The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-04-20

summer and 750 (Faht., for winter !;
and lying as it does between the
Gulf and that inland sea, Lake Okee.
chobee, the intervening country is
constantly tanned by cool and in
vigorating breezes. The winter sea-
son is peculiarly pleasant and agree
able, and the time is not remote
when invalids and tourists who come
to Florida for climatic advantages
will go to the Caloosahatchie, where
they will find what they want.
Contrary to general belief the an
nual rainfall diminishes as we 90 far
ther south down the peninsula, and
this is especially marked during the
winter and spring. For the Years
1872 and 1873 the annual rainfall at
the Punta Rassa signal station at the
mouth OF the Caloosahatchie, was
fitty-four and thlrtythree inches for
the two respective years and for
last year it was thirty inches, as
we learned from Mr.. Evans, the pre-.
sent signal officer at that station.
The same gentleman courteously
furnished us with the amount OF rain
tall tor each month since last Octo-
Der, to wit: November, l.Sl inches;
December, 1893 inches; January,
4.02 inches; February, so inches.
and up to Goth OF March, 53 inches !;
total, $3.50 inches from last of Octo-
ber to the Doth ult. And yet no one
will deny that for the northern part
of the State the present has been an
extremely rainy winter. Such is the
climate OF the region lying between
the 26th and 9th parallels OF north
latitude in the northern part OF Mon
roe county, the most southern county
in the State.
On account OF the remarkably
level character OF the country not
affording drainage 10 the almost
daily rainfall OF the summer season,
there is during that season an accum
ulation OF surface water which rap
iriii 1.7ls 8 z . = eSsI1 on Guosce1
| sation OF the rains
THE HEALTHFULNESS
of the Caloosahatchie region is un-
surpassed; and we venture to as
sert that no where in the State can
be found people of all ages whose APP
pearance speaks better tor the gene
raj healthiulness of the section. In
this we must confess that it was not
according to the impression previ-
ously made some how on our mind.
On inquiry we found that there was
almost total exemption from mala
rial diseases, even along the banks of
the Caloosahatchie, and we were
further assured on this point by DR..
James Kellum, an accomplished and
experienced physician, living on the
river and in the rich lands above
Fort Myers.
THE TROPICAL
productions of this part Of Florida
will comprise all that afe raised on
the island OF Cuba. AT Fort My
Major James Evans has halt dozen
bearing cocoa nut trees which he
planted some twenty years ago.
These trees are about thirty feet
high, and bears strong resemblance
to the cabbage palmetto.
In the event that The draining OF
Lake Okeecho0ee is accomplished,
and the future overtiows of the Ca
loosahatche are prevented, in the
rich soil along that stream will
doubtless be found all that is requi-
site TO render the growth and cult,
vation OF coffee in Florida a success.
For early vegetables, on the Caloo>
sahatchie is the place par excellence.
While there last month roasting ears
of corn were to be bad, and vegeta-
bles where plentiful for those who
had tried to raise them. Happening
in a store in Fort Myers one day we
noticed some two bushels OF toma.
toes in shallow, broad box, and Oh.
served that they appeared to be of
extra size. Picking up one we had
it weighed, and found it to weigh
three quarters of pound. Another
weighed half a pound.
FORT MYERS
is one OF the many military posts
established in Florida during the oft.
recurring Seminole disturbances. 1t
is located on the south bank of the
Caloosahatchie river some fifteen