136 



but the crop is iuferior in quantity and quality and liable to destruction 

 by floods. 



Orange and Banana planting in Florida. — The following state- 

 ments are condensed from a paper on the production of semi-tropical 

 fruits, by J. H. Bostwick, United States inspector of customs. The 

 present number of bearing orange- trees in Florida is estimated at 

 50,000 ; the number of groves averagiug 100 trees each, at 100,000 ; to 

 which are to be added many larger groves in which the number of trees 

 ranges from 200 to 7,000. The estimated increase of orange-groves in 

 the State, in 1874, was 25 per cent. The larger portion of the orange- 

 crop goes to Savannah and Charleston, from whence it is distributed by 

 steamers to northern cities, and by rail to the interior. A smaller por- 

 tion goes to Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, and other large cities. 

 The production of bananas, mainly limited to the southern section of 

 the State, has proved quite successful and is extending. The plant is 

 easily propagated. One cultivator in Marion County has a thrifty plan- 

 tation of 12 acres, and it is estimated that the area covered by plants 

 in the State equals 500 acres, and that the number of growing i)lants 

 exceeds 300,000. 



Oranges on the Apalachioola. — It is reported that orange-cul- 

 ture is very successful, and is rapidly extending, on both sides of the 

 Apalachicola River, in Liberty and Calhoun Counties, Florida, There 

 are now large numbers of thrifty young orange-groves in that locality, 

 many of them not yet in bearing, but coming forward rapidly. It is- 

 claimed that results have already proved both soil and climate to be 

 specially adapted to the production of oranges in Middle Florida. The 

 following are instances of the rate of production reported for the last 

 season: One orchard of 40 trees produced 85,000 ; IG of these trees, oc- 

 cupying jL of an acre, produced 40,000 ; from another orchard of 60 

 trees, over 104,000 were shipped ; some trees in both these orchards 

 yield, annuallv, 6,000. From a third orchard of 40 trees 75,000 were 

 shipped ; a fourth, of 50, yielded 57,000 ; and a fifth, of 20, 30,000, the pro- 

 duct being estimated as only half an average crop. One grower reports 

 that he realized $900 from six trees; and another, that he realized over 

 $100 from one tree. It is claimed that, as the soil is richer here than 

 on the Saint John's, the trees mature earlier, and bear more fruit thau 

 in Eastern or Southern Florida. It is said that $10,000 has been offered 

 for a young orchard of 200 trees not more than four years old. 



Co-operation in the sale of live stock. — The Sangamon County, 

 (Illinois) Stoclc and Produce Sale Association vvas organized August 1, 

 1874, by about forty representative farmers of the county. The object 

 of tu is enterprise is to bring together the producer and consumer of live 

 stock and other farm-products, and to eliminate, as far as possible, the 

 large profits of middlemen, especially in commissions, expenses of 

 shipment, &c. Eegular auction-days are designated, and every facility 

 is secured for the sale of animals at reasonable prices, regulated by the 

 association. The membership in October consisted of 118, with numer- 

 ous additions since. Four monthly sales have been held since the 

 organization, and will be repeated during each month of the year. E. 

 F. lies is the president, and Charles F. Mills secretary. Both these 

 gentlemen reside in Springfield, 111. 



Shipments of buffalo-bones. — Mr. T. F. Oakes, general freight- 

 agent of the Kansas and Pacific Railvvay, reports to this Department 

 that, in 1874, 3,160,000 pounds of bufftilo-bones were shipped over that 



