The Republican journal., 1873-04-10
Letter from Florida.
Correspondent of the journal.
IACKSONVuL March

w
squalls that have recently visited your
section, netting eighteen inches of the
genuine article to the squall Sitting in
my room this evening, arrayed much as
You have seen me at camp on hot day in
June, fine it difficult to believe that there
are within sight of your sanctum snow
drifts six feet in depth. rh It such is the
fact, however, finds confirmation in the
norther that for several days prior to the
last two has been stealing over US. Resi-
dents here say that extremely heavy falls
OF snow at the north or west always affect
the temperature here, and that the cold
OF this winter has been severer than for
many years past. | cannot gainsay the
fact OF course but if this has been a cold
winter in Florida | ought to be thankful
that it was not my luck to be here through
a warm one
| have spent the day at Mandarin, the
winter residence of Mrs Stowe, fifteen
miles up the river from this place. In
lien of snow drifts found there drifts of
peach blossoms fallen from the branches
to make room for the fruit that is soon to
succeed them; in lieu of the cold. crisp
air from the surface of snow bank, I
found the air laden with the delicious per-
tume OF orange blossoms; blossoms hang
ing with fruit fully ripened on the same
branch; a sight of which | have often
heard and read, but which never before
met my increduous vision There too |
found the almond tree, bearing the same
fruit known to us as the soft-shelled
almond; the olive tree, bearing the same
fruit that we import from abroad, both in
full leaf; the flo tree, its buds swollen
almost to bursting blackberry bushes in
blossom, verbenas with their red white
and scarlet caps on,-the day of iessamine
and spring flowers, as we call them, gone
by-bananas, their broad sabre-shaped
leaves unsheathed. But enough What |
saw to-day at Mandarin is but the coun-
terpart of what may be seen in other
tavorably located spots throughout eastern
Florida. Of the eastern portion of. the
peninsula, lying on the Gulf, | cannot
speak, not having visited that section.
1t is beautiful picture-is it not? What
pity that there is shadow Oh it. In a
few months the promise Of this bountiful
blossom will find its fulfIlment in a
bountiful crop of fruit; but where will its
owners be? Fugitives from this winter
paradise, seeking refuge in the now snow
laden north by seaside, lakeside, on the
mountain top or in the shade OF the valley,
any where so that they may be out of
reach of the hot, scorching, sweltering
summers sun. do not mean to include
all in this sweeping remark, for | find
here men from the north and weet who
make this their home the year through
but they are minority Neither do |
mean that there is no place in Florida
where white man can live comfortably
the year through; but such localities are
rare. They can be found only, so far as
my observation has extended, and so far
as | can learn from reliable authority. in
contiguity to the sea. | think such a To-
cality can be found near the mouth of the
st. John, and northerly towards the line
OF the State, and southerly as far as and
including St. Augustine As winter
home, indeed for seven or eight months in
the year, this section OF Florida is a de-
ightfu place of residence, 7 have no
doubt, from my own experience and what
learn. For the residue of the year, al
| though aparadise to the negro, it is barely
endurable save to those who are native
born or are thoroughly acclimated. am
well aware that there are those who will
take exception to this opinion. I give it
as my own let it 90 for what it is worth.
In my Judgment this is not desirable
home for the agriculturst coming from
the north. If he has wealth sufficient TO
purchase All orange grove, or soil suitable
tor the cultivation of that fruit, and can
| afford to wait some six years before real
ling any return from his investment. and
has q surplus of money adequate to the
payment OF the expenses annually incur
red for that length of time. he can come
here and pass portion of the year very
| pleasantlY; far more comfortably than at
| the north but for the residue Of the wear
he will find neither pleasure or comfort.
| II he is destitute of the means necessary
to purchase plantation and to paw for
| the labor required to carry it on, but de-
| pends wholly on the might of his own
| good right arm, in my judgment he had
| better stay where he is, and wrench a
| living from the rugged soil of New Eng
| land. He will know then from a rouph
experience what the chill of winter is,
but he will live and die in blissful ieno-
rance of ''chills and fever" Nature is
not niggard here; she pays bountiful
wages to those who serve her, but she is
Just as hard q master here as any where
else. Cotton and cane and sweet potatoes
| We" NV SioN spontaneously. Inc man
who would raise either must labor for it
Just as persstently as he labors to raise
his oats and grain and Jackson Whites at
the north. The rock did not Weld water
until ii was smitten by the prophets rod :;
the rod with which the earth must be
smitten to call forth its wealth Of products
| is labor
In saying all this would not be under
stood as intending to utter a word in dis
| paragement of the soil of Florida or its
productive capabilities. Some of the soil
| have seen is very productive; some very
poor; much that for agricultural purposes
is utterly worthless. The same NAV be
said with equal truth, perhaps, of any
large section of country. Agricultural
labor judiciously expended here is sure of
rich return; for the cultivation of semi
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