"WHERE SHALL I SETTLE?" 107 



ing that the time is not far distant when '' Fkrida figs" 

 will be quoted in the New York markets and will brmg the 



hio'hest prices. -^- , . 



Peach-<.rowing is another important industry Here this 

 fruit flourishes I it rarely does in South Florida and mar- 

 velous prices are obtained for the early sorts, all the wa} 

 from ten to forty dollars per half-bushel crate. It seem 

 incredible and more like a fairy story, but it has been done 

 more than once-single peaches sometimes selling in the 

 lar^e NoHhern cities at from one to two dollars each, ihe 

 la « kinds, too late for the Northern markets, find a ready 

 home sale at two dollars per bushel, and any surplus can 

 be dried and a handsome profit reaped therefrom. 



Then the northern portion of Florida (m common w.th 

 South Florida) has just been reached by a"boom tha 

 is destined to echo and re-echo over the land as loudly as 

 the " orange boom" of the latter. 



Every body knows what a stir the LeConte pear has been 

 making these last few years in Georgia, where thousands 

 of acr^s are being set out in this tree. We 1, this same 

 noble fruit has proved itself admirably adapted to Florida 

 as a rule, pears sought to be raised here do not behave well 

 their conduct is out of all reason and propriety ; they put 

 out their blossoms at uncanny times, when they should have 

 known enough to stay at home, and then they are nipped 

 in the bud by the chill weather, or drop their fruit before 

 maturity. But this is not the case with the LeConte pear 

 it roots from cuttings, and bears three years thereafter ; it 

 is a vigorous grower, never sheds its fruit, but ripens it 

 two to three mouths earlier than the earliest of other vari- 

 eties ; it ships well and brings splendid prices in the North- 

 ern markets; it is no unusual thing either for a tree to ma- 

 ture a second crop, and half mature a third, during the 

 year; add to this, that it is free from blight and disease, 



