The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-02-25
Journal Devoted to State Interests


save a delapidated and uninhabited
house at Fl. Gates and the old Kings.
ley place at Drayton Island. This sec.
ton has filed up with an intelligent,
influential and wealthy class of set.
tiers. At Norwark, the river landing
of several growing pine land settle.
ments a few miles in the interior, a
saw-mill is being erected, and tram.
way built, leading back to the "hlgh
woods" From the Orange Stats.
tics Of Putnam County which lies
before mel see that 10000 trees have
been planted, and judging from the
number of trees consigned to this,
place, the good work still goes on.
Mount Royal and Fort Gates have
beautiful residences, and groves; the
latter place is also the post-ofice and
landing of the Syracuse settlement
on the high lands. Fruitland, on
the east side, is one of the landings
of this settlement on Fruitland Pc
nirsula. Georgetown, at the lower
end of Lake George, is a prosperous
little town with a schoolhouse, saw
mill aud post-office, store, justice of
the peace, etc.
Entering Lake George on the
right side is Drayton Island. Here,
within the last five years, the rich,
alluvial lands have been cleared and
10000 orange trees planted in groves.
New buildings in process of erection,
and the smoke FROM burning log heaps
indicate still further the improve
ment. The little village of Lake
George, on the left, across from Drsy.
ton Island, is said TO be one OF the
prettiest places on the river, above
Palatka, but as the opinion Of the
writer may not be considered entirely
unprejudiced, will forbear. On either
side of this beautiful lake are the
post-ofices Of Seville, and Spring
Grove. At these places large, wild
orange groves have been developed
and extensive improvements are go.
ing on. The former is the outlet OF
a fine,' pine land country.
The first stopping place above
Lake George is Volusia. Here sta
tistics fail for we are no longer in
Putnam county. 1t is, however, one
of the oldest places on the river and
has fine back country, where many
young orange groves nave been plant
ed and substantial improvements are
in progress. Across the river from
Volusla is the terminus OF the Lake
George 81 Lake Eustis Railroad, now
nearly completed. This will furnish
an outlet for the lake region OF the
upper Ocklawaha. Next comes
Hawkinsville, Button, DeI4and
Landing, and other points, OF inter-
est. A little farther up is Lake Ber-
estord where are several wharyes OFT
to The left. The whole = country
around this lake has been. filing up
rapidly within the last few years.
There Is a post.otfice at Berestord.
and Spring Garden is also thriving
settlement. The next landing Is
DA"e OpttnSaW 3u Mv1s ssl9r
Lying back several miles from
Lake Berestord and Blue Spring the
fourishing villages of DeLand aand
Orange City have sprung up as it by
magic. They are located upon the
ridge of high, pine land between the
river and the coast, which begins at
Fruitland Peninsula aud extends the
whole lengtbHof the river. Here, a
few years ago, tiguratively speaking,
''The rank thistle nodded III the wind,
and the wild fox dug his hole lun-
scared" Now for miles and miles
the native forests have given place to
orange groves, and the comfortable
homes OF hundreds Of prosperous
settlers adorn the rolling highlands.
Orange City has a local newspaper
and at DeLand The FLoRI DA AGRI-
CULTURI ST is published. The ,citi-
zens have churches. schools, stores,
mills and all the privileges OF well
ordered towns in older sections. a..
Lake Monroe is the head of navi1
CATION for the larger river craft. On
its shores are many fine groves and
residences, and the towns of Enter.
prise, Mellonville aid Sanford. All
these improvements have been made
within the last decade. These towns
are now the outlet OF the well to do set
Elements extending for miles into the