The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-06-12
WRITTEN FOR THE FIoIIDIAN1
"A visit 10 some Of the Fruit and
Vegetable Farms at Lake Hall.

Through an invitation of Mr. j. A. Craig VIC
drove out to his plantation five miles from Tai
lahassee on the Thomasville road, to take a look
al The country in the Lake Hall region On en-
tcrlng his gate we saw two century plants i'm
worth going that distance to see Accompanied
by MIR. &. we drove to the grounds of Professor
r, Dubois, French gentleman who purchased a
tract OF land lying on the lake last fall from Mr.
I. Although but purchase OF few months he
has, through his energy, accomplished much
We saw apple, peach and pear orchards set out,
the trees in a fine growing condition, and ten
acres in vines, of siXty-two varieties of grapes,
the larger part of which are Evira, Cynthianna,
Norton's Virginia and Delaware With all the
standard varieties, be is giving trial to the best
recommended new grapes, and will test their
adaptation to the soil and climate The vines
look well, and we predict will prove success.
We were shown Japan pcrsimmOns and plum
trees, and il is his intention to set out orange
trees on slope on IA part of the lake. where
the trees will be protected by the forest trees
on its borders from the sun until between 0 and
10 O'clock, So that in case Of cold snap the air
frost before the sun strikes them. In partially
shaded location we saw gooscberrics and currants
growing, which he is experimenting with. Pass
ing along the lake our attention was directed to
the spot where he intends to build his wine Gel
lar. The ground has been followed out by ma
ture on the side of hill and will save him sevc-
raj hundred dollars in his excavation. 1t is his
intention in the fall to plant so acres more in
grapes, and be proposes to buy all the grapes
brought to him for the purpose of making wine,
this will give home market and encourage
their production AS Mr.. Dubois has a vineyard
in France and is practical grape-grOwer and
wine-maker, the manufacture of wine will be no
experiment with him, and he will be q great ac-
QUESTION to the neighborhood in which he has
located. Proceeding further we came to the site
on which he will erect his residence From this
spot you have charming view of Lake Hall and
its sister, Lake Oversircct, together with an cx-
tcnsve view OF a beautiful rolling country. His
residence will be constructed in style suitable
for Southern home with wide halls, high cell
ings and piazza all around the house. In his
truck farm we found growing Irish and sweet
potatoes, peas, Lima beans, beets, g-plants to-
matOcs, cucumbers, watcrmeons and canta-
lOupes, together with bed of asparagus and one
of rhubarb. Leaving these grounds we were
shown by MIR. g. several fine locations for fruit
and vegetable farms on the same avenue. He says
that il is his intention to dispose of these lands
only in small lots, and TO those that will build
and locate on thcm thus securing a thickly set
tied neighborhOod.
In drive of little over half a mile we ar
rived on the grounds of Mr.. w. I. Webster.
On the road to his house we passed along as fine
a field of corn one would wish 10 see. 1t was
planted in checks, and the cultivation has been
with Thomas Smoothing Harrow up TO the
present time. The residence is a handsome
house in the modern style, on a high elevation,
with extensive views OF the surrounding cOun-
In eli ic ri of
the vines in bearing. Northeast there is an or
angc grove between the trees of which running
one way are Japan plums. Both being ever
greens, present during the winter q very attract
i've appearance. TO the right of this grove is n
LeConte pear orchard, and adjoining this peach
Passing through this orchard we come to one OF
different varieties Of pears, plums, apricots and
almonds. He is also conducting a trucking busi
ness, and has growing the usual varieties of veg
ctablcs for shipment. His poultry yard is paric
ularly we'll supplied Among the fowls are over
ahundrcd head ofturkcys For the space of time
he has occupied his place we consider il one of the
most attractive in the county.
Returning home with Mr.. Craig we tarried a
sufficient time To refresh the inner man, and then
took stroll over aportion OF his place. On the
public road south he has an orchard containing
peach, ounce, Japan pcrsimmon, apple almond
and dwarf pear trees, and between the rows of
trees rows of grapes OF the Ives Concord, Della
ware and Crevelng varieties. These vines
have on them crop of grapes many of which
look as il full grown, and only require colorng
to be ready for market. Among his pears are
Duchcsse, Louise Bonnie de Jersey, Bdne Lucra-
tive and Bartlett, with fine crops of fruit. The
Japan pcrsimmon is now the size Of the native
variety when ripe. The peach crop this year is
small. We were shown some kietter pear gratis
that were grated in five year old ounce stocks
two months ago that were from four to five feet
high and well branched, the growth of which
seems really wonderful Mr. G. informs me that
a year ago he grated the LcConte the same way,
and this spring had fine dwarf trees covered with
bloom His object in dwarfng these varieties was
to obtain an early yield of fruit. On the south,
on n hill side, he has pecan trees growing to-
gcthcr with some Spanish chestnut. Near these,
on level land, he has Il LeConte pear orchard,
the oldest trees in their fourth year. We next
visited his young vineyard. A part OF the vines
are bearing and producing number of very fine
bunchcs This vineyard he is increasing in size
yearly. Near this is young fig orchard con
tanning at present about POO trees. Adjoining,
in II rich valley, We saw hundreds of young fig
trees growing from the cuttings set ont This win
ter Mr.. e. is strongly impressed with the idea
that there is money in the fig, both for the purpose
OF shipping in refrigerator cars and for drying;
and with the proper varieties, and knowledge of
drying and rultng them up that Florida can
supply the United States and drive the for ign
fig from the market. He expects Ia set out six
acres in them in the 'all. Northeast OF the house
he has started standard pear orchard of a num-
Der of varieties in order to give succession of
fruit from the early summer until winter. Ad-
joining this is an apple orchard of varieties that
have succeeded in The South. We were then
shown his nurseries of several thousand pear,
peach and apple trees, together with some five
thousand grape WINS. He intends on each lot
that he may ultimately offer for sale to sci out an
orchard and vineyard. We thihk well of his
plan, and that he has adopted the best method
Of rapidly increasing the value of his lands. On
his land occupied by his truck farming and gar
den We saw great variety of vegetables, con-
spicuous among them was his fine cabbage and
onions, the latter of the Bermuda variety. We
would judge from what we saw OF this patch
that it would be most profitable crop to raise
and from information we arc lead 10 the belief
will be extensively planted this fall, as those that
have planted them this season are greatly pleased
with their fine appearance and yield. We saw
several acres of the Jersey sweet potato. known
az the Delaware river variety. The vines were
running on the BEDS and It is thought that they
will be ready for shipment by the last of July.
This vegetable will end the shipping season, and
lsx.tr h.