Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 375 



the probable profits of such a grove. Mr. Day tells us : " It is safe 

 to assume as a fair average of a grove fifteen years old 2,000 oranges 

 per tree, and that these are worth upon the tree, the buyer to pick 

 then), two cents each." But if we turn to The Florida Gazetteer, 

 published by J. M. Hawks, M. D., 1871, we find the principal and 

 important groves of the Halifax and Indian Rivers mentioned thus: 

 " Lutton's grove, 600 to 800 trees in bearing ; average crop, 100,000 

 or more. Dummit's grove, 1,300 trees bearing. He has had a crop 

 of a quarter of a million." In the most favorable case, the yield is 

 less than one-tenth of Mr. D.'s safely assumed average. Respecting 

 the price, these Indian River oranges have been offered to purchasers 

 each of the past four or five years at one cent at the grove, which 

 cuts Mr. D.'s estimate down to $200 per acre. Even at this moderate 

 sum, it is not a safe estimate, for it is well known that the scale 

 insect, notwithstanding all attempts to stop its ravages, has completely 

 destroyed the crop for the next two years of this celebrated Dummit 

 grove, just as thousands of trees were destroyed all over the State 

 some twenty or more years ago, in spite of all the labor and remedies 

 that were applied. To show the reliability of the newspaper reports 

 published in our midst, take this case, as it had a pretty large circulation : 

 " The crop of the grove on Little Lake George sold for over $1,400 

 net." The truth was, the crop the year spoken of sold for a little 

 over $400 gross, not quite enough to pay expense of caring for the 

 grove. It is proper to say, however, in concluding the subject, that 

 orange groves, well located with regard to climate, soil and access to 

 markets, offer a fair reward to well-directed, intelligent labor. The 

 Hart grove, at this place, seen by Mr. Day and pronounced in excel- 

 lent condition, is over forty years of age. I am told it has never 

 produced a crop of over 800 per tree. This year it is thought to 

 have less than 300. The crop was thinned out by the cyclone of 

 August 18. 



Prof. Henry E. Colton — I have just returned from Florida, and 

 having looked with some closeness into the orange business, can say 

 something about these statements. I am inclined to think the gen- 

 tleman errs as far on one side as many have on the other. The truth 

 is simply this ; a crop of oranges is no more certain than a crop of 

 apples in the North. The cyclone last summer blew off much fruit, 

 and hence there is not a full crop anywhere. This may occur again. 

 In 1869-70, Mr. Hart realized $13,000 from his crop of oranges. If 

 he sold them at two cents that would be 1,300 to the tree ; but he 

 gives away a great many, probably sells many more at less than 



