The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-02-02
Letter from Florida.

promise before ItdNllg Manchester, 10 eve You
an inkling Of things as | found them here, will
now attempt its fulfllment. | see BY the da g of
my letter, that it Is the last of November, i
and though certain il is 50, vet | cannot
make it seem real. The lively green color of the
grass and trees, the rich and varied bues Of the
garden and wild flowers, and this summer
ike breeze which shakes the dew from tie freshly
blown roses in the garden before me, all spire
to make me believe myself in the heart Of June;
and only the golden fruit Of the orange lemon
and lime, as it hangs half concealed in evergreen
foliage convinces me that Autumn is indeed
here. The climate of this portion of Florida, is
without doubt the most agreeable, healthy and
delightful Of any in the United States For the
past two days the mercury has risen to so al
noon, and | am informed by one Of the '.oIdest
Inhabitants that 90 . is rarely seen here. Thus,
having all the advantages Of Cuban climate,
this coast is sheltered from the north easterly
winds which prevail there and on the eastern
coast and the dread and scourge Of the in
valid The greatest objection that be raised
against this place, a resort for inyalids is the
total absence Of any place of amusement for gen
eral resort,-there being no store, hotel mill or
shop; and no public gatherings save for Sunday
worship, or fora weekly prayer meeting. Those
who are we'll enough to hunt or fish, may find
amusement enough almost at their very doors
The fall winter, and spring constitute the dry
and the summer the rainy season here.
yided into two general divisions; the pine barrens
and the hammocks--in both these divisions occur
extensive ponds and low tracts, which dry
i'll winter and covered with water in summer
BY far the greatest portion of the State is covered
with pine woods with sparse underground of
shrubs. and a dense growth of grass and palmet
toes, intermixed with profusion OF flowers,
many Of which are in full bloom. and com
pare fayorabiy with the varieties cultivated in
gardens. These pine lands furnish an excellent
range for cattle horses. sheep. and hogs, many
persons now engaged in the rearing of stock
and find it very lucrative business. It requires
very little capital to carry it on, for the took gen
orally receives no other care or protec ion, from
its owner than the marking and branding of the
young members of the stock in the spring.
The hammocks the most productive, and
much more important for agricultural purposes.
These lands occur in tracts varying from acre
to thousands Of acres in extent; and We're probably
beds of oysters and other she'll fish when this part
OF the continent at the bottom OF tie Ocean.
This theory is rendered probable BY the fact that
fragments Of shells found mixed with the soil,
which is invariably underlaI with strata Of shells
or shell mari. The fertility Of this soil Is almost
Incredible
A few days since was in hammock pond that
had been drained and cultivated By Or, Branch,
and astonshed at the forest of vegetables that
covered the ground Amongst the tall thick SUI
gar might readily become bewildered
and lost, but for the straight and parallel rows
Guinea corn more than feet high was growing (
luxurianty with no signs yet Of the head. My
attention was arrested by number of small trees
as | suppose growing on the outer edge of the /
field; upon enquiry, l found they were only weeds.
One of these enormous weeds felt curiosity to
measure, and found Its circumference close to the
ground TO be 81 inches. | expressing my |
doubts that such weed could grow in single
year, when the owner cooy remarked that it
was only or 3 months old, AMI had grown up
since they had finished blowing in the corn-I
These weeds sometimes attain 10 the size Of l 5
feet in height and one foot through at the butt
with lower Ibis strong enough TO support the
weight of man! Such is the quality of the ham
mock land here, which in this neigh borheod may
be bought for ten dollars in its wild state
and within six miles of here, may be bought for
government price. The growth of the hammock
is live oak, cedar cabbage tree variety Of small
Ter growth Of hard weed, with sometimes ash, or
orange.
The productions Of this region mostly trop-
zeal. The sugar-cane. Spanish tobacco Is |
land cotton, and rice flourish here and may be
cultivated TO better advantage than in most other
Southern States. The sweet potatoe succeeds
admirably. and may be planted at any season of
the year They have been raised here weighing
Ii lbs. Money might be made b. raising them
for % cents per bushel. yet they selling at 30
and IS cents. Irish potatoes grow well; but see
must be obtained from the North every year.-t
The time for planting them is in the fall. and
spring, giving two crops in year. Corn and
other grain sometimes does we'll but other articles
generally imported; and account of the
uncertainty Of crop, and the cheapness with
which they be purchased IN New Orleans.
this is perhaps the best economy.
Nearly all kinds Of garden vegetables do well, |
and by having = wet garden in summer, and a
dry one in winter they may be had growing the
.,-l, ttS
lime, orange, banana and guava among the
most important: the pine apple. also may be cul
uvated. Apples, pears, plltlns and cherries do
not thrive
Wild grapes abundant, IN the hammoeks; /
and the sea- and on the Islands near the coast
the Cayenne pepper grows wild. Many plants
which cultivated exotcs, and house plants
at the North here grow in the open air. some OF
them wild in the fields. The eleander becomes
a tree Of 80 feet or more in height. and he peri
wincle is in some places Troublesome weed.
These general observations apply equally well
10 considerable portion Of the State. ! viii add
ing he lad lived. | may say, like gen le-nan.
country gentleman. riding always in good style,
dressing and educating his family vel enter
tanning his family iberay. besides having fam
ily Of grandchildren on his hands to support al
though knew he was 4 good farmer. and an in
dustrious man, and the hands of his helpmeet
We're swift 10 the distaf. still thought that with
his farm Of but two hundred acres lie must have
got behind. and put HIM question to learn ii he
meant to give 1t subject 10 any incumbrances
Membranes" said he;.-oh, no. sir; the