46 



seed. Some varieties, or the seed from certain trees, will 

 reach the bearing age years before the seed from other 

 trees. This fact is not confined to the orange tree, but is a 

 well known physiological occurrence in both the vegetable 

 and animal kingdoms. We often see in an orange grove 

 ten years of age, a few trees which have more or less 

 fruit on ; while the rest of the trees, seemingly just as large 

 and healthy, have none at all. We are often told that 

 after a tree has borne its first fruit, it will continue to dou- 

 ble its yield every year for a long time. This statement is 

 not true, as every one knows who has much knowledge of 

 the laws which govern the vegetable kingdom. Trees are 

 very likely to preserve the old routine of bearing and off 

 bearing years, in spite of all the theories and remedies 

 which can be brought to bear. 



Some groves, if properly cared for, will come into 

 profitable bearing at ten and twelve years ; while others, 

 similarly situated, will not bear in less than from twelve to 

 fifteen years. 



Land suitable for orange culture may be had at from 

 one dollar and a quarter to one hundred dollars per acre, 

 according to location and other contingencies. Cleared 

 land from five to one hundred dollars. Labor for seventy - 

 five cents to one dollar per day. Five year old trees, 

 twenty-five to fifty dollars per hundred. Good, budded 

 to the best varieties, thrifty trees, for fifty dollars per 

 hundred. 



A grove of five acres, five hundred trees, if properly 

 cared for, fertilized, fenced and pruned, will cost at the 

 least calculation one thousand dollars, and it may cost 

 much more at the end of five years. Orange groves do 

 not grow by magic, neither are they purchased for a song- 



