THE VALUE OF ORANGE GROVES. 25 



Eight years ago the investment of six thousand dollars was 

 made, and to-day eighty thousand dollars is a low esti- 

 mate of its value. 



We could go on multiplying instances indefinitely, but 

 these will suffice to show that the culture of the orange, 

 when properly conducted, is a good money-making invest- 

 ment. Even for the man who does not need the income 

 from his grove for the support of his family, there is no 

 better investment for his surplus money, and it would be 

 difficult to find a safer one. 



When an orange tree is in full bearing it is valued at 

 one hundred dollars, all over the State ; and this is no fic- 

 titious value either, for certainly a tree is worth the money 

 which it represents. Now, a tree bearing one thousand 

 oranges, at one cent each, represents an income of ten dol- 

 lars, the principal of which, in Florida at eight per cent, 

 is one hundred and twenty-five dollars. As the trees be- 

 come older the orange-bearing also increases. 



There is no probability of the supply of oranges from 

 Florida ever exceeding the demand, as the orange belt is 

 confined within narrow limits, while the population of the 

 country is rapidly increasing and is capable of almost in- 

 definite expansion. 



But while an orange grove is a splendid investment for 

 a rich man, it has also its bright side for the poor man. 

 Nine tenths of the prosperous orange growers in Florida 

 came here less than a dozen years ago, some with a few 

 hundred dollars in their pockets, but more with only a few 

 hundred cents. One gentleman arrived here with less 

 than a cart-load of household goods and ten dollars of 

 borrowed money. He patiently bore privation, and worked 

 for his neighbors, using his surplus money in improving 

 his homestead little by little ; now he is in the enjoyment 

 of many thousands of dollars. 



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