The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-12-15
II usba
Js TIE OEN 171117
Notes on Florida.
CLEAR WATER HARBoR.
BY THE EDITOR.

BY THE EDlTOR.
The articles republished from the Planter
and Farmer, were written, as already stated,
by the Rev. Joseph Brown, who has long
been a resident of that State, and for the
last eighteen months has lived in the section
of which he speaks. Having made visit
to my brother, in May last, and having re-
ceived many private communications asking
information about Florida as home, espe-
cially with view to the culture of tropical
fruits for market, find it inconvenient to
reply to them all by letter. 1t has therefore
been thought most satisfactory to do SO
through that part of the Central Pres6yte-
rian devoted to Husbandry." In addition
to what my brother has written, | propose
now to add few notes.
In general those who have good homes in
Virginia, or have business which will give
them good maintenance, will do we'll to re-
main where they are. Changes should not
be liglds.:5 l<ssss, ssecsslly from this State.
But there are those, (alasl that they are SO
many who have very small means, and with
all the industry possible have no prospect of
any thing better than lifelong struggle
here for mere subsistence for themselves
and families. For the benefit of such chiefly,
l present few items, and express the opin-
ion that the section of Florida along the
coast of Clear Water Harbor offers extraor-
binary advantages: such as the following:
1. 1t is remarkably healthy place. In
general Florida is sickly. 1t is greatly in
tested with fever and ague. This applies to
the whole of the St. Johns river on the
east, where so many Northern people have
settled, and of which so much has been said
in commendation, as fruit growing country.
l doubt whether more healthy place than
the one I write about can be found in the
United States. 1t has an abundance of
pure, free stone water-not as cold as ours
in Virginia, but comfortably so. Some
springs are found, but the resort is mostly
to wells, readily reached within twelve or ff-
teen feet.
2. 1t is, for latitude so far South, (28O)
remarkably free from mosquitoes, the great
pest of very large sections of the State
The same is true in regard to most other
troublesome insects. Some that are often a
great annoyance here, are unknown there.
And as many persons have the apprehension
that the country abounds in snakes, | may
state that in this part of Florida at least,
they are not more numerous than in Vir-
ginia.
3. The climate is very fine one. From
November till May it is delightful one
During our winter months, they have there
very little rain, and season like our balmy
days-if. Gessses.4 They have FIVE or six
months of summer; but the thermometer
hardly ever reaches commonly not as
high as 900; and at all times the heat is so
tempered by the sea-breeze, as to relieve it
from being oppressive. The nights espe-
cially are cool and refreshing.
4. Land is nOsV remarkably cheap. The
reason is this Most of those now there are
the first settlers, who came there to raise
stock, especially cattle. They think them
selves now too much crowded, and according
to the usage common to all new settlements,
they think if they can sell out for $500, or
$1,000, or $4,000, it is fortune with which
they can retreat to newer sections and in
dulge in all the fasc5nat5Ons of their chosen
occupation. Homesteads can even yet be
taken up on the coast, or mile back from
it, without any cost except SIS, for entering
it. Eighty acres with some improvements,
can be bought for sum ranging from $500
to $1,000, according to circumstances. This
is enough to plant in fruits and other crops.
Cattle find plenty of grazing around, and
cost nothing to keep them. Some places
could be bought with an orange orchard
started and few with groves in good bear
ing.
5. The profits to be derived from this
business. The reader must be on his guard
against any orange, or banana, or pineapple
fever Extravagant calculations by figures,
will not be realised in the same amount of
money-in the purse, But, making all allow
ance for aw-backs, and the most moderate
estimate of profits, there can hardly be found
another occupation so remunerative. Expo
rience- undiSputed facts show this most
fully. 1t has been so in the history of other
fruits along the sea-board North of Flori-
da. About 1880, the peach orchards of
New Jersey were well started. 1t was then
predicted that in little time peaches would
be drug in the market. But the business
has been extending down the sea-board till
it has reached Georgia, and hardly anything
has been so profitable. Some years, with a
large crop, the priceis of course very much
reduced; but on the whole the demand has
increased rather faster than the supply
The multiplication of railroads, &C., opens
vast and speedy distribution of every thing
which people very much love to eat, from
such centres as Philadelphia, New York and
Boston. Much more will the market for
tropical fruits open with increased facilities