Litchfield enquirer., 1880-04-08

April 2d, 1880. DEAR ENQUIRER. who write about Florida usually let their imaginations run riot, and picture Land of Flowers" as it l ought to be, not as it is. Let me sharpen my pencil to Gradgrind point and give you only facts. The pine land presentsa rolling surface, | mas no under-brush, and one looks off and sees the trunks of the tall pines rising from what seems to be velvet sward very beauti- full in appearance. But the old adage proves true, and on nearer approach, the greenness re- solves itself into tufts of coarse wire grass which is the only verdure this sand is capable of producing Every winter the dry grass is all burned of, and from January till it is brown ed by the summers sun distant view is green and beautiful
 This ridge of pine land rises like an oasis in in the desert, on either side being the ''Flat woods" tract of pines of little value lying SO ! low and level as to be submerged during a portion of the year, and the nature of the soil atfording little drainage. The Scrub" is ] rolling land covered with evergreens and a
 
 not anywhere over four feet high This is | considered not 30 valuable as the pine land, as the ground is so filled with the roots that it is | great task to prepare it for cultivation. Tine Hammock is the only rich soil, and has a uxuriaut semi-tropical vegetation. It lies along the river banks and, in this vicinity. is composed to some extent of a shell deposit. 1 The only inconvenience in regard to this land seems to be that it is impossible for | any one save Crackers" to live on it, unre- lenting chills and fever being it's invariable sccompaninents So we build our houses and plant our groves on tue sandy knolis amid the pines, and go occasionally with the mule and cart to gaze at the dense foliage of the Ham, | mock.
 Only few old settlers have groves thereon. Spite of our perpetual summer we few wild | flowers-some on the pine land and those on the Hammock can not equal our Northern flowers. The magnolia, yellow jessamine, honeysuckle and wild cactus, are fragrant and beautiful but the stately grace of the first cannot surpass the waxen loveliness of the laurel have gathered on our Litchfeld hill sides neither is it's perfume more delightful than the fragrance of the arbutus The Jes- samine does not equal the sweetness of the pink Azalia, while our little spring darlings, the snowdrop, anemope, hepatica, and all their ses in a warm climate the wonderful charm of spring; for this even having flowers through all the winter months cannot compensate.
 Still he is a dissatisfied churl who can find ought of which to complain in Florida win ter. Just fancy the most balmy, lovely days of June lasting from October to-well I'll not say how long, for I've not been the year round in Florida yet, but the March winds are balmy breezes, and we do not have to wait for the April showers to bring May flowers, as our gardens can have continual roses, though the wild woods are not, as some imagine, masses of bloom.
 l The sand seems at first uncomfortable almost to Northerner, as, on road much travelled, it is like deep, light snow to plough through. But one becomes accustomed to that after while, and wades on in reckless manner, re- gardless of dusty boots, and gives up all hope of graceful gait. On the roads little used, the walking is very good-the grass being just matted down enough to make the ground hard.
 The celerity with which land is cleared here surpasses anything have ever seen., We see ten acres covered with tall pines, and as if by magic they fall, and for few nights grand illumination fills the sky. Then the white fur:ows are turned up, mysterious stakes appearing in parallel rows mark the place for the future trees and are quickly transmitted with green clad seedlings and when fence surrounds the whol., the grove is ready-to be 1 waited for. It is marvellous to watch the orange trees can compare the growth of the new leaves to nothing but the appearing of lilac leaves in spring; and they cover the old, ] dark, rich foliage with paler shade, produc- ing the most exquisite effect. And now the blossoms nestle under the leaves, and the air is heavy with the delightful fragrance. In my 1 ideal orange grove all the trees are thornless 1 and trimmed out so one can sit among the 1 coughs. and enjoy the perfume of the flowers, and the taste Of the fruit together,
 If your readers desire information on any particular place of Florida, should perhaps write more to their satisfaction by answering inquiries propounded through. your columns, and should be happy to do so to tue best of my ability. QuILIlsr, 
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