The Historical Society of Avon ParkAVON PARK, FL · EST. 1886
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Pioneer Pineries and Agricultural Experimenters of Avon Park, 1890–1910

Following the initial plantings by William King in August 1887 and the catastrophic citrus freezes of the 1890s, Avon Park developed an intensive agricultural economy rooted in specialized pineries, truck farming, and horticultural experimentation[fa-1893-01-11][fa-1897-12-01]. Local growers utilized the well-drained sandy ridges and thermal buffering of the area’s freshwater lakes to cultivate tender subtropical crops.

Named Pineries and Commercial Growers

By the late 1890s, Avon Park’s pineapple growers operated both open-field plantings and timber-slat shaded pineries, christened with distinct local names:

  1. The Indiana Pinery: Established in late 1897 on the shores of Lake Carter by a Miss Law of Indiana, representing outside capital invested in commercial pineapple sheds[fa-1897-12-01].
  2. The Bamboo Pinery: An early named pinery situated along the ridge lake margins, utilizing bamboo shelterbelts or decorative plantings[fa-1897-12-01].
  3. The Holley Hill Pinery: Established on elevated ridge slopes north of the town center[fa-1897-12-01].
  4. The Oak Hill Pinery: A prominent commercial pinery operating alongside indigenous oak scrub ridges[fa-1897-12-01].
  5. G. I. Russell’s Pineries: George I. Russell operated two high-production pineries near town. In the autumn of 1896, Russell expanded his timber-shed operations, shipping cartloads of selected slips and suckers statewide to supply new growers[fa-1896-10-28].
  6. John T. Hendricks’ Model Acre: Located on Pleasant Street in the town plat, Hendricks cultivated 2,875 pineapple plants alongside bearing guava bushes, fig trees, and citrus on a single intensively managed acre, demonstrating the commercial viability of small town plots[fa-1896-09-30][fa-1897-09-08].
  7. The Condon Place (A. E. Bennett): Managed by grower A. E. Bennett, this grove and pinery produced mammoth pineapples weighing up to 12 pounds using specialized organic and chemical fertilizers[fa-1897-09-08].

The dominant commercial varieties tested and shipped from Avon Park included Red Spanish (the primary heavy-shipping field variety), Sugar Loaf (favored for local consumption), Smooth Cayenne, Abaka, Black Jamaica, Porto Rico, Egyptian Queen, and Enville City[fa-1893-01-11][fa-1897-09-08].

Pioneer Agricultural Experimenters and Specialized Crops

Alongside pineapple culture, pioneer settlers actively diversified into non-citrus horticulture and livestock to achieve year-round self-sufficiency and commercial export:

Peter Prindle: Tobacco, Melons, and Roselle

Resident grower Peter Prindle emerged as one of Avon Park’s most prolific agricultural essayists, publishing technical articles in regional periodicals such as the Southern Farmer and the Fruit Journal[fa-1897-08-25][fa-1899-02-15][fa-1899-07-26]:

  • Commercial Tobacco Culture: In August 1897, Prindle advocated commercial tobacco cultivation across DeSoto County, analyzing market statistics to demonstrate that Florida shade and field tobacco yielded higher net profit per acre than traditional crops[fa-1897-08-25].
  • Jamaica Sorrel (Roselle): In February 1899, Prindle published an extensive treatise on Hibiscus sabdariffa (Jamaica sorrel), praising its ornamental growth and culinary utility for jellies, sauces, and tarts as a southern substitute for northern cranberries[fa-1899-02-15].
  • Year-Round Watermelon Production: In July 1899, Prindle described the microclimatic advantages of the Avon Park sandhills for continuous melon harvests spanning from May 1 through Christmas, detailing curing methods and syrup processing[fa-1899-07-26].

C. J. Williams: Sandhill Truck Farming on Lake Pioneer

In May 1895, grower C. J. Williams demonstrated truck vegetable production without muck soil by raising giant heads of lettuce near Lake Pioneer on high pine sand. Two heads grown by Williams filled a half-bushel basket, disproving the prevailing belief that South Florida commercial vegetables required low-lying muck bottoms[fa-1895-05-15].

