The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-01
AnsbaMarp.
Florida. Clear Water Karbor.

Having made visit to this State last spring. ]
have received many inquiries concerning it as a
home for such persons as have made up their minds
to emigrate from Virginia. 1t is not in my poweI
to answer these privately at such length as to BE
satisfactory therefore concluded to do it through
that part Of the Central Presbyterian devoted to
"Husbandry.'
My brother, the Rev Joseph Brown, who has
lived in Florida for many years, and for the last
eighteen months at Clear Water Harbor prepared
an article for the Farmer d Planter, (Richmond,)
which was published in that journal last May. 1t
contains so full statement of what enquirers would
generally wish to know, that it is thought best to
reprint it. with few slight changes which observa-
tons since made, may render proper When the
whole shall have been concluded, propose to make
few additional statements. At present this re-
mark is made witfr>A confidence inspired bya very
careful personal examination of all the facts bear
ing upon the case, vz that to those who have small
means, and who wish to emigrate, the prospect for
health and increase of substance at the place here
mentioned is extraordinary. Brown.
AS mnch attention is at this time directed
to South Florida as furnishing the soil and
climate suited to the production of tropical
fruit, have thought that communication
through the Planter and Farmer would be
acceptable to many of its readers. 1t is
generally known that on the st. John river
and at several points along the Atlantic
coast of this State, oranges have been cult
waited for many years. Until recently no
attempt has been made to cultivate them
extensively in any other part of the State
At some points around Tampa Bay, and q
Manatee river, small groves have been plan
ed and have borne well for many years.
is only within the last two years that t
idea of making the fruits adapted to this
and climate prominent object has b
entertained. The experiments that have
made have proved entirely satisfactory,
preparations are now making for PLAN
extensively, not only oranges, but Lin
bananas, guavas, pine-apples, and seveS
other kinds of fruit, all of which can be pro-
duced successfully; and now the prospect is,
that as soon as the trees planting can be
gotten into bearing, a large business, in this
branch of industry, will be done. In this
communication | purpose to give some infor
nation concerning the general character of
the soil and climate of this part of the State,
and of the cultivation Of the fruits most i'm
portant in the estimation of those engaging
in this branch of industry.
SOIL AND CLIMATE.
The climate of Florida generally. but es-
pecially of East and Peninsular Florida,
partakes largely of a tropical character. In
ordinary seasons we can scarcely be said to
have any winter.t, Sometimes there are light
frosts, and sometimes Texas Norther
sweeps across the gulf and gives US few
days of weather . little too cool for comfort
to those who hardly know what winter is.
In the latitude of Tampa it is rare to have
night cool enough to make scum of ice
over bucket of water. Sweet potato vines
usually remain green through the winter, and
pumpkins remain out and continue to bear
through the coolest weather. The cold of
the past winter was unprecedented. A large
part of the mangrove bushes, and some of
the more, tender species of fruit trees were
killed. Some of these must have passed fifty
winters in safety. During the fall and win
ter months the weather is usually dry-only
occasional showers; in the spring there are
more frequent showers, but until after the
middle of May, not more than sufficient. to
bring up the seed planted and keep them in
thrifty condition until the first of June, when
the rainy season usually commences, and
lasts through the summer months, and some
times extends into September, and occas;sp-
ally into October. During this period e
are usually showers every day, lasting
fifteen to thirty minutes; occasionally
will be cessation for several days. al
casionally several showers each day.
Near the coast the country is gent
low and hat-known here as "fat wol
It's growth is generally scrub pines and
palmetto bushes. 1t is usually wet and p
and unfit for anything but range for cal
Occasionally there are tracts of rolling p
land, with better timber and soil, that
moderate fertilizing will produce well. 81
locations are generally free from annoyi
Insects, and furnish pleasant residence
The first settlers of this region generali
devoted their attention almost exclusively toE
cattle, and their only mode of fertilizing was
by penning their cattle on small spaces of
ground, which were then planted in potatoes,
or sugar cane, or sometimes corn. AS the
country is now filling up with population,
the range for cattle must be in great de-
gree taken up, and different mode of fer
tilizing adopted. Occasionally there are
tracts of land called "hammocks. Some
of these are large; in this vicinity they are
generally sr7Sh, embracing less than one
hundred acres. These are very fertile, and
will produce any. crop planted without any
farther enriching. The growth of these
tracts of land is mixture of oak, ash, hick-
DRY, sweet gum, magnolia, and other trees
common to this latitude. The growth on
the land generally is purely pine. In some
parts it is good for building and lumber, in
others it is hard to split, and timber for rails
hard to find.
The soil on the pine lands is generally q
that light, sandy character common to
pine lands along the Atlantic coast.
ordinary farming or planting it is not
adapted, as the amount of land to be
zed is too great for the ordinary meal
The cultivator, and for remuneration b.
crops produced. For fruit planting,
ever, this objection does not hold,
amount of land planted is so limited
IAN be fertilized without too great co
labor, and the high remuneration vii
he outlay of money and labor VIII
De required.
The locality from which this com
ion comes is Clear Water Harbor,
lately north Of Tampa Bay. The Dor
S formed by a succession of islands thrown
lp by the action of the tides. The water in