The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-02-11
Florida as Seen Through the PlOw
Kings SnectacleS.


Kings SpectacleS.
Letter from I. E. c. Briney Esq in Louisville DEM
1 promised would write you
from this place and give your read
ers my opinion of this part of Flor.
ida. DeLand is nice little place,
three years old. 1t is situated near
the St. Johns river, ITS miles from
Jacksonville, in Volusia county, said
to be one of the best counties in the
State. 1t is three miles from Lake
Beresford and the upper St. Johns
river. DeLand is settled mostly by
northern people and Kentuckians. /
find many OF my old friends here
who came for their health. They
have all been restored and have
turned their attention to raising
fruits. | find men here who once
stood behind the counters in your
city-they have gone to work in ear
nest. The town is named after a
gentleman in New York, who has
done much toward building up the
place. 1t contains several stores, a
church, school house, a printing
Office, THE FLORIDA AGRICULTUR-
TsT, edited by Col. G. ,Codrington
an able writer, thoroughly acquainted
with every section OF the State. He
has lived in Florida ten years, and
those who would like to know some
thing about the State should read
his paper. The land in this section
is sandy, pine growth seventy-tive
feet above the surface of the lake.
This is said to be the prettiest part
Of the State, and is. being settled
very rapidly by enterprising men.
The lands near DeIand have nearly
all been taken up, but can be pur-
chased in small lots for orange
groves. Mr.. I. G. Owens, formerly
of Louisville, is one OF the first set.
tiers. am his guest and from him
I get valuable, information in
regard. to the country, of what he has
done and what he thinks can be done.
To him and his most estimable lady
I am under many thanks tor the kind
hospitality received at their hands.
/ will mention, as I am writing for
the benefit of others, when Mr.. Owens
came to Florida it was for the bene.
fit OF his wife who was in delicate
health. The doctors had done all
they could for her, but this pure air
and mild winter have restored her to
perfect health. She Is now able to
do her own house work. Their chill
dren are pictures of health in a
word they are a happy, contented
family. He has 160 acres of, land
that he entered in the pine woods
80 acres now under fence; 20 acres
in an orange grove that will be bear
ing in two or three years 400 lem
on trees, some OF which are bearing;
and five acres in para grass. This is
q new kind OF grass imported from
the West Indies, and it seems to be
adapted to sandy land; it is now
waist high; stock love it it bears
no seed. When planted it is cut up
in slips and laid lengthwise in the
furrow. When grown it falls on the
ground, takes root and spreads. 1t
needs no fertilizers as it grows on
the poorest land. These pine lands
are especially adapted to the growing
OF all kinds OF fruit and vegetables.
1t is astonishing to see how easily
pine lands are broken up with plow.
Mr.. Owens tells me that he breaks
all OF his land with one mule. He
deadens his pines and plows and
plants before the trees are felled ;
after being broken it is scarcely any
trouble to cultivate it. That your
readers may have an idea as to what
can be done on a small capital in
Florida, 1 will mention the case OF
Mr.. Owens. He came to this country
with twenty-five hundred dollars.
Out of this he has built his house,
opened and fenced his land, pur.
chased his trees, and beautifed his
place; and says with the experience
he has, he could do the same with
less money. His prospects are very
hattering, when his trees commence
bearing he can rest from his labor;
he will be rich man. M
I know it will astonish you when
| say that one of these trees when
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