Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-09

The Middle Florida FaIr-The Flo
raj Wealth of that Secsf0n-The
Vegetable Exhsbit-LaPge increase
In Truck Farming and Vegetable
Shipments.
TALLAHASSEE, May 5--Editor Morning NetUs:
The Middle Florida Spring Fair, which was
closed yesterday, was a decided success, not
only in the number Of its visitors, but In the
character of its exhibits. 1t was designed to
foster the new element Of industry now spring
ing up in our midst Truck farming is becom-
ing success, and the day is rapidly approach
ing when this will be the distinct agricultural
feature of this section. The late floral and
vegetable exhibit proved concusively that
Middle Florida is admirably adapted both in
soil and climate to this industry. Always
noted for its floral display, this section proved
that its boast was not an idle one, and that our
floral wealth was not confined to Leon county
alone, but that all Middle Florida was a Land
OF Flowers. The Exhibition Hall was virtually
floral temple, and the air was sweetened
with the delicious perfumes of an almost end
less variety Of choice native and exotic plants.
The exhibit of General W. G. Bird and Prof.
@ Fl. Jaquot of Monticello, was especially In
teresting. They had on exhibition one hundred
and sixty-six varieties of the rose alone. These
gentlemen are the proprietors OF the Month
cello Green House and Nursery. They in
formed me that they had altogether two hum
dred and eighty seven varieties of the rose and
that their entire floral collection consisted of
about twelve hundred varieties I am thus
particular in mentioning this exhibit because
the dav is not far distant when flowers will be-
shipped North from here as well as fruits
and vegetables. And why nots What an
immense business is done by the florists
of many of our large cities The aesthetic taste
of the present day will not be gratiied without
a liberal floral display on everv occasion.
Theatres, churches banquets, receptions. ETC.,
all make heavy drafts on the florists. Some
years since a gentleman visited this section
with view of purchasing s 1me two hundred
acres, to be set out in flowers. which he said
he intended to ship North. There is money in
it, and General Bird and his partner have
started a new industry that will paw them we'll.
From Leon county there were many exhibits
Conspicuous among them were those OF Mrs.
Judge Douglas. PaSsionately fond of flowers
this lady has probably greater variety than
any other. and her beautiful and choice ex-
hibit, like her we'll kept flower garden at home,
was "a thing of beauty She informed me
that she had two hundred varieties of the rose
alone, sixty varieties of geranum, besides
many Others On exhibition she had but TWEEN
ty varieties but. arranged as they were with
such artistic skill, they formed beautiful
sight.
Next to Mrs Douglas, Mrs W. R. wilson'has
the finest flower garden Ia Tallahassee, and
her handsome exhibit was in keeping with her
well known taste.
Mrs. J. B. Hall had a magnificent display
and thoroughly in keeping with the exhibitors
tastes. For several seasons Mrs. Hall has OBJ
tanned a premium for her floral display and
her present exhibit is not one whit behind tho
others collection of thirteen varieties of
native flowers, by Miss Matte Houston. excited
general admiration, for be it known that Flo
rida's natives will compare well with the ex-
octics; and beautifully arranged as this choice
collection was, they reflected no little
remarkable exhibit was some bleached
ferns by Mrs DR.. Slosson. They were In q
glass case, and ELECTED universal admiration
The floral exhibit was probably the largest
ever before had in the State, and it is matter
OF regret that so much sweetness should be-
missed by our Northern visitors. They came,
citizens; were raised not for sale but for the
qualification of the refined taste of the ex-
hibitors. But as l have before remarked, the
day is not far distant when Florida's floral will
be in demand in our Northern markets
The vegetable exhibit was no less gratifying
Mr.. E. W. Gamble, who has made large shin
ments TO New York of cabbages this season,
astonished his neighbOrs by the mammoth cab
bages he exhibited. There were twenty head.
each of not less than fourteen inches in diame-
ter, and aver aging in weight eighteen pounds
each. There were fine Irish potatoes some
weighing as much two pounds. The differ
ence in the size of the present marketable po-
tato, and such as we raised for our
tables in ante bellum times was mere
manifested. Then. we would he satisfied WITH
9e+eA9AAcc
such sizes as are now thrown aside-the culls:
now, none but the largest are shipped The
largest on exhibit were those of Mr.. N. w. Epps,
but those OF Col. Bradford while not so large
were better skinned. The disulay of onions.
carrots. beets, turnlps, kale, green corn,
squashes. celery and asparagus were very
fine, and proved that Middle Florida
Is destined at no distant day to be a
large shipper OF garden truck. The large
esculents of some of these exhibits reminded
one of the mammoth growth of similar varie-
ties in California. Although nearly all the ex-
hibits were from Leon county. yet the ceun-
ties Of Jefferson, Madison and Gadsden were
named county. bad on exhibition rice huller,
a patent for which he has applied for With
fifteen mortars in his machine, he claims that
he can hull fifteen bushels OF rice per day.
It Is to be regretted that more specimens OF
soil were not exhibited as requested by the
directors. But our people have made begin
ming, and when the next spring fair is held we
may confidently expect still greater interest
to be manifested. Mr. J. B. Collins, Of Talla-
hassee. however exhibited a specimen of his
soil in Hillsborough county that is. possibly,
without parallel. 1t consisted of bird guano
mari and vegetable mold, and was used by him
as fertilizer. He informed me that he had
six acres on his tract and that in one place the
deposit was eight feet deep So confident is
he that this fertilizer will prove a bonanza that
he has refused one thousand dollars for an acre
of it. There are similar deposits elsewhere in
the State, as well as of bone Dhosphates
What Florida needs is a geological survey for
not only there rich deposits of fertilizers.
but of coal AM mineral ores also The attend
ance on the second day of the fair was very
good. Nearly all of Tallahassee turned ont
while n large crowd came from Jefferson. and
Thomasville had fair representation. The
drill of the cadets, the baby show, the racing
shooting and tournament were among the at
fractions of the last day. Financially the Fair
was a success, but a greater success was
achieved in the fine floral and vegetable ex-
hibit.
In former years this was dull season for
this section. The. cotton crop was sold tha
planter was busy in preparing for another ard
the merchant had to advance supplies to be
paid for in the fall. Hence the prudent man
purchased sparingly. Now, however it is diff
ferent Every day wagons are passing through
our streets loaded with potatoes and cabbages-
Thirty thousand dollars worth of truck will be-
shipped from Leon county alone So far the
prices realized by the shippers have proved re-
and merchants and truckers are in
fine spirits. Heneeforth this section will
have its truck season as well as cotton season
and we confidently look forward to better DAYS
Soon the demand for transportation will be
such as to require another outlet to Savannah
and we are looking forward to the ACCOMPLISH
ment Of some of the proposed schemes for
new lines Of railway for this section with no
little interest The truckers require rapid and
cheap transit; the shipper of cotton, while he
prefers it, is not so wholly dependent on &C.
LEON.