Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-02
s7 FLORIDA
Advantages and Resources OF
levy County
Facts ana FsgRss for Those Who
9hihk Ct Gong South.


" litea fcf t5s 3 oaso- LsvyNktsrprss b.
Gen W. h. -ebrng, f.rne.ly Of kemphis.a
LOCATION.
Levy couaiy is one Of the southern
counties. bUuaded GU the north BY
Alaohua equity. east By Marion, south
BY Hernando and the Gulf of Mexico
aud west ~ the guilt and Lafayette
county, from which the Suwanee river
separates it. Levy county has an area
oil over 1000 square mi es
SOIL.
The soil Of Levy county is greatly
diversified, and no lands in Florida are
more susceptible Of a high state o.
cultivation than the lands in this
county. The surface is principally
uneulstiug rine iand-generally fer
lille The pine lands lie between the
Wackasssssee ahd the Suwanee river
is in~terspersed with live oak, bay,
magnolia and sweet gum. There is q
scope of low pine land, i~nterspersed
with creeks and cypress ponds, divid-
ing the high pine land from the Gull
Hammock Our soil is underlaid with
clay and soft sand stone, and In some
parts Of the county can be found lime
rock which when burned is very fine
as a fertilizer.
GULF HAMMOCK
Contains about 100000 acres of land
which produces the West India suyar
cs5e equal ii not SD perior to that pro
duced in the back lauds of Louisiana
Upland rice, short cotton, corn and
cats do we'll in the hammock; the
orange is also being very successfully
grown. There is also an almost In
ezhaustible supply Of fine timber in
tits hammock consisting Of white oak,
red and white bay, magnolia, red
cedar, sweet gum, cherry, juniper and
hickory. This hickory is dotted BIZ
numerous bays and streams that are
navlgable for small boats, thus giving
an outlet for the transportation Of the
products OF this seotlon Of the coun.
try tU
CROPS.
The soil of Levy county is ADAPTED
to the culture ofcorn, sea islandQoue)
cotton, sugar cane, upland rice. cats.
Irish aud sweet potatoes, cassava. ar
rev root and loblcco.s Sea island
cotton and sugar cane are the prinoi
pal money crops, aud the sea island
cotton shipped from tbis county IS bv
far the finest that is sold in the mar.
kets from Florida This county tock
the premium at the Atlanta Cotton
Exposition for the best bale of Florida
sea island cotton, While we Law no
claims TO being a corr raising country
yet our averige is ten bushels ner
acre Those of cur farmers who have
tried the upland rice speak highly Of
It and OF the Yield, giving a Weld Of
about twenty five bushels per acre
without tertilizing. lt is a very fine
forage crop, AS iae Irish potatoes as
l ever saw cam from this county: our
rust proof oats are a sure GOD: tohae.
co Is becoming a iavorite crop, and a
few Of our enterprising farmers are
now turning their attention to its
culture.
VEGETABLES.
Cultivation Of early vegeta5 les for
northern markets is a new industry ia
this county and ia the main has been
successful, Our farmers are shipping
peas, belns, cucumbers, cabbage. To-
matoes, egg plants. asparagus, Irish
potatoes, aud l am of the opinion that
when we can secure a reliable, rapid
transit our farmers wild 20 very largely
into this inviting industry.
FRUIT.
The cultivation of the oranpe il
comparatively q new industry in Levy
county, the older citizens never enter
tanned the idea that orange culture
would be profitable, and only planted
for their home consumption: nearly an
OF our old citizens have a few bearing
trees and tor quality Of fruit will com
pare favorably with any grown in
Florida Levy county is south of shs
orange belt in Marion aud Putnam
counties, and, being a Gulf county. il
less Affected by the cold north winds
that are so damaging to the orange
crop. No county in Florida offers a
1ner field to those wishing TO engage
In the culture of the orange than Lew
county: Our gray loan lands, under.
lad With clay, mari and limestone.
produce as ine oranges as can be
grown IN Florida. Our lands IN =
cut Of the reach Of the poor man. but
can be bought at from $l.25 to $40 mar
acre-lauds that are adapted not only
70 orange culture, but suitable for
general farming. There were no
orange trees killed In this county Inv
the cold wave that swept over Florids
on the night oftbe 10Th Of December.
IS5O There are at this writing about
eo.,VOV trees In grove shape and this
VIII % largely increased year after
year, and IN ten years this county will
be numbered among the large 1.ssg
producing counties ia Florida. We
invite immigration in the Industry.
feeling It will be profitable. The reach
grows hnely in this county, and a
great many are turning their attention
to this very fine fruit. Plums and
ounces grow we'll, and | have never
heard OF an entire failure Of the peach
crop In this county. The scuppernong
grape is receiving some attention in
thiS county and produces we'll.
BEE KEEPING.
This is also a new ENTERPRISE in our
county, and thus far has been profit
sole TO those engaged in ii, and bids
ialr 10 become q leading Industry.
NAvIGABLE STREAMS.
The SuWanee river enters the Guli
OF Mexico on the western bouud.ry
the MitblaeoNohee on the south. with
the Wackasasee between. The two
first Of these rivers are nayigable for
steamers.
RAILROADS.
The Florida Transit railroad ru,,
rom n%artheast TO southwest through
the county near its center, and inter.
eerts the Gull at the Port Of Cedar
Aey, connecting ut that point with
steamers for Havana, Cuba, Tampa
key West and New Orleans and WItb
steamers plying up and down the Gulf
coast.
WATER.
The question Of good water presents