SOIL SURVEY OF THE OCALA AREA, FLORIDA. 
197 
orange stock. This venture proved successful and the growing of 
citrus fruits soon extended, as the fruit met with a ready demand. 
The soil and climate were suited to the growing of citrus fruits and 
the industry rapidly developed, suitable lands being in great demand 
and bringing good prices. In the late eighties the lands were greatly 
exploited for citrus fruit growing and a land boom was started, 
values rising rapidly. Even the high sandy lands, considered of 
little value, were put on the market and brought high prices. Then, 
in 1888, hard phosphate rock was discovered and exaggerated views 
were held as to its extent and value. This, together with the ex¬ 
ploiting of land for citrus fruit growing, caused the wildest specula¬ 
tion to ensue. Towns were laid out in this area and lots brought 
high prices, but as these lots were bought by people remote from the 
section and for speculation, the building of the towns did not follow. 
These abnormal conditions could not last long and the boom neces¬ 
sarily collapsed, the reaction causing a great depression throughout 
the section, which affected agriculture especially. 
Agriculture met with another reverse a few years later, when 
during the freeze of 1894-95 all the orange trees in this section were 
.killed to the ground. With few exceptions, this practically ended 
the growing of fruit in the area. Prior to the freeze every home had 
its orange grove, which yielded a fair income. In fact, dependence 
was placed mostly on the orange grove and the stock on the range 
and little effort was put forth to cultivate the land beyond the grow¬ 
ing of subsistence crops. After the freeze lands were abandoned and 
forfeited to the State for nonpayment of taxes. The value of the 
lands fell to almost nothing. Some of the best hammock lands up to 
1900 could be bought for a mere trifle. This freeze caused tempo¬ 
rarily the greatest setback that agriculture has had in the section. 
There have been other freezes, but none that were so widespread or 
so severe. 
Along in the 'nineties the turpentine industry began and grew 
rapidly. A small income was derived from this source, as previously 
the trees had very little value, lumbering not having reached this 
section. However, the saw mill soon followed and began cutting 
into the pine forests. The prices paid for the privilege of turpen¬ 
tining were small as compared with those paid now. Two or three 
cents a box was formerly a good price, and it has gradually risen, as 
the working area has decreased, to 15 cents or more a box. 
