52 FLORIDA: ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, 



almost throng-bout the world, and in no higher degree of perfection than 

 in East Florida, south of the 30th degree of north latitude. 



THE ORANGE. 



The cultivation of the orange (Citrus aurantium) in East Florida, pre- 

 vious to 1835, had attained a degree of considerable commercial impor- 

 tance, and the exports of this fruit from the small city of Saint Augustine 

 are said to have amounted to $100,000 annually. On the Saint John's 

 Eiver, and in some parts of West Florida, and at Tampa Bay, groves 

 were being established as a source of commercial supply. In February, 

 1835, a very severe frost visited the State, and most of the orange groves 

 and other semi-tropical fruits were destroyed, or nearly so, leaving only 

 the stumps and roots to spring up again. Many of these sent up shoots, 

 and began to encourage hopes of returning prosperity to this branch of 

 industry. These hopes were not permitted to be realized, however, for in 

 1842 an insect called the Orange coccus, or scale insect, appeared in the 

 orange groves, and spread with great rapidity over the whole country, 

 almost totally destroying every tree attacked. 



This calamity continued for ten or twelve years, and bade defiance to 

 almost every effort made to stay its blighting force. Many became 

 discouraged in the contest and abandoned further attempts to re-estab- 

 lish this heretofore agreeable and profitable branch of industry. In 

 1853, however, the insect began to decrease in numbers, and finally dis- 

 appeared, since which time most of the groves now in the State must 

 date their birth. These groves are rapidly multiplying in all parts of 

 the State, and the bearing trees are now numbered by tens of thousands, 

 while the young groves, which are being constantly started, comprise 

 millions of trees. The orange from the seed produces fruit in from 

 seven to ten years, depending upon situation, culture, &c. 



Groves made from wild stocks, usually cut off at a height of 3 to 4 

 feet from the ground, and the new shoots budded, generally produce 

 fruit in three years. The number of oranges produced from a single 

 tree varies from 100 to 10,000, according to the age, situation, and treat- 

 ment of the tree. The trees are usually set 20 feet apart, and an acre 

 will contain about 100 trees. Florida oranges were usually sold, previ- 

 ous to 1835, at $7.50 to $10 per thousand. Now a demand exists for 

 twenty times our present supply, at $15 to $20 per thousand, as they 

 hang upon the trees. 



HOW TO MAKE AN ORANGE GROVE. 



The judicious selection of the land is the first and most important 

 point, for on this success in a great measure depends. Choose high, 

 dry hammock or high rolling pine land that has natural drainage and a 

 yellowish subsoil. The low, flat lands which are underlaid with hard- 

 pan or sandstone, mixed with oxide of iron, require ditching or drain- 



