Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-08-21
EAST FLORIDA.

EAST FLORIDA.
From Paper prepared By Com
nsittee Of the Agricultural Society
Of So. Augustine.
Among the productions of the ter
ritory, is the black seed OF sea island
cotton. For this culture the light
hammocks and pine lands have been
preferred. The staple is tine. and in
value ir rivals the best Georgia sea
islands. Upwards of 200 pounds
have been produced to the acre, but
with the usual casualties, the average
is l56 pounds. The casualties at
tending this, culture are, the cater
pillar, red sng, and occasional ex-
tremes in gales or droughts. The
caterpillar has but rarely appeared.
and the injury from them has been
partial. The red bug is most tron-
blesome in the peninsula, and is de-
stroyed by hand picking. BY the
practice OF raftooning portion of
the crop, the Florida planter is ena-
bled to effect a considerable saving OF
labor.
Rice, since the time of the British
colonial government, has not been
cultivated, excepting in small fields,
on the margin of swamps and sayan.
mas.
The cultivation of Indigo has also
been suspended, although the Flori-
da indigo has borne higher charac-
ter in the European markets than
that of the British colonies.
Amongst the timber trees OF Flo
rida. may be mentioned the live oak,
cedar, cypress; yellow, PITCH and
IoblolIy pine; hickory, ash, elm; red,
white, Spanish and black oak; mul.
berry, cherry, persimmon. wahoo,
tupeiy, sweet and black gum; mag
nolia, iron wood, palmetto, and juni-
per: the four first of which are in
high estimation, and much used for
naval purposes--and the palmetto is
nreferable for the construction of
wbaryes, it being proof against the
attacks of the worm. It's growth is
an indication of good land, as it al
ways grows upon mari.
The sweet orange tree rises So
feet. and spreads so. ITS highest
produce is 5000 oranges, this guam
tity having been gathered from one
tree on the ST. Johns; its longevity is
traced to II6 years. ln Florida the
obscurity of our annals prevents its
duration being further traced. In
France, there are trees ascertained
to be of five centuries standing.-
This tree begins to bear seven years
from the seed. and every successive
wear its produce is increased until
the period of 9 years, when it may
he said to attain its full maturity
There are no complete orange groves
in the territory, but many are estab.
l;shinr on a large scale. The ap-
nortionment of loo trees to the acre
e considered the best rule to DC fol.
lowed in setting out grove.
The lemon, lime, bergamot, citron,
and shaddock trees. are more sensi-
hls Of cold than the orange, and IN
the northern situations require moro
attention to aspect than in the penln'
sula.
The bitter sweet orange tree IS IN
dieenous, and abounds in many paris
of the territory. The frat is not
surpassed, if equalled, by any OF the
orange tribe. 1t is pleasant, whole
some, and nutritiye, and hangs on
the tree in perfect preservation near
iy year after attaining maturity.
The sour orange tree is also indl-
genous, and abundant in the terrific
~; and being ola hardy nature, is
frequently raised near the sea coast,
as a protection for sweet orange
groves against gales of wind. The
juice has always been an article Of
export, and the peal might also be