The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-07-22
destined to become famous. 1t is already

destined to become famous 1t is already
well known.
Marion county is rich in minerals A.
large part of the county is underlaid with
what is known as "Ocala limestone" which
is almost pure lime The limestone is being.
| mined and kilned; ground for agricultural
purposes; pulverized into mineral filler for
! road construction purposes, and Is used ex-
tenslvely as base bacterial for roads. the
federal good roads bureau having approved
of "OcaIa limestone" for base purposes. The
"Ocala limestone" has been tested and found
70 compare most favorably with concrete as
base material, if properly protected by
surfacing and drainage. A firm in Jackson
vile is manufacturing an excellent building
store with "Ocala limestone" The stone is
being hand cut with extraordinarily good re-
suits The same firm is making lime brick
of several grades. There are vast deposits
/ of this limestone in the county. It outcrops
in many places. Here are opportunities,
therefore,
The citrus fruit industry in Marion county
has not been developed as it should be. This
section of the state produces fruit of a very
high quality. The packing houses in this
county ship 500 to 1870 first grade fruit,
a considerable quantity of which is fancy.
One grove Company in this county sold it's
orange crop for 1887 box average, culls
and all. The orange was found growing
wild in this county The citrus industry of
Florida had its beginning here. 1t is quite
true that the freeze of 1895 seriously in
jured the citrus industry in this county, but
it did no more damage here than it did else
where in the state. The freeze was not with
out its good results, for the people in this
county turned to diversifcation. Those who
stuck to citrus fruits have since made good.
The freeze of '95 was freak cold, a COM
bination of weather conditions that never
occurred in the state before, has never oc-
again. The citrus industry in this county
viii never again be caught as unpreparei
as it was in '95. Many things have been
learned since then. Today Marion county
has some OF the very finest groves in Flor
ida, groves that went through the freeze of
1917. and are today as healthy and beautiful
as one would want to see. Two large citrus
developments are now under way in the
county. Many small groves and new nurs-
cries are being established. Old groves are
being enlarged.
Deciduous fruits do well in this county.
They have had practically no attention be-
cause attention has been given to other
crops, and deciduous fruits have been left
to take care of themselves. The best re-
suits have not been attained. Spraying for
blight and diseases has been neglected.
Fruit trees must be cared for in any coui1-
try, of course. The possibilities of these
fruits here are beginning to be realized
more ana more. Better peaches are D61TG
raised, for one thing. There is large peach
development in the southeastern corner of
this county. Peaches are being planted in
other parts of the county on a small scale.
The japanese persimmon is fruit with big
possibilities that is being recognized more
and more.
The muscadine grape grows wild in this
county, to such an extent that the United
States Department of Agriculture sent a
specialist here to make study of the wild
grapes with a view of propagating and de-
veloping the same. The scuppernong grapes
are grown with success on the farms and in
gardens throughout the county, but there
has been no effort made to start the grape
growing industry here on large scale.
Many of the varieties of grapes grown else
where will not do well in Florida. The native
grape and those related to it, however. will
do well here and can be developed. A most
excellent grapejuice is made from the mus
cadine grape, as well as syrups, jellies and
ether products.
The blackberry grows wild throughout
Marion county. If cultivated it has big
possibilities. 1t is being grown successfully
in other states and has been crossed with
other berries with success, and finds ready
market in the form of fresh fruit, jam, jel-
lies and juices for soft drinks.
Most favorable conditions for bee keeping
and honey producing are found in this coun-
ty. The industry has had practically no
development here. There are small apislries
here and there in the county. 1t is possible
to produce ho2ev here The --ear round with
The Wild and other flowers available each
season. The bloom of the citrus trees, of
the palmetto, Of the ga!lberry bushes, give
remarkable Fields of honey.
Dairying is an important part of farming
and the attention given it in this county has
been comparatively negligible. The diaries
that are to be found in the county have
proven what can be done with the industry
II this section. As this is written, move
ment is on foot to establish a central cream
cry with a view to building up this irapor
tant branch of agriculture in Marion county.
The necessary forage crops can be produced
here. Good pastures, permanent and tenn
porary, can be had the year round. No cost
ly barns are needed to protect the stock
during the winter months. Although graz
ing can be had the year round, it is advis-
able to have silos to provide food for two
or three of the winter months. Florida i'm
ports an immense quantity of dairy products
from other states, so there is big field here
for this industry.
At present, the truck crops of the county
are marketed as green stuff They are ship