacity as a gour-
mand, his arms and baskets are heap
ed high with fruit to carry home.
Yesterday Mr.. and Mrs. J. F. Cham
berlain, Mr.. and Mrs. J. N. Hays and
Mr.. and Mrs. H. E. Hardin enjoyed a
delightful trip through Judge Nc
Leans grove. Later in the evening
t e party drove down to Clearwater
Beach, where they enjoyed a plunge
in the briny waters. A splendid lunch,
picnic style, previously prepared by
Mrs. Hays and served inside the pa
vilion, completed another splendid af-
fair planned by Judge VIM. c. Nc
Lean.