The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-10-26

woods, will, in due time, impart value
to these yet virginia. forests. The
outskirts give, too, rise to several
fine mineral springs OF various qualifi.
cation, the summer resorts OF parties
from the north section. Marshes sub
ject to regular inundation by high
tide extend tor few miles along the
sea coast.
The North Section, the biggest by
far, is elevated terrain, rising from
about 100 feet In the northeast, grad
ually to about 500 feet in the north
west, and from a gently undulating
formation to rolling and hilly. A
solid red clay is throughout ITS subs
stratum, on rising ground, generally
cropping up and forming part OF the
top soil in lower or more level loca-
tious, 1t is generally overlaid by
layer Of coarse, yellow clay. Springs
OF healthiest water are numerous on
the skirts of hammocks; on higher
ground good water can every where
be found in sufficient quantity at
depths OF from 10 to 40 ieet. Leon
county in which Tallahassee is situa-
ted, contains several pretty little
lakes, evidently bedded below the
clay formation, and resting on
the calcareous, through which their
waters sicker off underground, leaving
the lakes without outlet, the under~
ground channels, meeting probably
all in the large magnificent basin OF
Wakulla Spring on the transition
from the upland into the f1atwoods.
The eastern portion contains many
swampy and marshy tracts; the west
more elevated and hilly ground. The
climate of the eastern portion is reg
suIated by the ruling sea winds from
the Appalacha Bay and Cult, to
which | believe branch of the Gulf
Stream being diverted off by the
Tortugas and Keys, from the main
course, and drifting in N. w. N.
direction along the west coast OF the
Peninsula, evidently gives additional
force, whereas the northwest portion
of Middle Florida,i is to my estimation,
more under the influence OF the land
winds from the N. w. The climate
is throughout healthy on rising and
high grounds, naturally liable to te~
vers when close to big river courses.
The weather evinces marked reg0"
larity and evenness, with neither
sudden nor strong changes, certainly
favorable to health. For the object
of homesteading, bodies OF best, and
really selectable lands are presented
in the east by Taylor and Lafayette
counties, aud in the west by Liberty
county, both yet very thinly settled.
Wakulla and Franklin count es are
nearly all low land. The other four
northern counties, Madison, Jetferson,
Leon and Gadsden, which represent
what generally go by the name OF
Middle Florida, have been brought
under cultivation in the course OF
these fifty or more years, SO tnat in
some two>fitths, IN others three titths
of their area may be stated to be
cleared lands; (in Jefferson county
this refers only to its northern beit);
thew were formerly all oak and hicko
nv or pine forest. Their hammocks
along small swiftly running creeks,
are for the most part dry and tit tor
cultivation, holding out a SOIL OF
primeval fertility; big river courses
are subject to overfows in winter.
The landscape presents ever and anon
an agreeable change from cleared and
omen tracts to wood and forest scenes,
contributing too, it's share TO the gem
eral saIubrity OF this section OF the
State. This large proportion OF
cleared soil ought in itself invite a
white farming immigration as the
the fevers inevitably dependent upon
breaking up OF new lands, when COM
pelled to live upon, will, OF course,
be avoided. Their prices, too,
running from SO to 81 for good soils
in a body, inclusive OF farm buildings
and in good locations, constitute
another attraction. Worn out lands
can be had at a dollar the acre. Far