With the exception of 100 oranges sold in the store, those two boxes were all I got from my grove, out of about 3000 which the trees bore. My neighbors in Tangerine have a feeling that whatever grows on my place - lemons, oranges, guavas, or melons - they have a common interest in, and in accordance therewith enjoyed all these things while they lasted. I had hard work to save the two boxes. I instructed my Philadelphia doctor, C. C. Bolles, living on the adjoining ten acres, to keep two boxes hanging on the trees until they got to their highest point of excellence. He labored diligently to that end, and when the two boxes were picked there were none left. They were my first offering from a grove of my own planting and raising. The high appreciation of this " offering," coming from those with whom the happiest period of my younger days was passed, more than compensates for all the toil and expenditure of raising the grove, had it been ten times as great. I designed, by letting them hang as long as possible, to have them true to the name of "Florida oranges." A large portion of our fruit is shipped before maturity, and I am glad I was not disappointed in the result. This was before the freeze.

This fall I hope to send you more of the same sort, from the same trees that stood a test of cold never before experienced in this section - 18° above zero.

But before many days, I will send a box of blossoms, from the same trees, that will put to blush the liars of the North that are persisting in doing all they can against the State, by proclaiming that "Florida has been frozen out, and that all the orange trees are killed!"

The damage to the orange tree is comparatively small, and in many sections the trees are still hanging full of delicious oranges that were untouched by the cold, and the groves as bright and beautiful as ever. It is not to be wondered at that the impression should have gone abroad that the State was irredeemably ruined; for many of our people felt that way on the morning of the third day of bitter cold. But that they should persist in it, after abundant evidence to the contrary, is strange indeed. The prices of land and groves have not been depreciated, but on the contrary, in many sections, have been enhanced, from the fact that the trees will bear so much cold.

The planting of new groves is going on all around, from young trees that stood in the nurseries unprotected from the cold. The loss of the oranges will be sadly felt. One of my neighbors lost 1,500 boxes - had not picked an orange for shipment. The whole lot was contracted for at a good price, packed and delivered at the station; shipping to commence a few days after the date of the freeze. I have about 4,000 young trees in the nursery, that are generally growing nicely. A few small and weakly trees were killed. I have sold one acre of land since the freeze at $60. Pretty good price for a "dead country." I was appointed by the county court, to appraise an estate, a few days ago, and twenty acres of land was appraised at 52,000. What do you think of that for a dead country?

Business has been very dull here for some time past, but as much in sympathy with the business of the North as from cold. In McDonald we have one good-sized house going up, and four others planned, three of which are to be worth from $1,500 to $2,500. A new station has been located a short distance from us, a depot going up, and about fifty or sixty acres being set out in orange trees.

Next fall will probably bring us the largest influx of visitors we have ever had. The travel this way is now increasing, and things are shaping for rather better times, though the change will be gradual - probably may be worse before it gets better. But a booming crop of oranges this fall, as is shown by the condition of the trees, will set things in good shape, and more money will be invested here next winter than ever before. The increase of patronage at the Jacksonville hotels, has been at the rate of from 6,000 to 8,000 the past five years.

There are now several millions invested in hotels in Florida, and some of the houses have all the conveniences of Northern ones. McDonald, Orange Co., Florida, March 9th, 1886.