SOIL SURVEY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
26 
of the county. In the meantime cotton, corn, and cattle had been the 
principal sources of income on many farms, and at present these are 
produced extensively, though of late years cotton has declined in 
importance. 
Agriculture received its second reverse during the winter of 
1894-95,.when practically all of the orange trees in the county were 
killed by frost. Though not entirely dependent upon oranges as a 
cash crop, it was one of the main sources of support of many farm¬ 
ers, and the destruction of the groves resulted in great financial loss. 
Orange production has never resumed its place of importance in the 
agriculture of the county, but in all sections young trees are growing 
and are apparently in a healthy condition. In most cases the trees 
have grown from the roots of those killed by frost, though in some 
instances new trees have been set out. While a large number of 
farmers have small groves, comprising in places as many as 20 or 
30 trees, to produce oranges for home or local use, the only com¬ 
mercial orchard where oranges are packed for shipment is in the 
southern part of the county near Sampson. 
Strawberries have steadily grown in importance, and at present 
this crop forms the basis of a very large industry in the eastern part 
of the county. While small quantities are shipped from Lake Butler, 
Raiford, and several of the smaller towns, Starke and Lawtev are 
the centers of the berry industry. The census for 1910 gives the 
total value of fruits and nuts, including small fruits, produced in 
Bradford County in 1909 as $152,568. Since the amount of large 
fruits and nuts shipped from the county is practically negligible, this 
total amount represents the value of the berry crop. Within the last 
few years the strawberry industry has developed still further. Ac¬ 
cording to the 1910 census, 1,353,822 quarts of strawberries were 
produced from a total of 699 acres in 1909. 
Corn occupies the largest acreage of all the crops in the county. 
According to the census for 1880, less than 10,000 acres were de¬ 
voted to this crop in 1879, while in 1909 a little less than 21,000 
acres were used for corn production. In growing this crop the land 
is plowed at any time between November and February. The depth 
of plowing varies from 4 to 8 or more inches. Some farmers plow 
to a depth of about 8 inches and follow the plow with a subsoiler, 
which breaks the land several inches deeper without turning any of 
the subsoil to the surface. Deep plowing as early in the fall as pos¬ 
sible results in increased yields, and is effective in conserving a 
