The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-01-31
Letter from Florida.


fruits that are raised in this State. Ibid
not finish the catalogue, but only some
of those that grow most successfully in
this County.
I am told that there are at least hun.
dred different varieties of fruits grown
in Florida, that cannot be grown in any
part of the United States.
When We consider the vast resources
of this State, its fruits, its corn, cotton,
sugar, rice, potatoes, vegetables &C., to.
gether with its tremendous herds Of
cattle and sheep, We cannot but be i'm.
pressed with the fact that the people
here have advantages that no other peo-
pie in our vast country have.
WINTERS
are said to be variable; sometimes mild,
and sometimes severe. This Winter, so
far, has been very severe .everer, indeed,
than 1 ever imagined it could be. The
"oldest inhabitant" says it is the coldest
that has been felt fifteen years. There
never has been, here any sleet or snow,
but it has been shiuering cold, ice in
abundance, and the earth slightly crus-
ted. Yet strange to say the orange trees,
except very small ones, have not been
materially damaged. The leaves of tho
trees look as if they have been suinged
with fire ]; they are crisped and perhaps
win fall off. de- s
i! have talked with persona who are
familiar With South Florida, and they
tell me that the famous frost-line is all
imaginary that there Is no such line in
the State; that frosts are not unfrequent-
ly seen in the Everglades. Frosts have
appeared from time to time in every part
Of .he State. In this County, I am told
BY old citizens, snow hiss never fallen'
but ,siees sometimes form. It seems to
me that / have felt this Winters cold a.
much as I have felt It in Anderson.
though of course it Is not near 50 cold.
Unless It is rainy, no day is too cold to
work in the opsn air. The fsosts here
have . peculiar dryness that renders
them comparatively harmless. Vegeta-
bles often survive heavy frosts. II
!, During the week Of Christmas I saw
young potato slips shooting ont from un-
dsr.the ground. .'
z So many fairy tales have been told OF
Florida that people who live st dis.
tanee have the Impression that Florida
is far off country-away amid the
tropics and perpetual Spring, Of flowers
and sweet.scented roses, a land Of sun
shine and showers, q Gland Of milk and
honey This is all q phantom of the
imagination. True. roses are here all
the. year round, but in Winter tho coun-
try presents dresry appearance; it is
bare of vegetation except the evergreens,
flowers are scarce, the singing birds have
ceased their songs, and all is quiet
enough, save the ceaseless meanings OF
the wind among tho stately pines.
SUMMER.
~ t.a : .
As the Winters are not severe, so neither
are Summers very warm. This seems to
be the universal testimony. am told
that it would be hot, indeed, were it not
for the frequent showers, and never ceas.
ing sea.breezes. These temper the at
mosphere very much and make life here
pleasant. Persons who have lived here
many years have told me that seldom
one becomes oppressively warm in the
shade, and persons in the fields keep cool
from the factthat their clothes, dampened
With perspiration, are famed with the
breezes from the sea. In the morning,
between sunrise and 9 o'clock, is regarded
as the hottest and most sultry part of tho
day. Aftsr that hour, the breezes spring
up and are in motion most of the dsy.
Occasionally about noon, breezes lul',
and then it is hot, indeed. But this is OF
rare occurrence.
Persons need never fear to come to
Florida on account Of the heat of Sum-
-mer. The people here don't look as they
have been injured by the heat.
The rainy season, rs it is called, COM
p,ences about the first of June. 1t does
not.rain necessarily, but it is showery-a
shower, perhaps, two or three every day.
This rainy season continues through the
three hottest months. The farmers gen.
orally have their corn "laid BY" and arc
ready for the showers. If they are not
prepared for the showers, if their crops
are grassy when these showers set in,
poor fellows. there ID but little hope for
them until they are assisted by Winters
frost. The farmers know these things.
They know it is Of the utmost impor.
tance that they exert themselves while
the "sun shines" in April and May.
These Summer showers are not only ben.
efcial to the. growing crops, but are also
conducive to health. If the Summers
here were as dry az it was last year in
Anderson. not only would nothing be
made in the fields, but the wells would
dry up, the ponds disappear, cattle and
people, too, would sicken and die. So ne
see it is wise arrangement of Provi-
dence that Florida Summers are not dry.
And this is one great advantage that the
people of other States do not always have,
and no assurance of having. Crops here
are sometimes shortened by worms and
caterpillars, but seldom for want Of rains.
k,o Ck.fa told