The daily gazette. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1874-1883, 1874-10-12

Our climate is mild and temperate
admitting the early growth of vegeta
Dies and fruit, and the successful
planting OF crops that require lone
season for their growth and maturity
Not only all the cereal grains are pro
duced abundantly, but cotton has been
raised in every county of Delaware
and in the southern portion of the Pc
hihsula could now be produced with
AZ much success as in many portions of
North Carolina and Virginia.
| Tobacco, of course, is grown and
my surprise is that its cultivation is
not more extended.
The close approach of the Gulf
stream to our coast the presence of
two such grand bodies of water as the
Chesapeake and Delaware BAYS, on
either side, all tend to modify the
extreme changes of heat and cold.
lhe snow which for weeks and
months, lies among the hills of Penn.
sylyania, mclts in few days, at most,
even In our upper county of New Cas-
am indebted to the kindness of our
estimable fellow citizen of Whining.
ton, Mr.. Edward Tatnall, who ranks
nlgh, as scientific botanist and florist
~ior the following statement New
castie county is certainly the richest
IN variety OF its flora, probably in the
United states ; it lies between the
extremes OF temperature and contains
almost every variety of soil On
the hills of the Brandywine, White
Clay and Red Clay Creek, we find the
original granite formation, whilst at
their mouths and on the Christiapa
we have the alluvial deposits lust form.
ing. In different parts of the comfy
we have all the intermediate states
Inc gravelly shores of the Delaware
river (in patchcs) furnish one class of
plants, and the prevailing muddy
sn0tes OF the same river supply very
diiterent class. Again We have the
plants that grow only in or near the
purcst spring water and in the lower
part OF the county those that grow
only in salt or brackish water. We
nave numerous sphagnous swamps
Throughout the county, and near Col
inns Beach cedar swamp which has
ITS own peculiar flora On the Bran.
ldywlne and Red Clay Creeks, we find
plants that are found elsewhere only
ON mountains. We have, then, every
DIVERSITY OF climate and soil and situa.
tlon. Our county contains 5l2 square
miles, while Chester county, our near.
est nelghbor (proverbially rich in soil
and productiveness but without the
Idiversity) has 73S square miles. Our
county, within its contracted limits.
contains over eleven hundred species,
llll3O) while Chester county contains
but JJS, and some of them have been
reduced To varieties. We must re.
member too, that the latter county
has been thoroughly searched, whilst
ours has been but partially In fur.
ther comparison, the northern United
States (north of North Carolina and
Tennessee, and including large part
OF Canada, containing G00,OOO square
miles, containing, all told, little ovel
24oO species, many of them peculiar tc
high ATTITUDES or alpine regions. You
VIII perceive that in our 5l2 square
miles we have nearly one half of the flo
ra OF that whole region. lsany further
evidence needed. 1t is remarkably
strange that we have cultivated severa
plants which are otherwise peculiar tC
the south. Only recently Mr.. Canb,
: has found, at FELTON,, plant whici
!: has hitherto been found only in
Georgia" And this equability an,
moderation of climate is not at tn,
expense of eneryation of miasmati,
| diseases to our Inhabitants. Theii
average length of life is full AS high
and | imagine, in point of stature an'
vigor, our men of Delaware and Mary
land will be found as stalw art as an,
9 OF their countrymen.
III In the county of Sussex, this State
this is especially the case, for hav
e been in company with parties of me-
e there, and, although six feet in m
I stocking, found myself one of tn
short men of the assembly, OF tn
better and fairer part of creation ,whor
Heaven in its goodness, has sent t
/ gladden. our hearts and eyes, l ca
r only say, that among admitted facts
/? things not to be gainsaid or draw
a into question-a social axiom in thi
i Peninsula, is that our mothers, wive'
: sisters, daughters and sweet-hearts, ar
simply the best and lovcliest in tn
y world, and we will never hear or b,
l. lieve anything to the contrary.
The recognition of our Peninsula t
ir the Home of the Peach, has alread
~ been gained from our northern friend
|? who depend chiefly upon us for the
5; supply of that delicious fruit, Will
d the wealth and importance of our" Sma
d Fruits is rapidly attracting attentio
A, and leading to large and remunerati,
n development.
IA My friends, in this hasty aud entir
- ly incomplete way, have advert'
n. to what nature has done for us, and
Of my phrases have sometimes SEEM
n boastful in acknowledging her bount
ps it has been rather from sense
ps grateful appreciation than idle oxalt
ton.
re We have in this Peninsula little
la no more mineral wealth; restricted {
IN posits of iron-ore being the only trao
of that sort. The marvellous depos
ii of iron and coal; the quarries of Gri
Of lite, marble and lime stone; the mir
of of copper lead and the more precic
e metals; which have been So freely
he signed by Providence to other Stat
have all been withheld from US, and
r. it not evident in thus considering wi
ur nature has given us, and also what S
"A. has withheld, that it becomes plain
or | nur minia that n,ir Peninsula with