The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-02-21
A Kentuckiaa's Impressions Of
ElOrl6a.


Editor Fioridian: So delighted am at what
Ihave seen OF this truly favored region of Pied
mont Florida" it has been happily termed,
that can't help availing myself OF your paper to
give feeble expression OF interest and pleasure,
into hope that it may possibly be the means of
melting some other person to brave the long ride
over the railroad from jacksonville TO Tallahas
SEE, and see the beauties of the Tallahassee
country.
For the few days that wandered about the
broad shaded streets OF your quaint old Capital
city, ims sined myself fully repaid for the trip
up here. Your stately old oaks are truly grand
and lend an effect to your streets that never
remember to have seen anywhere; and the large
old fashioned types of Southern homes that
stand among them, with wide verandas and airy
Railways, suggest more my early conception of
what Southern homes were than any have met
with in the State. The very bad taste of CON
structing houses on the Northern style of cottage
with high sharp gables, narrow little porches,
bay windows, &c, in a semi-iropcal cline,
seems not to have obtained as yet with you, and
for sake of harmony in the general effect i, is to
be hoped it never will
are simply wonders OF beauty. such profusion
Of rare flowers never imagined outside florists
frames, and arm given to understand that all
this wealth of adOrnment 10 their Surroundings
is attributable entirely 10 the taste and industry
of the ladies of your town, that as a fact not a
single professional gardener is employed in per-
fectng these attractive gardens. but Ills all owing
10 your matchless soil and climate, and the los
tering care of the fair women
Through the courtesy of Mr.. Haldeman l was
given a delightful drive Of 80 miles through the
surrounding country, visiting the picturesque
old estates of Waverly and Live Oak, where, be-
meath the grand old oaks and magnolias, was
made sad to view the ruins Of the once hospla
bile old plantation homes Of long ago, mournful
monuments they are of pristine glory. Incom-
parably beautiful views were shown me of Lake
jackson, from different headlands along its pre-
cipitOus shores and when, ter Is miles of as
cending, We reached the top OF the old IlIan
village neighborhood, and looked in every d.
rcction for Is or 20 miles, the prospect was I'M
like anything dreamed OF in Florida.
Aside from the beautiful, noted evidences of
substantial merit that has greatly impressed me
Along roadways and gulles found that The
rich soil goes down 20 or more feet To- -rock
PAM; that il is practically inexhaustible was
shown fields, where the old corn stalks and
weeds stood twelve feet high thai, was assur d,
had grown there without tertilizng, and thai
the land had been in continuous cultivation for
30 years, without any other fertilizing than II
received from the decomposition OF the annual
growth of vegetation sprinsing up after the crops
are laid by To me this seemed incredible
Certainly, under the reyiviiying influences ot
such q climate and season as yours, the exhaus
lion OF your deep calcareous and alluminous soil
is quite impossible.
Another startling feature, that to my Western
eyes meant comfort, wealth, luxury, was the ma
tive grasses. Who ever dreamed of grass in Flor
ida! Who ever conceived OF fat cattle in Feb
ruary. unhOused, untsd. except ON the rich lus.
cious Bermuda pasture on which they are graz
ing! And judge of my amazement when the
fortunate owner of these sleek brutes took me
into his dairy and showed me the weeks &C.
emulation of sweet golden butter al ready for
next days market / almost imagined twas
June and was back in old Kentucky, and could
smell the boque. ofihe Blue grass
The splendid hard road enabled as to 20 along
at a dashing pace. and we came safely back TO
town, after one Of the most interesting rides
ever remember to have taken
am told. Mr.. Editor. that the country have
seen is fair sample Of The territory embraced in
the greater portion Of this and adjoining coun-
ties Of Gadsden, jackson, Jefferson and Madison.
II this is true certainly there b an area Of coun-
try here equal TO any have ever seen and capa-
BILE of becoming the source of incalculsble wealth
to its people, and there are thousands now Of In
dustrious farmers who must In time ind Il out
and seek Il In exchange for the ungenerous sur