The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-02-25
The Upper st. Johns.
Progress of a Decade.

progress Oh y Oeca0e
There is no pleasanter route of
travel in Florida than from Palatka
to Sanford upon the upper st. Johns.
At this season Of the year, after an
open winter like the present, wild
flowers adorn the banks and the for
ests are clad in vernal beauty, in
marked and pleasing contrast to
the festoons OF somber moss. If the
day is fine the bright sunshine, blue
water and tropical scenery make the
trip delightfully."- enchanting.
Ascending the river from Palatka,
the first stopping place is San Mateo.
Here are extensive orange packing
houses. One of the largest packers
sent forward last year $500 boxes of
oranges and is shipping this year
on a more extended scale. The
bank is lined with orange groves
which extend up to the highlands,
rising at some distance from the river
to quite an eminence. There are in
the groves in this vicinity 28,500
orange trees, some of which are bear
ing, yielding this season nearly a
million OF oranges. This place has
also a post-office, store, telegraph,
church, graded school, etc. all of
which has been accomplished within
the last few years. H@
A few miles further up is the mouth
of Deep river, the outlet OF Crescent
lake. On this lake, upon a highland
rising gradually from fifty to seventy.
ive feet from the waters edge, is
Crescent City. 1t is beautifully To-
Gated and surrounded by many
orange groves, few OF which are in
full bearing. Over three hundred
acres are planted in oranges, in and
around the town. A saw-mill is
rapidly transforming timber from the
forest into building material tor4 the
use of the settlers, and many fine
residences overlook the lake. A
daily steamer from Palatka brings
the mail. Upon the high, pine lands
OF the town Is a settlement of thrifty
farmers from Georgia and Alabama.
Ten wears ago there was scarcely
dozen settlers in all the country
round, and the site OF Crescent City
was an old plantation, which, at some
remote period in the early history of
the State, was owned and titled by
wealthy planter, but long since de-
serted and fast growing up with ma
tive forest of pine and oak.
Leaving Deep river, Buffalo Bluff,
and Nashua are rapidly passed the
former has several tine orange groves,
and the latter is the outlet of a
thriving new settlement upon the
high, pine lands. The improvements
on the river are by no means confined
to the post.offices and landings, but
here and there along the banks are
residences, groves and nurseries.
Next comes Welaka, one OF the old
est points on the river. 1t was de-
stroyed during the war, and ten
years ago was deserted and desolate.
1t has now thrifty population. Not
only have many Improvements been
made upon the river front, but the
6LLleuuGut SAGSuIio 1OIi LAAlco UdCh up
on the high, rolling, pine lands.
There are $4,000 orange trees in
the groves here which, almost with
out exceptions, have been set within
the last decade, and most OF them in
less than halt Ut that time. This is
upon the western shore of Fruitland
Peninsula, lying between Crescent
lake and the ST.. Johns. and extend.
ing from the mouth, OF Deep river to
Lake George. A large portion Of
this peninsula is high, rolling, pine
land, dotted here and there with
tresh-water lakes. 1t is a most favor
able location tor orange growing and
is fast settling up. Inc most availa.
BILE lands are being rapidly improved
blythe new corners. AT lakes Como
and Broward- alone about $4,000
orange trees have been planted. All
this mas been done niwithin few
years. eGr .f5 asdi AaA .ssta-
Leaving Welaka and passing the
mouth OF the Ocklawaha, on the west
\ side, we enter Little Lake George.
! Ten years ago there were no i'm
provements on the river from Little
J Lake George to big Lake George