OR AN GE CULTURE. 



CHAPTEE 1. 



ITS EISE AXD PEOGKESS IX FLORIDA. 



*T HKOUGHOUT the length and breadth of the Horti- 

 cultural ^vorld, there is at this moment, and -svill be for 

 years to come, no one tree or fruit, possessing so all-absorb- 

 ing an interest as the far famed, luscious orange. And good 

 reason there is for this pre-eminence of the "golden apple," as we 

 shall presently see — its fame is not built upon a sandy foundation, 

 but upon a gold-bearing rock, and as such it shall stand forever - 

 more. 



An orange grove is at all times intrinsically beautiful, Avhether 

 laden down wdth its yellow fruit glistening amidst the dark green 

 foliage, or standing clothed in the glossy glory of the latter alone, 

 or dotted all over with its starry white blossoms, and filling the 

 balmy air with their sweet breath. 



Most truly, "a thing of beauty and a joy forever," is an orange 

 grove to its happy possessor, and in using the word "forever" we 

 do so advisably, for no one who owns a grove at the present day, 

 will live to see its decay, or the failure of one jot or title of its 

 usefulness, rather the contrary. 



We remember reading a rather sarcastic story of some young 

 girls, who to settle a disputed jDoint, applied to a maiden lady of 

 eighty years old, with the question : 



"How old must a woman be before she gives up all hope of 

 getting married ? " 



The old lady (so the story runs) shook her head, and made 

 reply — 



"Girls, you must ask some one older than I am." So with 

 the orange tree. 5 



