The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-06-13

any other State in the Union) is used for hives,
and magnolia and bass-woOd for frames and sec
tiOns. Pine suitable for hives, dressed on both
sides and edged, costs $50 to $22 per thousand.
Magnolia and bass-wood must be got from the
woods and taken TO the mill to be worked up
The logs cost nothing but the labor of cutting
and hauling.
Q-How docs Florida compare with Calfor-
MIA for beeSg
A.-Parties that are well posted and reliable
write me from California that they occasionally
get very large crops OF honey there but that on
an average, but one year in three can be counted
on for much surplus, while occasionally they
have year that kills off thousands OF colonies
by starvation Also, that the fruitra,se and
bee-keepers are at war, aud The former are driv-
Ing the latter into the mountains, where no
white man wants 10 live" Here in Florida our
seasons are remarkably even in honey produc-
ton, and we never have a year that a paving
crop is not produced Bee-keeping is antago-
nistic to none of our industries and good men
are welcomed To any part uf the State no matter
where they come from. From what | can learn
OF the matter l am confident that our good bee
pasturage Is not more limited in extent Than that
OF California, and there six hundred men give
their whole time to the business, while do not
supPlse there are dozen in this State but what
keep bees merely as a side issue
QTPlease give Information the following
a.
improved; hOmesteads, taxes, health. orange cul-
turc, labOrcrs' wages, when to come. cost of liy-
Ing, Slate maps and pamphlets giving informa-
ton hbout the State, price of board, society
schools and churches, drawbacks such as insects,
reptiles, &c
II nimproEed land is held here at from 81
10 so per acre Good land in very desirable To-
cations, Is held higher. Improved property from
80 tp up among the thousands per acre An
improved place, with small orange grove of an
acre or two coming into bearing and a small
house, with five or ten acres of land incloSrd can
usually be bought at from $500 to $4,000 ac-
cordlng 10 location and quality of land About
all The desirable government hOmesteads near
the settlements have been taken up There are
probably some left in the newly-seitled districts.
Taxes last year were eighteen mills on low val
uatIon IN this county. This Is one of the most
healthy spots on earth, as is proven by our NOR
tuary records, and by the many residents here.
who come To the State broken down IN health
and with death staring them in the face, but who
are now hale and hearty and the proud owners
oi fne orange groves made 10y the labor Of their
own hands The only prevalent disease is chils
and lever, which Is of a mild type and easily
cured The coast and many other parts of the
; ate are nearly free from it.
Our Indian and Hillsboro' river oranges have
The reputation OF being the hest, not only
IN the State but in the uorld Culture of the
orange IS one of the safest and most profit
able lines of business that depend on sun
and shower for success, when proper soil and
location Is selected and reasonable Judgment
and industry Is brought 10 bear upon H. Bee
Keeping and oringc-cuiture are peculiarly fitted
10 60 together 10 the advantage of both
Work is plenty here at $1,000 per month or
s 50lper day for farm labor, and So 80 To $3 90
Tor skilled labor.
ONE whenever you are ready, but do not lay
Your plans 10 go back North during the cold
weather there The ali is probably the best
liine 10 come, as then man can get much of
his heavy ~ork done before hot weather
Living is cheap here, as but lillle clothing is
required; wood Is plenty for the gathering a
house can be built TOR Ildiculously small sum
that VII do until better can be- afforded Fish
and game are plenty, and vegetables do well
where properly attended To. Good board can
be hal Win private family for 800 To s. 90
per week
Socety is somewhat limited, but far above the
average OF thai III most new countries, in intel
ii5ence; schools and churches are found in nearly
every nei5hbOrh0od and a rule are well at
Tended Our greatest drawback here on the
coast IS the insect pest The sand flies and
mosquitoes are very annoying at times during
The summer, but with light house. having net
Ing III the doors and windows, IA person can keep
ont of their way mornings and evenings During
The t1ii winter, and spring months they seldom
annoy, and tlien is when most of The out door
woTh s Gone Oh poisonous snakes " e have two
Kinds, The rattle snake and the moccasin
nave been here seven years and have hunted in
All directions, but have never killed but one of
each Kind consider myself as safe here from
INJURY by snakes as | was at the North Alga-
tors are geting scarce and are but little more
dangerous than wood chucks at the North; as
they are generally as much inclined To keep out
oil The way as any one could ask 4 lack of
steam transportation Is our other drawback but
as loCr railroads are now being built that head
ihls way, and as parties are now in the North
looking Tor IA steamer Ia put on the route be-
tween here and jacksonville, il is pretty evident
that that want will soon be supplied. | am
often asked what success | have had nj bee
keeping, and 80 have published my reports each
year, but as this may reach many who have
never seen them, will say that in 1880 started
IN The spring with fourteen colonies increased to
foriy and took nineteen hundred pounds of
honey. 1t was considered poor year and
used no foundation. In 1881 | started with
thirty five colonies. increased To eighiy-sx, and
took Fix thousand five hundred pounds OF honey
by actual weight; also left about one thousand
pounds IN the hives that could have been spared
without cutting the bees short in winter stores.
Now, i'll conclusion, | would say that any man
with home and family that thinks OF coming
here TO settle, had best come down and take "A
look al the country before selling out But any
man that IS suited with the State, if he has fair
judgment and will work, and stick TO il for a
lew Years, honestly believe stands better
chance OF accumulatiDg a competence here than
IN any other place in America
Yours respectfully, w. $ HART.