Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-01-11
Letter from Florida Soil and Climate
Sugar and Fruits-St Augustine
and the Sea Breeze.

not lying side by side on the map OF
the United States-the former for a
summer and the latter for winter
home Wisconsin for the substan-
tials, Florida for the ornamentals of
life. 1t ia midwinter here now. and
so unlike what northern friends are
enduring that | am inclined to tan
talize them little by holding pic
ture before their eyes of winter life
in Florida.
But let me premise by saying that
in all the elements of strength and
vigorous prosperity, your own State
is as far beyond this as can be con-
ceived. have heard of good lands
in various sections, and to one whose
days have been spent among the ster-
lie and rocky hills of New England
they probably appear SO but to one
accustomed to the rich and teeming
prairies of Iowa, Illinois and South
ern Wisconsin these seem like sandy
wastes. In its favor, however, it is
true that the excessive humidity of
the atmosphere renders the soil much
more productive than it appears.
There are the hammock lands, tim
bered with hard wood, which are
rich but these are scattered at in
tervals, with swamps and marshes
and sandy plains intervening. The
insuperable obstacles to compact
settlement of the State is this "spot-
ted" character of its lands and the
unhealthiness of the rich soils You
understand, of course, that the sur
face is generally fat and but a few
feet above the sea level. There is
abundance of good timber, and this,
| think, is its principal source OF
wealth.
The cultivation of sugar is also
very profitable. The reclaimed ham
mock lands yield very heavily, and,
but for the ever present malaria, this
department of agriculture would be
very attractive. The richest lands
are the most unhealthy. The pine
lands with thorough manuring pro-
duce sugar very well.
OF fruits, it seems to me the orange
is all that can be relied on for com
mercial purposes. though nearly all
the semi-tropicsl varieties are cult
waited for domestic consumption.
When, in the future, better transport
alton is provided, many kinds can DO
cultivated proftably which now can
not be marketed. On the upper
waters of the ST. Johns and the In
dian rivers, beyond the frost line,
pine apples, guavas, bananas, &c, are
successfully cultivated. / have been
told of sale of So, 900 from single
acre of pine apples. That portion of
the State is sparsely settled, and
must remain so, because unhealthy,
except a narrow coast belt, and be-
cause of the uncomfortable insects con-
tinually bred in the marshes where
no friendly frosts ever relieve from
them.
Probably you will call this an un-
favorable diagnosis. Let me tell you
of something pleasanter, though the
ordinary rule is to give the brightest
side first One feels so amiably dis
posed in this genial atmosphere that
Florida has been over written, and
many have been disappointed. For
the benefit Of those whose constitu-
tons cannot endure the Northern
winters | desire to give q correct
statement. Wisconsin has too many
Of these unfortunates. To these
Florida extends most hospitable
arms. To them climate is every
thing. In this respect, it seems to
me nothing is wanting on the coast
line, and the malarious influences the
only draw back in the interior. In
December and January there are
days occasionally cold and windy,
and light ovel coat is in demand.
But to-day the oranges are still upon
the trees, and the perfume Of flow
ers steals soothingly over the senses.
Through the open doors and windows
| now hear the many shouts of chill
dren, and there are little darkies
enough playing in the sand to start
mission school at any street cor
ner. The gentle murmur of the
breakers in the still night lulls one SO
tenderIy that 'tired natures sweet
restorer, balmy Sleep" Gains the
throbbing pulse and aching brain
whom opiates have lost their power.
And the awful grandeur Of the
ocean in its very vastness, and still
more when it's cloud surges lash the
sounding Shore" brings one so con-
sciously into the presence of the In
finite that all the ills of life arc for
gotten.
And now. my dear Herald, let me
tell you that the atmosphere OF this
quaint, doing old town is 80 conser-
vative that we don't know or care
what is the political status of the rest
of the State, or for that matter, not
gerry much for it any where else. |
have learned this much, however:
where there is most politics aud
whisky there is trouble. But | beg
none OF your readers to DO deferred
from coming on account of imaginary
A@h EOAo. ASN "a lOuIl IL nGCCe61IE
tor one to go very far if they are
spelling for fight but l have
seen nothing to indicate the least per
il in settling whore one might choose.
1t has been found necessary to send
troops into the western part of the
State, and many deeds of violence
were done but complicating reports
divide the responsibility so much
that l will not undertake to give a
version. / think it was not wholly
political. l will not say that all is
quiet, for it is not true but the pent
up thunders will never break upon
such quiet heads as mine. | think
there will be breaking up and
rafting over" by and by, and it is
doubtful if all who are now floating
SO calmly will get safely to shore.
l would like to tell you of the in
teresting features of this ancient city,
the pioneer of America, and some
thing of its people who receive us so