The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-02-11

five hundred up to five thousand or
anges; the average is said to be one
thousand. There are two trees in
this county that bore each this sea.
son over four thousand. To make
liberal estimate of an acre of orange
trees in full bearing, would be about
five hundred dollars to the acre. Is
there farmer in Kentucky that can
do this on his best land ? I say no.
But to accomplish this here, he may
expect to work and have patience to
wait six or seven years for his trees
to mature, and as l said in q previous
letter he must bring with him some
capital. Enough to open his land
and make the necessary improve,
ments; to purchase trees, etc. y In
word to sustain himself and family
while he can realize something from
his fruit. True he can raise vege.
tables which will aid him very much.
l would suggest to the immigrant
with limited means TO settle on the
pine lands as they are much easier
worked than the hammock or swamp
lands, and are much healthier. / am
satisfied the pine lands of Florida
are unequaled for health, and with
fertilizing will produce fine cotton or
corn. The greatest difficulty the
planter has 70 contend against in
raising vegetables on the sandy lands
is the salamanders, which are very
numerous. They are an animal on
the order Of the mole. They destroy
sweet potatoes and often cut the
roots OF the orange trees, but as the
country opens think they will dis.
appear. 1t is astonishing to see the
amount OF oranges shipped down the
st. Johns river. 1t Is a conceded
fact that the Florida oranges are the
best in the world, and the demand is
continually growing. There are pur-
chasers here from New York going
through the country buying the truit
ON the, trees. ..as.- ........,.
/ Now a word abou. these exagger-
ated accounts of Florida so often
written by correspondents in regard
to fishing and hunting. A good deal
of This in my opinion is gas, 1t is
true that these rivers contain a great
many fish. and of the best kinds, but
it is only at certain seasons OF the
year that they are plenty. Old fish
ermen tell me that fishing never was
known so dull as now. | am told
that game is not so plentiful as usual.
These fishing tales amount to very
little. 1t is only calculated to induce
hunters and fishing parties to come
to Florida, who after they come and
are disappointed curse Florida and
leave. II is not hunters or fishermen
that are needed in Florida. 1t is i'm.
migrants. farmers, men with large
and small means. II is this class of
men that is to make Florida a pros
porous and growing State. Such
men are bound to. succeed here.
Great injustice has been done to this
State by such exaggerated accounts,
In writing this letter have been &C.
tuated by motives OF justice to the
interests Of Florida. l nave written
what / believe to be true. / would
say TO emigrants going West in
search OF homes, come to Florida and
see for yourselves. l see that DIR.
Standitord and III. V. Newcumb have
been equal TO their task. Three
cheers tor them. They are two of
the greatest railroad men in the
country. Louisville should feel
proud of such NEIL. 1 wish you
could hear as-I do The eulogies passed
on them by the people OF the South.
iu ..pireo - NJ aka. }j
In connection with the above we
publish some OF General Grants i'm
pressions of our State.
Gen. Grants Opinion of Florida.
EXTRACT FROM A PRIVATE LETTER TO
THE PHI LADRLPHIA LEDGER $50
Il am very much pleased with
Florida. It has great future before
it. A peninsula extending out from
a great continent like ours, affording
an unlimited demand for all the semi.
tropical productions it can supply,
there is scarcely limit 10 its resour.
ces. 1t is capable OF supplying all
the oranges, lemons, pine.apples and
other semi.tropical fruits used in the