Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-08

Nth an ACCOMPANYING Letter from General La Fay
ett. dated Paris. Feb 2s;h, 1877. to hs ENcenehcy
William p Duvll Governor of Florida, by DAVID
"a W,cona. ESQ Member of the Florida Institute OF
Agriculture, Antiquities and Science
(Concludsd
pxxxvxux IN LocKAcaAY, NEAR TALLAHAssEE,
July 18th, 1927.
The questions to which the following are
,nswers having been submitted to me by ms
Excelency William p. Duval, with request
III, 7 should contribute any information l
,,is-bt- possess, in relation to their oolect
rhssrf,tv avail myself Of the first leisure no
n,e,, 20 carry into effect my ready compliance
with his wishes
AS the 6rss six questions are made parucu-
larly with regard to the State o. Alabama,
shall proceed directly to those which appear
10 DE more ola general nature, and comprising
within their scope this part OF the Territory OIL
Florida.
Ans. 9TH. Iadvise and recommend society
of Swiss Agriculturalists to establish mem
selves in Middle Florida. In speaking OF inc
advantages q this section OF the country 10
foreign ag icultural association, wou!a iu'-
,,sd;s,rly bring to their knowledge the impor-
tant fact that white labo ers can ana 40 endure
tbe alm.s vertical heat of the sun. in then asgs'
ricultural operations, without experiencing the
least ,ncony, nience lherefrom, ! speak from
exnerience end daily habirude in my hortlcul-
tpraI Iabors. There is an elasticity IN the at
nosnhere occasioncd no doubt as well ny our
elevation. a. our Contiguity 10 the l'ult OF
Nj xiro and consequently WITHIN ne influence
of the sea breeze which persons newly arrlV-
ed are extremely sensible of, and o winch iect
NAV be attributed the ease and pleasure, with
which agricultural or other laoors ART borne ~
nh. industrious farmer and nechamc. having
prenised this fact, i assert that Tie ai'ahassee
country possesses a greater number OF reSour
ccs, whether considered In j commercial OF as
ricnl,urai point Of view, than any oil the SCUM
tnysfPrTse 10 deselope them, and ccahrm The
periurity Of this country over every otrtr
part Of toe United states &c North America.
The two grand aud important ST. ples of the
Territory Of Florida, are sea island o. long sta.
pie cotton, and sugar cane; aud if there we're all
absence of all the other staples grown a. he
L. States, these would alone offer inducem
to the planter, to establish himself here for IT,
purpose of culivating them: such is. the fine
quality Of the cotton, together with its superior
price, and the extraordinary growth and SIZE of
the sugar cane, as welfas the quantity Of sa-
charine matter coatained in it. But boubtiful
nature seems to have assembl d in this region
all the important staples and fruits Of The Nor
thern and Middle States, with a most liberal &
Lrofuse hand The staples of indigo, rice
and cotton Of South Carolina, Alabama and
Georgia, are thrown in the shade when compar-
ed with The abundau, crops Of those staples in
Florida. Our common uplands produce IS to
80 bushels Of rice TO the acre. Wheat, Indian
corn (maize,) barley, rye, oats, mie'd are pro-
duced as abundaDtly as in the middle seaboard
States. The soil is much more easily cult, at
ed and all kinds Of obnoxious weeds more ca
,l,, t.,.s in Iah.
q Circumstance of no small Importance TO those
who intend TO cultivate ptopriis nnani6ss
Ans. sth. Were such colony of Swiss, as
described in the question, 10 establish them
selves in this section OF country, they would be-
yond The PROBABILITY Of doubt succeed IN their
enterprise. There is no Part of the continen, |
Of North America where the climate and soil
are so peculiarly adapted To the cultivation Of
the vine, as the Middle District OF Florida.
Nature has been proiuse, indeed, IN her Efforts
in this branch OF her economy. A common OBJ
server can readily distinguish or 10 different !,
species Of the vine in our forests, where they |
grow and flourish most luxurirntly, and bear
abundantly, Tor wild grapes. Our woods are |
literally covered with the various kinds Of vine,
a sure indication that the grape viii succeed, |
when nurtured and dressed by experienced la |
borers and cultivators.-Whole fields Of vine |
can be shown, whose age cannot fall short Of |
one hundred years. IN some few instances the
large French blue grape has been engra!ted up
Ola the root of The Wild grape, IN statu quo, and
they have produced the first yesy Of tneir engraf
tnre; the second, one bushel Of grapes rem one
vine, and the third year, large crop is anu
GATED. There is consequently no part Of tn, .
world where vineyard can be stablshed with !
so much expedition, with so grea, certainty of
success, and with so comparatively small ex-
pence. Butour population know scarcely moth.
ing Of the Manufacture OF wine, when they nave
grown the grape in abundance They have
had little or no opportunity of acquiring prac-
teal informatioA on this important subject;
nor would hey Be- dispoed 10 enter into bust
ness Of this kind, Is j; requires too long time
to bring their labor 70 profitable issue; it being
prevalently understood among US, that il re-
quIres years to establish vineyard. All the
different species of foreign grape that have oeen
planted IN this section OF ,he country, have sue