The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-01-12
NEWBERRY, S. c., THURSDAY, JANUARY IL, 1882.

cnange tnelr mlnds ana resolve
to keep their eyes and ears wide
open. l do not mean by this to
accuse any one Of being dishonest,
| simply mean TO say that these
fellows down there know how to
trade-that they are sharp.
The lands in that portion of
Florida visited by me, viz, Sum.
ter Comfy and small portious of
Orange, Marion and Putnam Coun-
ties, may be classified as follows:
Hammock lands, densely cov-
cred with large live and water
OAKS, hickory, postoak, magnolia,
bay, &C., with Il thick under
growth of brush wood. These
lands, as a general thing, are very
rich, and are adapted to the grow
ing of corn, long cotton, sugar
cane, tobacco, vegetables, and 10
semi-tropical fruits.
Then you have what ls known
as scrub hammock which is
covered with small scrubby bushes
and saw-palmetto. These lands
are for the most part poor, but
with high manuring will produce
fruit trees, peas, potatoes, &c.
Then there are thousands OF
acres of what is known as swamp
lands along the lakes and rivers
portions Of which are covered
with saw-grass, the water lily
and maiden cane, and on other
portions you find cypress trees of
huge dimensions and palmetto
trees without end. All these
lands are partially covered by
water, and if properly drained
would be the finest lands in this
State and as fine as any in the
world for the production of sugar
cane, corn, &c.
There are three classes of pine
lands, and by the way these lands
make up by far the largest part
of the area of florida. They may
be classified as follows Lands
lying near the lakes, ponds and
rivers and some on the ridges are
tolerably fair and we'll adapted
to the growing of such crops as
grow on the rich hammock lands.
The second class consist Of
lands somewhat inferior to the
first, some Of which can also be
found lying near ponds and lakes.
The third class of which there
are thousands and thousands of
acres consists in as poor lands as
you can find in the sand hills Of
South Carolina or any where else.
The most Of these lands will
make orange trees and will also
produce fruit provided they re-
ceive the right kind of treatm ent.
Acres, almost without number, of
such pine lands as described
above, can be obtained from the
United States Government and
the State ard Rail Road authori-
ties from 90c. to s1.25 per acre.
Homesteads from 40 to 100 acres
can be had at about l0c. per acre
if the conditions are complied
with; that you live on the place
for FIVE years, put up house and
clear, fence and cultivate as much |
as four or FIVE acres of land.
This gives to the mao with but
little means an opportunity to geta
home Of his own, and many who
are now the most successful men |
in Florida at one time availed |
themselves Of this privilege.
The pine timber of Florida as q
general rule is short and not very
large. There is scarcely any un-
dergrowth of small trees, and the
pines themselves stand so far
apart that you can drive wagon,
buggy or cart through the woods
without any difficulty. The tim
ber for the most part is Of the
yellow pine and makes splendid
building material. The country
is sandy and the roads Or woods
do not cut up on account of wet
weather. Now put all these things
together and connect with them
the idea Of cheap lands and any
one can readily see how easily
and cheaply lumber can be turned
ort by a good saw mill. The de-
mand for lumber and the facilities
for shipping it are increasing year
by year.
Florida is generally regarded as
very sickly country, but in the
poor sand bills away from their
larger water courses and in part
from the mosquitoes too, l see no