ITS KISE AND PROGRESS IN FLORIDA. 



11 



infancy to bearing and paying maturity, and it is because tiie 

 idea that it is all play, all " fun " to " make a grove, " has been so 

 prevalent, that there have been so many disappointments, so 

 many discontents returning to the North, with the report that 

 " orange groves are humbugs. " 



The more thoroughly the in-coming settler realizes that or- 

 ange or other fruit growing is a regular business, requiring, like 

 other business pursuits, the investment of more or less capital, 

 and a good deal of care, time, judgment and perseverance, the 

 more thoroughly he realizes this, we say — the better prepared he 

 will be to meet and conquer the various vicissitudes and draw- 

 backs that are sure to occur during the long years of work and 

 waiting that must be encountered before he can sit down, at last 

 for the rest of his life, in the enjoyment of a good and steadily 

 increasing income. 



Far be it from our wish to discourage the would-be orange 

 grower, rather would we urge him who seeks health and compe- 

 tence ; aye, more wealth, to come to Florida, and make unto him- 

 self a " Fortunata's purse " of the golden orange, but we would 

 have him come realizing that here as elsewhere, the great law of 

 nature which decrees that nothing that is worth the having, can 

 be obtained without toil and patience, is in full operation. 



So many have come to Florida, full of enthusiasm, full of 

 the idea that it was only necessary to stick the trees in the ground, 

 anywhere and anyhow, and then sit Avith their hands in their 

 pockets, as it were, for a year or two, in order to reap a full 

 grown fortune, that we feel it our bounden duty to give full 

 warning that though an orange grove is a glorious thing to own^ 

 and will give its possessor competence and w^ealth, yet, still it is 

 not to be obtained without time, labor and patience, or their 

 equivalent in money. 



The latter, when the settler is fortunate enough to be able to 

 purchase a grove ready made. 



And right here is another point to wdiich we would call at- 

 tention. 



We often hear complaints of the " high prices " asked for 

 bearing groves, now, these so-called high prices are as a rule, very 



