The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-10-13
Florida Soil.
continued from page 1897

oinous, loamy clay, and at some
points. a tenacious clay containing an
excess of alumina. At some points
the surface soil contains sufficient
clay to render it tenacious. In
Alachua County large portion OF
the surface soil is a dark, triable
loan, with clay and limestone near
the surface. West Of Bronson, and
between the headwaters of the Wac
casassa river and the Suwannee
river. is a considerable extent of
country in which the soil is deep
terruginous loan, and very produc-
tive and retentive OF moisture. The
land is rolling and heavily timbered
with the finest pines the writer has
seen in the State. These lands re-
mind me of the red lands in the
neiehborhood OF New Brunswick,
New Jersey.
On the coast, between the Withla.
coochie and Anclote rivers is vast
salt marsh, from three to ten miles
wide, interspersed by what are called
islands-elevated portions of land
covered with a luxuriant growth of
cedar, palm and live oak. At some
points the soil is black, sticky,
clayey loan, and at others heavy,
reddish loan, similar to the soil of
the Bermudas. These islands pos.
sess as rich lands as can be found in
the United States, and from personal
observation, we can assert that they
will produce luxuriant crops for
years without tertilizing. These
heavy, red lands appear eminently
suited for the orange, producing a
luxuriant growth and large luscious
fruit.
At some points on the Atlantic
Coast, and at many on the Gulf
Coast; extensive mounds and depo>
sites of oysters and other shells exist
evidently made by the Aborigines.
At many points these Kitchen mid
dens" are covered with from two to
four feet Of rich black soil, princi-
pally composed of humus These
mounds and deposits are more extern
sive on the islands of Usippi, Marco
and Pine, than at other points South
of Cape Romano is Lostmans Key,
containing about fifty square miles,
and above hurricane overflow. The
surface soil is a dark, heavy loan,
from two to three feet in depth, un-
aerlaid by marley clay, full OF sea
shells. On many of the Keys be-
tween this point and North Cape
Sable, the surface soil is clayey
loan, at points densely covered with
purslane, plant which only grows
on a heavy soil. From North to
South Cape Sable, is what is known
as the Yammassee Old Field. The
soil is a rich loan, underlaid by
shell. The section OF the State be-
tween Cape Romano and East Cape
Sable is truly the tropical portion of
the State. During the winter the
mean thermometric range is about
six degrees higher than on the east
ern coast. The soil and climate are
eminently adapted to the culture OF
the pineapple, banana, and all the,
tropical fruits. Since steamers ply
on this coast twice weekly, we can
discover no reason why we should
be dependent upon Bermuda for
vegetables during the winter months.
it is more than probable that coffee
will prove a successful crop in this
section. Soon after the cession OF
the State to the United States, a
company was organized in Philadel.
phia to purchase large tract OF land
from the government, for the pur-
pose of establishing coffee planta-
TONS Unwisely, the government
would lot consent to the sale. AT
present, this section is almost terra
ncOgnito-considered a mass OF man.
grove swamps. If the State was not
blind to its resources and advance
ment, is would have this portion of
the State carefully examined and
described, and its settlement pro-
NOTED. independent OF tropical pro.
ductions referred to, this section is
eminently adapted to the culture of
sugar-cane, cocoa-nut, and indigo,
and, protected positions, probably |
cocoa.
On the Caloosahatchie, from Fort
Myers to Fort Thompson, the soil
consists OF dark triable loan, with
marty clay subsoil, AT Fort
Thompson and other points around
Lake Ochechobee, the soil is a dark
heavy loan, with clay subsoil or
rock. In the Anontalaga hammock,
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