The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-05-18


inquiries about New SMYRNA, thew
are told that thu cannot live here.
lof mosquitoes. Now, this is true.
Inc mosquitoes ate fearful, and no one
was ever KNOW to survive, who at.
tempted to spend a summer here.
NOW don't tell ne this is false, for
everybody says so, and l have tried
II and can VouCh for its truthtulness.
Now, Brother Pratt has TIE inside
track on alllgators, and the Palatka
journal has the "dead wood" on
orange County, but, for full hand
on mosquitoes, We are ahead, and no
competition. History tells us that
this section was Settled in 1853, soon
after Florida was ceded to England,
by Spain, by Lord Hawke, Egmont,
Greenville and HiIlborough, Sir Will
liam Duncan, aud DR.. Turnbull, Gov.
Dray,on, Major Moulton, Richard
Oswald, and 9th rs, all being attract.
ed by the rich hammock lands, with
other advantages and attractions Of
the country. Id these days over
2,OUO people Inhabited this mosquito
belt Large cahals we're cut from
III" river into Jhe hammock lands,
and a tract of LAND over ten miles
square, was drain led and put under a
high state of cultivation Large
sugar houses were built, and these,
with the indigo Watts, now in runs,
and other ,,,bo-o 10
large sums OF money and an immense
amount or laborlwas expended here.
History inrther Says that these set
Elements suffered greatly by the
American revolution the re cession of
the country toaSpaIn, Indians, etc,
leaving this section a scene OF des-
olatlon, until 1919, when the country
passed into the hands of the Ameri-
can Government and subject to mil
ltary dictation, when most OF the
plant atoms were again occupied,
canals, bitches and roads re opened
and repaired, more sugar mills built,
and large extensive fields of cotton,
sugar cane, otc., planted when the
merciless savages swept over it like
a hurricane, in 1886, driving the set.
tiers from their homes, and leaving
a blackened waste. Here history
was at fault. II was mosquitoes and
not Indians, that drove the settlers
away, and AI4etA.S1-~.or settler,
when he inquiries about this section,
from his arrival ih,the State, until he
leaves, is told that no one can live
here, Tor mosquitoes. They will eat
you up. Now, all this is true. Have
lived here togtwelve years, without
a knowledge Of this Iact? Now,
within this well-defned mosquito
belt, lies thousands Of acres cl as
rich lands As can be found in the
State, which can be purchased in
large tracts, for from one to five dol
lars per acre, While tine tracts in eli.
glble locations, can be purchased IN
quantities to suit settlers, Tor from
eight TO twelve dollars per acre.
But, unfortunately, no one Can live
here Tor mosquitoes. We have river
hlled with the various kinds of fish,
OF the choicest species, as well as
CLANS, oysters and turtle; but-mos-
qultos. We are close by the Allan
TIC, and the Sea breeze comes fresh
and invigoratng, but-mosquitos.
Such clouds oiGucks every fall, that
we can shoot them without much
trouble, bnt-mosqu!tos. Our tor
ests aie well Stocked with deer, but
no one can get them, for, we have
mosquitoes. There are several fine
tracts OF laid i'll the market, with
large wild groves on them, but
mosquitoes. Hundreds of settlers
have planted groves oi from five TO
one hundred acres each, all OF which
must De abandoned, tor the land
agents say no one can live here for
mosquitoes; and as all the land
agents, (like George Washington
carry a hatchel, what they say, must
be tue. But, We hope to get relief
soon, for al enterprising Yankee
has been experimenting with view
OF capturing the supply OF mosquitoes
each day, and manufacturing the
same MO orange tree food" and a
company will soon be organized
under the general incorporation act,
To commence The manufacture OF the
same. They have found food
which VIII attract all the mosquitoes
Within the aforesaid belt, and when
feeding, they are given a powerful
dose OF 'Hardee's Concusslon,"
which destroys them instantly.
Powerful steam shovels cast them
into large tanks, from which--(but, l
forget myself, the process is secret),