The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-05-21
FLORIDA TOPS THE ORANGE
MARKET

The announcement made in the
news columns of the Times-UniOn
Friday that the first shipment of the
new variety known as the Temple or
ange, originated by Mr.. Gillett in the
Buckeye Nurseries, sold on the BOs-
ton auction at S27 per box Thursday,
will be received with interest by ev
cry orange grower in Florida, as this
is the recognized high price paid for
any orange produced in this country
in the regular season and on the open
market.
Florida oranges have been leading
in the big markets all winter and
even where the shipments did net
show as clear in skin ard attractive
lin appearance as those from C2lif0--
mia their recognized superiority in
Juice and flavor have become Sc gen
orally recognized by consumers that
they have brought top prices. But
oranges selling for $27 box are q
distinct novelty.
The production 6 oranges IS taking
lon the same complexion as that Of
live stock, where the pUrebreds are
commanding much higher prices than
the grades with which we were con
tent in the main until the past decade
or two Now it is a mark Of distinct
superiority TO say that a herd is all
purebred and when a shipment Of
purebred cattle is always more keen
and they invariably top the market
in price paid for them by the peck
Oranges and grapefruit are getting
into the same class. They are bein
bred up to perfection and the perTe<
types are being improved and develop
ed until they are distinctly superior IL
flavor and quantity of juice and II
all the features that go to make them
so desirable to the critical consumer.
The Temple orange is purebret
although it is admitted that it is a
cross from two of the best varieties
of the orange family. The King or
ange and tangerine have been much
sought because of the fact that they
can be eaten from the hand more
readily, without danger OF spilling the
juice over ones clothes, but they have
not contained as much juice as the
regular oranges. To combine the kid
glove feature of the King orange anT
tangerine with the splendid juice
qualities and quantities OF the best
varieties OF the oranges, has evident
~ been Mr.. GilleIt'S plan IN prOdGc.
ing this new Temple orange, named
after the first president % the Flor
ida Citrus Exchange. who was one
Of tho leaders in orange production
a decade or more ago. That lie has
succeeded has been amply proven by
the testimony of many of the best
orange growers in the state, who have
sampled it and now it proves its sell
ing value by bringing this almost
fabulous price on the Boston open
market
All this means that it is going to be |
profitable for the fruit growers of |
Florida to study production methods |
and kinds of fruit to grow, as well as !
to exercise the greatest care in pick |
ing, packing and shipping In other |
words it is patent to all concerned |
that it is no longer feasible to just |
buy nursery stock of any kind and |
plant it and expect to get the best
prices for the fruit. The greatest |
care should be taken in the selection |
of varieties that have been proven |
profitable and then too much care
cannot be taken in the planting and
the care of the trees while they are |
growing and when the fruit appears |
1t should be sprayed and given the |
closest attention. Florida stands J
practically first in fruit production in !
this country today, with a great va !,
riety Of fruits of excellent qualities !
and we are On the verge of wrestling |
all honors from the world at5large for |
our fruits ii we give the production |
and marketing of them the full con !
slderati0n they seriously Deserve
Times-U Union