Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-07-18
FOR THE ADVERTISER.
EAST FLoRIDA-HER ADVANTAGES, &c.
FLORIDA, June, 1855

Mr.. Editor | purpose giving You few plain
facts with regard to Florida. Unvarnished truths
are all with which shall have to do, leaving the
task of eulogizng the Land Of Flowers" those
more familiar with the pen than your correspondent
| hope that what may write, will not prove unin-
teresting to those of my Carolina friends who con-
template visiting our State.
This is the first summer have had the pleasure
of spending here, and from my experience thus far,
unhesitatngly pronounce it far more cool and
pleasant than it is usually in Carolina at this season.
We have a sea-brecze every day, and frequent
showers of rain, which keeps the atmosphere cool.
Our nights are truly delightful and inygorating as
unlike your sultry Carolina evenings, as light is
unlike darkness And yet, Notwithstanding that
fact, large proportion Of citizens are now pay
in, their accustomed visits to the Palmetto State.
Let not your readers judge from this, that our c-
zens are in search Of either cool air or health.
There are various reasons why We should visit your
State during the summer 1t is the only season when
our planters can conveniently leave their farms,
and YOU return our visits in the winter. Let it also
be remembered that very large proportion of the
ci.izens-of East Florida have but recently removed
from Carolina Is tat all strange that many of them
should have occasion to visit their native State?
Some left behind unfinished business which needs
their personal attention others desire to see their
aged parents, their aectionatc sisters and brothers,
their much respected friend and aequaintances;
while again an occasional sragcr is i" carried back
to old Carolina" by the laudable desire Of leading
to Hymens sacred altar some idle Of his affection,
thus to cnliven and make happy the bachelor home
of his newly adopted State.
Tie lands in this portion of our State are as good
as the best, care not where you may find them
They are rich and durable There are fields in this
ncishborhood (near MicanoPyO which have been in
cultivation for more than twenty consecutive years,
and which now produce as well as the fresh lands.
The land here need not-I had almost said cannot
become exhausted. This is no less true of good
pine than it is OF good hammock land. The latter
consider the best, though many persons prefer
planting the pine land in cotton. The facility with
which clearings can bo made oil the pine lands rem
der them very desirable to small planters, and 10
planters whose places are unimproved The price
too of the pine lands, makes very much in their
favor, as they do not command over half SO much
as the hammocks.
To those who desire to know whether the water
here is good or bad, would say it is very good.
We have but few Springs, but wells arc had with
case, and with very little cost. or course the water
here is not so cool as it is in some Of the upper Dis
riets of your State, but it is free from impurities,
well tasted, and is decidedly better than that in the
lower Districts of Carolina, and the supply is boun-
tful
"Is your country healthy'" So far have found
IT remarkably healthy, and at this time know Of
scarcely case Of sickness Of any kind whatever. |
learn however from those who have been here lon
ger than myself, that at times there are frequent
casos of chilIs and fever though ut no time severe
attacks Of Bilious or Typhoid fever. Attacks of
Bilious fever even in its mdest forms are Of ex-
ceedingly rare occurrence, while that scourge Of
Carolina, the Typhoid fever, is, SO far as can as
certain, wholly unknown to the catalogue Of the
diseases of East Florida. The chs are almost the
only local sickness to which we are subject, and
from my own knowledge assert that they are light,
and yield to treatment much more readiy than they
do further North, and if proper care is taken are
not so liable to return. The fatality here, in my
opinion, does not exceed one third of one per cent
for the number Of cases.
Some of your substantial old planters who have
been accustomed from their first setting out in life
20 raise their own meat and bread, would perhaps
like to know how it would be with them, were they
down here. Perhaps they may have been informed
tha, the weav would destroy their Corn, the redbug
their Cotton, that they could raise no hogs, and even
f they could, they could never make bacon OF them
The corn in my crib is still sound and good, while
the meat in my meat house, ra cd here and baconed
here, will compare fvorably with that cured in the
mountains Of Carolina. The wcavil does sometimes
inure the corn here but they can easily be prevented
BY gathering the crops at the proper season and oy
properly cribbing it. Hogs do well here without
ever tasting grain of corn, and we generally have
cold weather enough during the winter to save the
meat At any rate it costs nothing to raise the hogs
and at that price we might afford to lose some ofthe
meat as is customary with you in Carolina. Our
Cattle arc fne We have excellent beef and it only
costs the time spend in getting it ready for the
table, We have numerous praries well covered
with grass and the cattle are now as fat even corn
could make them. In the winter the dense ham,
.nocks afford then, shelter from the little cold we
may have, while the uxuraut growth Of cane al
furls them i'm ample supply Of food. They feed Oil