Appendix. 271 



No. 27. 



In the Gardeners* Chronicle of 1st August, 1885, p. 154, 

 under the head of " Florida, the Italy of America," I find 

 that " Florida may be termed a Horticultural State, oranges 

 being at present the staple industry. The demand for the 

 fruit far exceeds the supply, notwithstanding the thousands 

 of acres planted with orange-trees. A twelve-year old tree 

 will bear as many as 1,500 oranges, and it will be difficult to 

 conceive what the demand will be when the foreign trade 

 is developed. The first shipment to London was by W. H. 

 Sands, Esq., who sent several boxes this spring, the returns 

 for which barely covered the cost. Another gentleman 

 shipped some later on, which paid him a better return. A 

 direct line of steamers from Florida to the old country is 

 what is wanted. The cost of an orange grove depends on 

 the quality of the land and its locality, 10 acres being an 

 ordinary sized grove, and 50 trees to an acre. There are two 

 ways of raising the trees from seed, and by budding stocks 

 with whatever variety you want. The latter will bear in four 

 years. 



" The lemon and lime also do well. In Florida vegetables 

 are grown in winter, the summer being too hot for successful 

 cultivation of vegetables in the open unshaded fields. They 

 can however be raised in the orange groves, between the 

 trees, while the latter are coming into bearing. The average 

 pay of labourers is ij dollars (5 shillings and 3 pence) per 

 day, skilled workman being better paid. Carpenters and 

 gardeners especially are wanted. Wages for the latter run 

 about 27 dollars per month, with board ; without board, 37 

 dollars is about the highest price paid. The hours of labour 

 are longer than in the old country. The cost of living is 

 much higher, many articles being double in price." 