W. B. Gardner: Mechanized Grove Tillage

In 1893, W. B. Gardner operated an agricultural implement dealership in Avon Park while managing extensive grove contracts. Gardner worked over 100 acres of citrus and vineyard land annually, serving as the regional agent and tester for the Suwannee Clipper Plow, which became the standard implement for ridge cultivation[fa-1893-10-04].

John A. Aitken and G. Bunbury: Poultry and Soil Improvement

  • John A. Aitken: Established a purebred poultry breeding farm in Avon Park in 1895, specializing in Black Langshans and White Wyandottes to supply meat and egg stock to homesteaders[fa-1895-10-30].
  • G. Bunbury: Advertised in the paper’s cheap column from May to June 1895 for “five or six pounds cleaned Beggar Weed seed” and “a pair fancy rabbits or Belgian hares” — a want advertisement, which shows beggarweed (Desmodium tortuosum) in use as a cover crop on the ridge and the English settler George H. Bunbury of Lake Pythias stocking his place, not a promotion of either (see The Bunbury House)[fa-1895-05-15].

References

  • fa-1893-01-11 — William King, in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 11 January 1893, page 6: Pineapple Culture in DeSoto County. 11 January 1893. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1893-10-04 — W. B. Gardner, in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 4 October 1893, page 9: Suwannee Clipper Plow endorsement. 4 October 1893. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1895-05-15 — Avon Park Idea, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 15 May 1895, page 15: Sand hill lettuce grown by C. J. Williams near Lake Pioneer. 15 May 1895. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1895-10-30 — John A. Aitken, in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 30 October 1895, page 9: Thoroughbred poultry breeding. 30 October 1895. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1896-09-30 — Avon Park Idea, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 30 September 1896, page 6: An Acre of Land in Avon Park. 30 September 1896. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1896-10-28 — Avon Park Idea, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 28 October 1896, page 15: G. I. Russell’s pineries and plant shipments. 28 October 1896. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1897-08-25 — Peter Prindle, in Southern Farmer, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 25 August 1897, page 6: Peter Prindle on Florida tobacco profit. 25 August 1897. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1897-09-08 — A. L. R., in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 8 September 1897, page 1: Among the Pineapple Growers. 8 September 1897. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1897-12-01 — Avon Park correspondent, Bartow Courier-Informant, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 1 December 1897, page 13: Avon Park named pineries. 1 December 1897. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1899-02-15 — Peter Prindle, in Fruit Journal, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 15 February 1899, page 8: Peter Prindle on Jamaica sorrel. 15 February 1899. florida-agriculturist.md
  • fa-1899-07-26 — Peter Prindle, in Southern Farmer, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist. The Florida Agriculturist, 26 July 1899, page 8: Peter Prindle on Florida melons and their uses. 26 July 1899. florida-agriculturist.md

Where this comes from

Evidence
corroborated — More than one independent source agrees.
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unverified — Drafted from sources but not yet checked by a volunteer.
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society

Sources

  1. William King, in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 11 January 1893, page 6: Pineapple Culture in DeSoto County (1893)
  2. W. B. Gardner, in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 4 October 1893, page 9: Suwannee Clipper Plow endorsement (1893)
  3. Avon Park Idea, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 15 May 1895, page 15: Sand hill lettuce grown by C. J. Williams near Lake Pioneer (1895)
  4. John A. Aitken, in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 30 October 1895, page 9: Thoroughbred poultry breeding (1895)
  5. Avon Park Idea, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 30 September 1896, page 6: An Acre of Land in Avon Park (1896)
  6. Avon Park Idea, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 28 October 1896, page 15: G. I. Russell's pineries and plant shipments (1896)
  7. Peter Prindle, in Southern Farmer, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 25 August 1897, page 6: Peter Prindle on Florida tobacco profit (1897)
  8. A. L. R., in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 8 September 1897, page 1: Among the Pineapple Growers (1897)
  9. Avon Park correspondent, Bartow Courier-Informant, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 1 December 1897, page 13: Avon Park named pineries (1897)
  10. Peter Prindle, in Fruit Journal, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 15 February 1899, page 8: Peter Prindle on Jamaica sorrel (1899)
  11. Peter Prindle, in Southern Farmer, reprinted in The Florida Agriculturist, The Florida Agriculturist, 26 July 1899, page 8: Peter Prindle on Florida melons and their uses (1899)

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