The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-04-02
MARION COUNTY STILL THE
HOME OF THE ORANGE

Hon. Ed. l.. Wawtmann, OF Cltra,
who for more than forty years, has
been growing oranges in this county,
made an address before the rotary
club in this city last Friday at its
regular weekly luncheon in which he
fully contradicted the statement that
Marion county is no longer the citrus
belt Of Florida.
The Ocala correspondent of the
Times-Union made the following re,
port of Mr.. Wartmann's fine address:
The facts presented by Mr.. Wart
mann, and by Rotarian H. L. Borland.
who also is identified with the citrus
industry of the county, proved very
conclusively that this section is very
much part of the citrus belt of the
state AS Mr. Wartmann pointed out
there are more acres of wild orange
groves here than any other county
in Florida Citra, he stated, is the
original home of the famous pineapple
orange, which tops the markets each
season.
Lake Weir, as Mr. Wartmenn point
ed out, produces more genuine Par
son Brown oranges than any section
in Florida. The fine quality of Marion
county fruit, Mr.. Wartmann stated, is
due to the rich hammock soils of this
county Marion county not only has
some of the Oldest groves in the state,
but as stated by Mr.. Wartmann and
Mr.. Borland, many acres of new grow
es are being set out.
Mr.. Borland, who is the representa-
tive here for the American Fruit
Growers. Qnc)' a $50,000,0O0 concern
called attention to new citrus projects
in the county Within the past twelve
months the American Fruit Growers
Qnc), has purchased something like
800 acres in groves on Lake Weir. Al
ready this company has set out new
trees and it is known that they con-
template additional purchases of grove
property and citrus lands in this coun-
ty. One reason why the impression is
gained that Marion is not the citrus
county is that the groves, for the most
part. are away from the main rail-
roads and main highways. Most OF
The groves are on the lakes and in the
hammocks.
Easter Monday night, April D, the
Ocala Rotary club will have ladies
night and barge ride on Lake Weir.
AS all of the orange groves are now
in bloom, and there will be moonlight
on the ride a wonderful time is antici-
pated by the Rotarians. A good part
of today's luncheon was given to an
expression of the enthusiasm which
has filled those members. of the club
WHO went to the district conference
in Tampa last week.
Mr. Wartmani and Mr. Borland are
correct in all that they say.
Nearly all the aboriginal orange
groves were found in this county
wealth Of orange trees lined the mar
gin of our lakes and rivers and many
scattering trees were found in our
hammock lands. The orange tree
was as indigenous here as any other
tree so it was natural that the indus
try should have begun in this county
Before the industry was launched
here there was never such a thing as
grapefruit served in any of our
hotels or dining cars.
Marion county claims the credit of
having introduced this fruit to our
.connoisseurs which now holds first
place on nearly all bills OF fare, and
our county was first to grow oranges
fer export on anything like a. large
scale.
The industry has by no means died
out and our annual shipments con
tinue to grow larger thanks to Mr..
Wartmann, Mr.. Borland and men like
them who are possessed OF. faith.
KEEP THE GARDEN CULTIVATED
We have experienced very rainy
winter with high percentage of
cloudy weather. The effect of this
combination on the soil has been the
retarding of vegetation to consider
able extent, especially with the more
delicate crops. To counterfeit this
G. K. McQuarrie, Extension Division
of the College of Agriculture, says
considerable hoeing and raking should
be done in the garden. Where the
soil seems to be unduly packed, it will
perhaps be necessary to do consider