The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-19
Auiuu aud Suurual.
CORKESPONDENcE.
PALArKA. Fla. March. Sd, 1860.


Friend Butler Much has been said and
written about Florida, but the subject
seems cxhaustless. During my three
months residence In the State. have
CLEANED little information In relation to
its resources, climate, &C., which may be
of some interest to your readers. 1t Is q
large State, and very thickly peopled.
Much has been done since the war to ia
cilitatc immigration, and many are flock
Ing here from all parts of the Union; but
In my opinion, nlne-tenths Of the now
comers will be disappointed, IL they ex-
pect TO make a fortune ut once. If they
apply themselves to the culture of oranges
several years must elapsc before they be-
gin to yield, and they arc subject also to
the dangers of frost, which Is liable to dc
stroy the labor and growth Of years in n
night. Again, should they rely upon
growing cotton, (Which, by tho way. Is
the best crop for most of the lands In
Florida,) the caterpillar may destroy It (;
although if It escape Its ravages, an av-
erage crop Of hundred dollars to the
acre Is produced, without any dressing ut
all. The soil Is very light and sandy, and
would be considered nearly worthless In
the North, without the constant applica-
ton of fertilizers. Crhis farm has been
planted to cotton for twenty-five years
without any dresslng.) Sugar-canc Is
profitable to raise, though greater out
lay Is required In its cultivation. It may
be asked, what are the advantages which
Florida possesses. In the first place, land
Is cheap. A homestead Of forty acres OF
Government land costs, to actual settlers,
about ten dollars State lands, flfty cents
an acre; whilst improved farms-build.
ings all of log-arc worth ten to twenty
dollars an acre.
Again. many who find It difficult or i'm.
possible to endure the r!gors of our north
err winters, will probably enjoy good
health by residing here permanently.
Here again would caution invalids aud
their friends, especially their family ply
sicians, in regard to coming here, when
In the last stages Of consumption. Three
young men from the North deceased In
Palatka last month, deprived Of the CON-
forts and cndearmcnts Of home, and. In
fact, nearly all other comforts; and whose
cases their physicians must have known
were incurablc when they sent them away.
think that In many cases the climate
aggravates the disease, and hastcns death,
whilst tits beneficial, no doubt, In rheu.
matte affections, catarrh, &C., and In In
ciplent consumption. Again, invalids con-
gregate principally Mt the hotels. which
are located, In the large towns OH the
banks of the river st. Johns or on the sea-
coast, where the air Is damp. and where
they come In contact with other inyalids,
which Is injurious. and where also the OPP
portunities for exercise and recreation are
limited.
am confident that the healtliest places
IN Florida are In the interior, right among
the pine woods. But the accommodations
there are very small at present. Could
they be increased, many would rush there
who arc now obliged to remain shut up
In town.
am located ut present OH small cot
ton plantation, about six miles from town,
surrounded entirely by the pine woods,
and where the buildings are all Of one
story, and built entirely of logs. We have
an entire house for our quarters. Ii con-
tains one room, with two doors. front and
back, and a huge fire place which will en-
silly hold half cord of wood. There are
10 windows. the chlnks between the logs
letting In suillcicn, light and air, when the
doors are obliged to be shut.
Our northern friends would smile to
look In upon us. but We enjoy II much,
and think my health has improved con-
siderably since 1 have been here. Our
landlord is fine specimen Of Southern
er. lie lost all his property by the war,
and is now trying to get n living by rails
ing cotton. He has been unsuccessful for
the last two years, owing to the worm, but
with firm trust in Providence lie is pre-
pairing his ground to plant again. He
says that Is very uncommon for the cotton
worm to attack the same field, three years
In succession.
While you at the North have been fa;
vorcd with very mild winter. we have
had some very cold weather here. Last
Christmas, Ice made an inch thick In one
night, and oranges froze OF the trees, and
In some groves the leaves entirely fell of ;
but rs the sap was down, no damage was
done to the trees, except those which had
only been buddcd year.
Last Sunday night, Ice formed, half an
inch thick, and the frost killed our cucliri.
bcrs, tomatoes, squashes. &C., which were
growing finely, and even nippcd the new
leaves Of the orange and mulberry trees,
In the yard, and think must damage the
orange and peach crop this year, as they
were In blossom. The thermometer stood
ut % degrees at s o'clock Monday morn
Ing. whilst one week ago Monday, II was
81 degrees in the shade, In the afternoon.
We picked hucklcbcrries In the woods n
week ago, nearly grown, and I thought
then that there could be no more cold
weather this season, but "the best laid
schemes OF mice aud men gang an swry.'
Many Of the freedmen In this State have
taken homestead lots, and with the love
OF independence, as natural to the black
man rs the white, are endeavoring to live
on farms Of their own. and In some cases
they are successful, but think many
would do better In hiring out to the whites.
a, owing to their lack Of education they
do not manage well for themselves.
Wages are lower than at the North. Good
field hands command $40 to sl3 month.
So