The southern press., 1851-10-04


Much valuable timber for ship building and
eabiaat work IL growing To South Florida. sneh
az live oak, dogwood. mangrove, lockwood, mas
tic satin wood, crabwood, and lignumyiie.
Indigo of spontaneous growth is found
throughout large portion of the State, and
is manufactured and used in families, but no eft.
fort has been made to introduce II as an article
of commerce.
The various tropical fruits are all adapted to
| this portion Of Florida, many OF which can be
made profitable for export, such as the lime,
guava, eitron, lemon, and cocoanut
| The lime is now an abundant crop, and ship.
ments have been made, which Melted $40 per
barrel
The pine ap, lie is successfully cultivated at In
dia river and other places, but requiring pecu.
liar soil, IL is confined to certain localities Previ
Gus to the Indian war, the sweet orange was
| found in abundance in many OF the southern
counties in vigorous growth and bearing boun-
tifuliy, but were mostly destroyed during that
period. And the great uncertainty as to the
safety of life or property, has since prevented
much attention to that or any other branch OF
cultivation. There are now, however, several
young and thrifty orange groves at Indian river,
Tampa Mouatu, and other places.
The banana and pantain are being cultivated
successfully at various points. They have sue
ceedee best, however in deep, rich, vegetable
soil, not too dry, and in such soils in any county
south of % degrees, they will undoubtedly be-
come profitable article of cultivation.
Officers of the army employed during the In.
dian war in the Everg AIDES, report having visited
large island known as Sam Jones, on which
was large and beautiful growth Of banana
and cocoanuts, the correctness OF whose state
| ment there is no room for doubt.
! Cocoanuts are found to flourish in nearly
every variety of the SOIL and few years will
make them an important source of revenue. The
graceful appearance of the beautiful fan.like
leaves of the tree adds much to the scenery,
while with proper attention may prove an end
less source of profit.
| It is only necessary that citizens should enter
and clear it, and plant any variety OF the fruit
trees mentioned, keeping them clear OF all other
growth for space of about six years and they
may then enjoy harvest as rich as California
gold mine. And in regard toliving through the
six wears without a capital; there is not spot
/ in these Southern counties, where the spontane-
ors products of the soil and sea do not afford q
very comfortable livelihood without what may
be called labor in obtaining them.
i In regard to the culture of sugar in South
Florida, it is well known that the seasons are
j from 4 to weeks longer than in the best sugar
lands of Louisiana and Mississippi, which had
been considered the best in the Union, but ow.
ing to the liabilities of frosts it has been con.
coded that they lose at least one crop out OF eve.
nv four For in what they consider favorable
season. they are compelled to commence grind
ing their cane early in October and before the
cane natures. In the counties of Levy, Her
nando, Orange and Hillsboro, to say nothing o.
i the counties further south where the season il
still later they do not commence grinding till the
last part Of November, and at the last season
the planters on the Manitee did not finish unit
the middle Of February, giving them three
months to gather their sugar crops in.
A planter on the Manitee made last year 80,
600 pounds of sugar from l0s acres The can,
+ natures and tassels there every season, which
is proof that no other Southern State possesse
the same advantages for the cultivation of sugar
II is computed that in the counties of Levy
fernando, Orange and Hillsboro, there are TO
600 acres of the best sugar lands in the Unio
entirely uncultvated.
From observations made by DR.. Perrine, a
Indian Key, during series of years. in latItud
25 degrees north, the average range OF tn
thermometer was found to be rs degrees, an
never descending TO freezing point; and tn
I entire region embracing all south of % degree
{ latitude may be claimed as entirely exemI
8 from frost.
> "..i. iIIuunoss VI cIIuiaIc, sucn q Psi.u
tive and varied soil, covered with spontaneou
e growth Of products of greater value than man
: that are now being cultivated in other States
! With her streams and bays abounding wit
every variety of fish and turtle her forest alive
n with deer, turkey, bear and all varieties Of gam
0 common TO the South. With these and other
advantages, what can prevent South Florid
t from becoming perfect Eden for a residene
e and Golconda for wealth!
For many of the statistical facts embodied j
!. this communication, am indebted to the yer
4 able report made to the legislature at its las
{ session, and for the perusal of which / al
{ under obligations 10 the Hon. Chris. Downing
e Secretary Of State. GROWLER.