The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-09-23
Florida and it's Attractions.

Florida and it's Attractions.
We are indebted to friend for Il late
number of the Savannah Ne1cs and Her.
aid, containing an interesting letter from
South East Florida, in which the advan-
tages and resources Of that favored land
are set forth in glowing terms. The let
ter was not intended for publication, and
henco we omit The Introduction, relating
to family affairs While the bright side
of the picture is brought to view, proba-
bly in the most favorable light. the reader
will observe that the disadvantages to
now comers arc likewise presented, to
which is added Il reference to tho num-
berless insects infesting this modern Par
adise. We make the following extracts:
LAKE JEssup, Fla, Aug 10, 1868.
DR.. e. A. JelkS In compliance with q
promise made to write TO you after be-
coming domiciled in Southeast Florida, l
will devote few moments to the dis
charge of that obligation. .
In this immediate vicinity there are
five different characters of soil, all re-
markably similar in one or two respects
First of ALL we havo q rich, black ham
mock soil, composed chiefly of decom-
posed vegetable and calcarous matter and
SILICA. This hammock borders the Lake,
and will produce corn, cotton, rice, tobac-
co, sugar-cane, melons, vegetables of eve
nv description, and tropical or rather
semi-tropical fruits in great perfection,
and is considered the richest soil we have.
Next is grey hammock soil, composed
of u good proportion of organic matter
(but not so much as the black hammock)
and much inorganic, chiefly SILICA. The
substatrum is dceperscoor, yellow sand.
This may be termed " sandy loan, but
from it's productions it evidently contains
fair per ceutage of marl.
The gray hammock lands are more elc-
waited and consequently dryer than the
black hammock and produces everything
nearly, or quite as well as the latter
though it is my opinion it will not prove
to be as durable on account OF the large
proportion of siliccous and small amount
of organic matter rs compared with the
black hammock.
This land is certainly valuable, and
should be highly esteemed while new:
What long cultivation may do for it l
know not, bur am told by knowing pco-
pie" it holds out well.
have some of planted in vegetables,
{ and havc callards thrco fret across that
have never been wori;ed in FACT the soil
WIS barely broken when the plants were
set out.
The principal growth of the hammock
consists Of oak. hickory, mulberry, cher
!: rv, ash, sweet gum. bay, cedar. mnsca,
dine vines, SAW and blue palmetto, and
cabbage palmetto The last named ire
oucntly attaina the height of fifty or six
ty feet, and its bud is It splendid substl-
lute for the garden cabbage Many per
sons are remarkably fond OF it when prop
ery prepared. l lave not seen red, or
white oak, nor dog wood tree in the conn-
try.
Descending the scale Of fertility, comes
next in order well timbcred pine land,
with dark or lead coorcd soil, contain
ing some organic matter intcrmixed with
a small percentage of clay and calX, and
a large amount of sand. 1t is astonishing
how we'll this soil produces, especially If
it has been trodden by cattle for q few
weeks 1t will produce anything planted.
Corn grows as luXurionsly on it, as that
raised on any Of the oak and hickory
lands in Georgia.
The three classes Of soil described will
produce per acre: corn, ten to fifty bush
els rice, thirty to seventy five bushels;
sweet potatoes, one hundred and fifty to
two hundred bushels sugar cane, eight
to twelve barrels sugar; long staple cot
ton, one hundred and fifty to three han-
dred pounds, and everything else in pro-
portion.
Tho fourth and fifth classes OF soil arc
poor, dry, sandy, black jack ridges and
saw palmetto flats. The first suited for
little else than AS places of residence, and
the last as range for cattle and hogs.
Cattle do we'll here, and hogs keep fat the
year through on berries, nuts, acorns and
roots. There is species of flag or water
lilly, which grows on the margin of the
streams and ponds, possessing exceeding
y acrid and pungcnt property, of which
hogs arc remarkably fond, and on which
they keep fat. 1t is known here by the
name OF "Wampee" There is another
growth of our swamps which hogs
like very much Paint Root,) and l
am told it will cause the hools of
all hogs that have white or yellow feet
to come off, but docs not affect those with
black feet.
Since have mentioned potatoes, l will
state that we have q variety peculiar to
this country, which grows to perfection
evon on tho poorest sand hills. 1t is
known rs the l[ayti pronounced IIi-toe)
potatoc They may be planted under
green pine trees on now land. and will
make q good crop. With wallet of Ill