Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-03-13
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.

LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
EDITORS CHRONICLE: Having
promised to furnish a few notes from
the Land of Flowers" take this OPP
portunity to speak of matters and
things in this section of the country.
Palatka is, and has been for a
month or two, filled With visitors from
all parts of the country. The hotels,
boarding houses, and private residences
are all crowded, and still they come.
Every steamer is filled with passengers
going and coming, and steamboat men
and hotel proprietors seem to be more
than happy that the harvest is not
near over.
The climate of Florida is really de-
lightful from November to June, and
as near perfection as one could well
wish-though this winter has been an
exception-as the "oldest inhabitant"
informs me that the like of changeable
weather has not been witnessed here
before for thirty-seven years.
We can scarcely realize. that while
you, in Tennessee, have been kept busy
piling on wood and coal, and your
thermometer ranging in the neighbor-
hood of zero, we have been going
without our coats, and only OCCASION
ally having use for fire, excepting
for cooking.
Orange trees are in bloom black
berry bushes are full Of blossoms !;
corn planting is nearly completed, and
vegetables have been plenty for a
month. Tomato bushes were full of
fruit when 1 arrived here in Novem-
Der, and are full now-they grow all
the year.
Orange cultivation goes bravely on,
and never, in the history of Florida,
was there such coming crop of trees.
The number reaches above the mil
lion, and the lovers of this luscious
fruit may well smack their lips, when
it is remembered that an ordinary
tree will produce thousand oranges.
Orange growers have done good bus
mess this season, and can realize more
money from oranges than corn, wheat,
or any other produce.
An excellent quality of citric acid
is now being manufactured of Florida
lemons and sour oranges
The Gilbert Sisters Dramatic Com
pany are performing in Jacksonville
The Company is much better than
when in GAINESVILLE.
Mr.. NJ. ID. DaYie, Master of Ken
lucky State Grange, was among the
excursionist here last week.
Mr.. DeGrove and family are de-
lighted with their new home in the
Land of Flowers"
Gen. Palmer and family, of Muir
freesbOro, are here for the winter.
The CHRONICLE is a welcome visi-
tor. and arrives punctually every Tues
day. Thanks.
Mrs. Harriet Beecher-s-towe is at
her winter home. She does not feel
enough interest in brother Henry
Ward to attend his trial.
Although Florida can boast of a
warm and genial climate, whose De
cember's are as pleasant as May, and
whose summers last all the year round. "
yet for one to live here he must make
up his mind to battle with mosquitoes.
They are much fiercer than the few
little dull billed fellows you OCCASION
ally have in Tennessee, and are a
thousand times more numerous.
Steamboating on the upper St. Johns
is like journeying through fairy land.
Beyond Palatka the traveller is kept
in state of intense interest and ad-
miration. The river narrows, until at
times the sides of the boats are brush
ed by the luxuriant growth upon the
banks, and every point Of the compass
is made by the serpentine windings of
the stream through alternate forests
of palmetto, oak and cypress, and as
far as the eye can sweep, immense areas
of marsh, camebrake and tall rank
grass, relieved only by the presence of
countless birds of every color and
plumage, from the black bird to the
great white crane. The river lies so
evenly within its banks, that the waves
from the steamer break madly over
them into the adjacent grounds. The
sight of two steamboats, passing each
other, at full speed, the passengers
upon the decks almost able to shake
hands, is one not soon to be forgotten.
Mr.. Peabody and family, of Phlla-
delphia, are here. They have beau=
tiful steam yacht, and make numerous
excursions up the river after alligators.
\ Russian Count and wife were here
yesterday, en- route for the head waters
of the st. Johns. | would give his
name, but there being about forty
letters in it, tear the printer may make
some typographical error in spelling it.
The thermometer o-day is So. How
is that for high? &. L.. L.
Palatka, Fla, March l, 1875.
Montgomery County Council.