THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 187 



with princely residences, broad avenues and rich orange 

 groves to the portion of each resident. 



Such is the certain future of this city, for new settlers are 

 coming in each year, hailing from every state in the Union, 

 and each bringing nerve, energy and money to the task. 

 There are several families here from Maine, others from Ne- 

 braska, Illinois, Kentucky, etc. Nearly all arc prospering 

 and writing to their friends to come and join them. As an 

 instance of what may be accomplished here : one man took a 

 homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the midst of a 

 pine forest a few years ago, built a neat cottage house, cleared 

 off acre after acre, and planted each with orange trees. He 

 has recently been offered $6,000 cash for his house and six 

 acres of land adjacent. 



Over six million oranges were shipped from this point last 

 year, and the indications are that nearly eight millions will 

 be shipped the present year. Notwithstanding the success 

 these people have achieved, I would not advise any one 

 to come to Florida and engage in orange culture until he has 

 counted well the cost. Many have tried it and failed some 

 for want of energy and determination, some for want of 

 proper knowledge of the business and others for lack of 

 means to prosecute it to a successful issue. A cash capital 

 of at least two thousand dollars is absolutely necessary to 

 start on if a ten-acre grove is to be made. More than this 

 sum will be needed, but it can be accomplished for this if 

 proper economy be practiced. Then a great deal of hard 

 work will be required. Help can be employed to do this if 

 the settler has sufficient means ; if not he must do it himself. 

 Some people may not like the climate the long summers or 

 the dry, warm winters. When these features are considered 

 I would say to any one wishing to engage in orange growing, 

 >vuo finds himself possessed of the above-mentioned requi- 



