The ownership of a ten acre grove has been and is still looked forward 

 to as ample to provide all the comforts of a well-to-do family. Bach tree is 

 highly prized, for on arriving at maturity it is valued at from $16 to $25 

 "In an Orange Grove 8 to 10 years old $1,000 per acre has often been 

 realized," 



Ordinary manure is deprecated " the benefits of barn manure in an 

 average grove are in serious question. The fruits produced by nitrogen 

 from this source are, as above stated usually large, coarse, thick skinned, 

 with abundant rag and of inferior flavour." 



My attention was repeatedly called to the notorious manner in which 

 oranges are packed in Jamaica. Frequently trained packers have been 

 selected in Orlando, sent a few days journey to New York or Baltimore at 

 great expense and besides paid $2 a day [to rehandle orange shipments from 

 Jamaica, that is to size, pick and repack in boxes for distribution. 



Orange growers and dealers freely express their surprise ai this incredi- 

 ble example of Jamaican incompetency. For be it remembered that the 

 splendid quality of the fruit itself is depreciated. " Fruit which is well 

 known by a brand will often sell readily and quickly for 50 per cent more 

 than other fruit equally as good, but not known to be so by the buyer." 



Orange and Grape Fruit groves are being largely planted in the vicini- 

 ty of Miami. Plants three years old budded on small lemon stock 

 yield 100 fruit. The size and luxuriance of the foliage is remarkable. 

 Several of the most successful growers informed me that they did not 

 know 10 years ago the difEerence between an oak and an orange tree. 

 With determined energy and enthusiasm they have become noted cultiva- 

 tors. 



Before the 1895 freeze five million crates of oranges were shipped from 

 Florida valued at about fifteen millions dollars. After the freeze the 

 number of crates fell to 100,000. Last year it increased to 750,000 and 

 next season double the latter number are expected, California produces 

 six million crates. 



In a conservatory at Washington the most famous of all orange trees 

 was pointed out to me, the original plant of the navel variety from which 

 by propagation about half of the orange crop of California has originated. 

 Californians commonly salute this wonderful tree. 



Since my return from Florida I have visited the parish of Manchester 

 the chief centre of orange production in Jamaica, more than halE of all 

 that are shipped coming from here. One firm alone collects and ships 

 about 100,000 barrels a year. 



Great benefit has accrued to Jamaica by the naturalization of plants in- 

 troduced hundreds of years ago. Thus Logwood and Oranges have spon- 

 taneously overrun hundreds of miles of the Island and the former has long 

 been established as one of the staple products. The spontaneous diffusion of 

 a species of plant affords abundant proof of the eligibility of the environ- 

 ments in which it grjws. Innumerable orange trees are thus widely dis- 

 seminated in Manchester. Intermingled with other forest trees they have 

 been subjected to severe conditions of existence. Thus they present a 

 dwarf stunted aspect. Practically the only attempt at cultivation has been 

 to destroy the native trees by which they are surrounded with the result 

 that small crops are obtainable. From these semi- wild trees thus reclaimed 

 from the forest the average yield is less than half-a-barrel each, A little 

 attention is sometimes, bestowed upon groups of trees. For instance trees 

 occur on the settlers' coffee fields which have to be regularly weeded. Here 

 they occasionally yield several barrels each and they present a distinctly 

 improved appearance. One of the settlers pointed out a considerable group 



