The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-10-13
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hammock, in the latter county, is
elevated, and contains about 100
square miles, and is peculiarly
adapted to the culture of tobacco,
cotton, corn, oats, rye, (possibly
wheat) barley, highland rice, sugar.
cane, potatoes, vegetables, andSthe
citrus family. In this hammock or
anges attain a perfection seldom
equaled In other parts of the State.
Taking into consideration the climate
and the character Of the soil IN this
hammock, we feel assured that the
time is not far distant when it will
become one of the most important
tobacco growing sections of the
United States. The soil is almost
identical with that OF the best tobacco
growing sections of Cuba. The
climate is adapted to It's culture,
seed is obtainable from Cuba, and
we opine that the time is near when
the Florida weed will be in demand
at remunerative prices. Our exper.
ience as an old smoker had led us to
believe that Florida tobacco, grown
from imported seed, is more fragrant
and less rank than the Cuban product.
Scrub Lands are found on the line
of the Fernandina and Cedar Keys
railroad, between Archer and Bron-
son, and between the St. Johns and
Ocklawaha rivers. Where scrub ex-
lists the soil is coarse white sand, or
a poor, yellowish, sandy soil. In the
scrub sections water is scarce. The
timber usually consists of stunted .
pine and black,jackoak. These lands
are unfit for cultivation.
The word swamp, as used in the
United States, indicates a tract of
land laying low and sabject to mum
dation. Riyer swsmps are liable to
keverhow during thso ~ season, and
their reclamatlon II. S. t., Swamp
rshdss eAisW in aatE ices on the
'l1Sv. JorsnS ana 7v5UHsa Wana Ir-cI ,; -s.Tzes
as these rivers are tavorite routes for
tourists, the opinion has become
widespread that swamps characterize
the State. Many of the rivers OF the
State, as the Suwannee, Withlacoochie,
Hillsborough, Manatee, Peace Creek,
and the Calooshatchie, are without
swamps, and some of them have high
bluff banks.
Cypress swamps are generally
found at the head OF streams, on the
Ocklawaha, and on the southwestern
watershed OF lake Ochechobee.
These lands are so low it is question
able if they can ever be utilized Tor
cultivation. In the near future the
cypress timber OF these swamps will
prove very valuable for crossties and
building purposes.
Salt marshes are the low laying
lands of the lower st. Johns, Nassau,
St. Marys, and Indian rivers, and an
extensive tract between Cedar Keys
and the Anclote rivers. AS a general
rule, these marshes are above tidal
overflow. The soil is heavy and
almost inexhaustible, and if these
marshes were dyked, ditched and
cultivated, they would amply repay
the husbandman. Owing to the
presence of salt water, malarlous
diseases do not prevail. AS every
where else in salt marshes, mosqul-
toes are troublesome, but drainage
and cultivation would dispose of
these pests.
Some of the lakes OF Florida are
surrounded by marshes, but the ma.
iority of them have high banks and
beautiful sandy beaches, and the wa
ter is pure, potable and clear.
The soil of Florida varies in differ
ert sections and no general descrip-
ton will apply. In the valley OF the
St. Johns, as general rule the soil
is sandy. and underlaid by clay at
various depths from the surface.
These lands are we'll adapted to
orange culture, and, by moderate fer
tilizing, will produce remunerative
crops. AT many poines in this val
ley hammocks, containing a loamy
soil, are found, and at certain points
bluffs composed of periwinkle shells,
with thick covering OF vegetable
soil exist.
Along the line of the Jacksonville,
Pensacola g. Mobile Railroad, from
Live Oak to Chattahoochee, and
North to the Georgia line, the soil,