THE PROFIT OF ORANGE-GROWING. 15 



self-conceit they stood, nor deigned to look down 

 to the humble but prudent laborer for advice, till 

 their castle fell, and they left the State imagining 

 that the *' sand of Florida" had proven an unsta- 

 ble foundation and overthrown them and their cas- 

 tle. Such instances will repeat themselves. Who- 

 ever may succeed, such men will fail. Whatever 

 may be written, and wisely written on the subject, 

 and however published, whether in book or journal, 

 will not be read by them. But while the above 

 facts will lessen the general yield of oranges, it will 

 make the business vastly more profitable to the men 

 who possess the virtues necessary to success. The 

 orange will pay beyond any other fruit at half a 

 cent an orange on the tree. In Europe, where 

 lands are exceedingly high, a grove is considered a 

 most profitable investment, even when the fruit sells 

 at from two dollars to four dollars per thousand. 

 Ten years ago the Florida orange was considered well 

 sold when the grower could get one cent on the 

 tree. Few now sell for less than one and a halt 

 cent, and some average at their groves as high as 

 four cents per orange, and the price still advances. 



In no business can a young man with pluck, in- 

 telligence, and application, so certainly lay the 

 foundation for a competency and fortune as in or- 

 ange-growing in Florida. With the exercise of 

 these he may in ten years be what the country would 

 call a rich man. 



A young man from Middle Florida borrowed 



