The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-09-07

MICCOaTKIE

MICcosUKIE, FLA, September l. 1880
Edltor Fs0rzdiaR: As sit under the roof of
NJ sbellering home looking out at the fast-falling
sezEy drops Of rain, which are burying deep in
the soil Of the earth the proceeds of long and
Lard wears labor, if makes me shiver 10 think
shout what IL has taken TO make that lost staple
icofionl say il to myself and speak it cut pub
IiciF. that ] viii never SOW another cotton seed
for the purpose of making cotton; if sow them,
4 VII be for the purpose of manuring other
COPS II the cotton-planters OF land-holders
throughout all the Southern States would come
-ogsfher ~ farmers and make a law within them
-eiFs< Rot 10 plant, or have planted, nor let be
planted any cotton on their lands for the next
fh-ee yesrs 10 come, or until the year 1884, the
country would be q dare say in q much more
prosperous condition. There are so many other
things which farmer could make for two or
lbree wears in the place Of cotton, or until it
EOEld demand q better price. For instance, If
every farmer IN Florida would raise plenty OF
manure. (which is very easy done) and to every
seventy five acres Of cotton that each farmer now
FiAuts plant ten acres of vegetables in its place
VII guarantee, if the vegetables are planted
carry and cultivated properly, they will make
In0Ie clear money than the seventy-fve acres in
eotion some people viii say it is no use of my
haFing or trying to have garden farm; there rs
ioO many Of them now down in South Florida.
Bur, nv fellow -countrymen, you must recollect
that Florida Is bat little speck TO the United
siAies-if can produce earlier vegetables than
any other State in the Union. II every farmer
N Florida were TO have an early crop OF vegeta-
be-. there would be demand tor them We can
even ship early vegetables to Northern Georgia
and get good price for them in our adjoining
STATE besides 80 many other States further North
and West tina; have 10 be supplied. The people
Of Florida, or Al least q great many Of them, are
~ vegetables like they are By oranges- They
VIII say il Il no use for me 10 have any more
orange trees than what my family can consume
the fruit Of But. my good citizens, it is all
mistake Of yspr own Il not there millions Of
oranges shipped TO the United States annually :
Why, my dear countrymen. stop and think one
moment and see how many States in the Union
thai grow this fruit Florida. which does mot a.
YET raise such great quantities; Alabama, BE-
ieEe. grows few. Oranges, you must recollect,
my good friends. belong 70 warm climates, which
Florida il iis favorite one.
Where other Southern States cannot grow
hese crops they have other crops better suited 70
heir soils which they could put in place Of cotton.
such ~ wheat and all kinds Of grain. It do not
a4y while We are having our garden farms to let
all other crops alone, bat We should plant more
grAin than what We do, raise more hogs, and let
he people At the North keep their own meat to
eAt while We in the South eat ounL Plant your
orange trees, my good people, II they don't Do
yea any good they win do your chiIdna god,
and yoar children's children
There b entirely too much look forward 70 the
cultured cotton. and Il the old heads of the Eouth
do not change their system Of living they win
le.ye ihe'r children twhen they depart this lils)
pulling q the same old aw-hide seriag fhak shey
have been pulhng At an their Iives.
EunscRTnRR.