Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1881 — Some of the Pro of Orahge Culture [ARTICLE]

Some of the Pro of Orahge Culture

A correspondent in Florida, writing to the Hartford, Connecticut Times, says in regard to the orange culture of the year: “Many who were almost in despair in the spring of 1879 are now in ecstacies of joy over the situation, and fully believe that the time is near at hand when they will have a competence if not a fortune from the income from their groves. Among the number is our friend Kit Burnham, who came here from your city four years ago last spring. His means were limited, but he bought some scrubby trees at a large price and sent them, and by good management and economy he has contrived to support his family and keep his trees growing, and added a few to his grove each year. It is a pleasure (though a little humiliating) to aeknpwledge that he has, under less favorable circumstances, produced the best growth of trees and succeeded in getting the first oranges. He is proud of his success, as well he may be, when he looks on the golden fruit. You would be surprised to see how the young groves have come out siuce you were here. The business is now looked upon as a success beyond any peradventure, and a big success at that. There are plenty of groves that will yield a net profit of SI,OOO per acre this season, and some much more. James A. Harris stands at the head of the list of orange-grdwers in the state. Some nine or ten years since he bought a tract of wooded land on which there were a great many wild orange trees. He cut down the large timber and budded the sour trees without removing them, and they were bearing in three years. Last year he sold his crop at $19,000, and last week he bargained the present crop for the snug sum of $40,000. A good return for an investment of a few hundred dollars in ten years. This, of course, is an exceptional case, but there is no doubt as to the orange culture being a profitable business.”

Angus M. Smith, who is known as “Sailor Smith,” tells the Cleveland H+~ald of a very odd adventure in the middle of the Pacific. He shipped in Japan on an English vessel, which was bound for America. The vessel was commanded by Captain McMahon, who, on the trip over, married a widow, a fine looking woman, of mixed Spanish and Honolulu blood. The voyage was pleasant for a week or so, but Captain McMahon soon discovered that the swarthy cook had fallen in love with McMahon. The captain ordered Smith, who was first mate, to put the cook in irons. Smith thought it would be all right to fasten the cook below, and he disposed of him accordingly. Within an hour after the cook had been put in durance, smoke began to come from below. In the words of the narrator: “The cook had fired the vessel. All was excitement instantly, men rushing around half scared to death and the smoke pouring up in a black cloud. We managed to get a hole through the deek at that point and poured water down on the blaze, The cook had made himself scarce, and we started to search him out. Presently the second mate yelled out to me, ‘Smith, there he comes up over the bow!’ And sure enough, the fellows head loomed up at the spot he pointed to. The mate rushed forward, but I cried to him to get a spade, but before he could reach him the cook switched out a large knife and half severed his head from his body. The men wanted to get at him even then, but I threw his body overboard. Well, sir, if you will believe me, we kept the burning vessel right side up for three days and then a boat named Catawba chanced along and took us off. Two hours after we were safe tho old vessel sunk into the sea.”