FCONOMIC ASPECTS OF CITRUS-FRUIT GROWING IN FLORIDA 11 
3. The title to the land should be carefully investigated, especially 
to that land which has never been under cultivation. 
If the land for the grove is being selected with a view of making a 
home on it, it would be well for the prospective grower to know 
something about the neighborhood characteristics. Some districts, 
because of high elevation and good drainage along with other desirable 
features, will develop much more rapidly and progressively than 
others. The standard of living already acquired, makes it almost 
imperative with some people that their surroundings be congenial 
and in part at least susceptible to changes which will provide cus- 
tomary comfort and privileges. 
FACILITIES FOR HANDLING AND SHIPPING FRUIT 
Though good judgment should be exercised with respect to land 
values, such values in the end are relative; that is, cheapness is not 
necessarily always the first matter of importance in choosing between 
sites even though the quality of the soil be exactly the same. One 
piece of land may be higher in value than another of similar quality 
because of a more desirable location with respect to good roads, 
packing houses, by-product plants, icing plants, better shipping, and 
other facilities. Large numbers of growers closely associated can 
often afford services which would be entirely too costly to growers 
in widely scattered places. As a consequence of its proximity to 
facilities, land may be comparatively high; yet, in comparison with 
cheaper sites, its economic advantages may prove such that the 
greater price will be offset. 
KINDS AND VARIETIES OF FRUIT TO GROW 
Economies can be effected and net receipts materially increased if 
proper caution is exercised at planting time with respect to the 
selection of varieties, rootstock, and the number of trees to the acre. 
Altogether a great many varieties of oranges and several varieties 
of grapefruit and tangerines are grown in the Polk County groves. 
This fact has much significance in the development of the industry. 
New types and varieties are continually appearing and many growers 
are encouraged to plant trees of new varieties which have not been 
thoroughly tested. Eventually the growers will learn from experience 
what varieties are in greatest market demand and bring the best 
prices. Many progressive growers already recognize that there is an 
advantage in growing only asmall number of good varieties, properly 
selected as to quality, trueness of type, and time of maturity of the fruit. 
At present there are three outstanding varieties of oranges: The 
Parson Brown, the early variety; the Pineapple, the main winter 
variety; and the Valencia, the latest variety of the three. Many new 
plantings are of the Valencia because the late varieties usually bring a 
better price though there is some small risk in carrying oranges on the 
trees through the winter. It is generally agreed that it is good policy 
to plant some of each of the seasonal varieties, that is, varieties which 
ripen in the fall, winter, and spring. 
There is less difference in the characteristics of grapefruit varieties 
than in the characteristics that distinguish the different varieties of 
oranges. Some of the most common varieties other than the grape- 
fruit known as Florida Common are the Hall (more often known 
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