Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-05-03
From the Land Of Flowers Ad-
vice to Grant County People
A Comparison Of Climate,
Products and Profits.


possessing greater aggregate ofre-
sources for health, wealth or happi-
ness than southern Wisconsin and
northern Illinois [ have not seen it.
Cold, bleak, and with many desolate
days, With frequent short crops and
low prices, consumption waving its
black flag before you, still careful
examination OF accounts will show
the balance in your favor. Cold is a
relative term, and in the South it is
az severe at 800 az in the North at
l00. This il due partially to the
greater humidity, and partially to
a lower toned vitality or thinner
blood, less capable of resisting it.
"But Wisconsin climate is so change
able A change of 800 in day is
not unusual in Florida, and 40o have
been made the past winter. The 18th
inst. the Thermometer indicated $40
in Jacksonville; Saturday morning
720, and Sunday morning 80. White
frost has been visible two mornings
in April. But it is true extremes are
not so common, and of course occur
at c higher temperature. The lowest
point reached the past winter was 2So.
l like this climate, and yet it has Pc
cutler features. The nights are cold,
and bed coverings are frequently re-
inforced by travelling shawls or over
coats. So when the mercury indi-
Gates s50 it is a delicious temperature
in the shade and almost uncomfortable
in the sun. The heated rays seem to
come from blast furnace IN. b. De-
| scriptiye letters are written in the
shade). Ibear no testimony to summer
temperature but q meteorological
table gives the average of three daily
observations at 794o and the average
maximum at go for. five months for a
period of twenty-five years.
"But there is no consumption"
1t is a sad truth that dispels such a
belief. There is less than in the
North, but more than is believed.
1t is by no means unknown, nor are
its causes wanting. But believe it
| does offer respite to those thus
threatened and though the expert
ence and observation of strangers
widely differ, think with the fact of
change and the ability to be more
out of doors the climate of Florida
Is an advantage to such invalids.
But just here it may be as well TO
suggest that in avoiding Scylla one
may encounter Charybdis. There is
wide range Of fevers in the South
little known in Wisconsin, affording
no pleasane gauntlet to run.
"But fruits and flowers" But the
apples of Wisconsin are worth more
than the oranges of Florida. 1t may
be otherwise sometime. Peaches
and figs do well there are no cur
rants or apples grapes are poor and
uncertain, and of strawberries there
are rot enough to furnish decent
excuse for lying about them. Flow
ers are abundant enough in winter
to surprise eyes unaccustomed to
any, and their influence is so graft
flying that the wonder is that the
gardens are not overlooking with
them. They are scarce outside of
towns, aud wild flowers are not
plenty enough to entitle the State to
| it's name.
Under the soothing influence of
these pleasant surroundings to me in
idleness,: il may seem churlish to
critcise. But by the spur of severe
winters and low prices for produce,
many are turUing their eyes toward
the South. 1t may be no unkindness
to suggest some of those considers
tons which will enter into the price
they must pay for warmer climate.
Let them bear in mind that "planta-
ton" is the poetic name for very
sorry farm, in which one acre in
three fit for continuous cultivation liz
q liberal estimate. 1t has been a
mystery to me in what the wealth of
these Gulf States has consisted. Ny
present belief is that aside from their
black muscles there never was any.
The few were wealthy in appearance,
and the many were poor in fact
The necessity Of purchasing every
thug except the great staples left
little surplus for the cultivation Of
cotton, sugar &c. Wealth is measur-
ed not by income but by the surplus.
1t would surprise your farmers to
see how miserably the best of these
planters, with an occasional excep-
ton, live. Those who are apparent
ly able seem to care little for house
or table. A correct description of
the common people would seem IL
belous.
After remembering that the North
ern farmer spends five times as much
in feeding and clothing his family,
thereby converting his crops into
comforts, that he has schools and
churches and home newspapers, here
practically unknown, that the land
here is almost universally light and
sandy, producing less than home de-
mands OF the necessaries of life
aside from its commercial staples. it
may seem possible to pay too much
for aswarm climate.
Three or four counties Of Middle
Florida are SO much superior to the
balance of the State, and indeed to
southern Georgia and Alabama, as to
be called good. There is much waste
land:cven there but in the past it was
the wealthiest and the best cultiyat-
cd, and the people the most intelli-
gent and thrifty that / have any
where found. Cotton was the main
reliance, though some sugar, corn,
&C., were raised.
Stock growing is profitable, for
they don't feed at ALL" They do not
feed it is certain, but the cattle evil
IDENTIFY are not consulted. How prot.
liable it is may be judged from the
iact that herd can be purchased at
from So to 81 per head, and their
condition in winter may be inferred
when it is said that Tennessee beef
cattle are brought into Jacksonville
markets.
There is g general revival of pros