Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1884-03-19
FLORIDA AGAIN.
Climate, Fruit, Vegetation ana o'he'
distinguishing features; Energy
furnished by the North.


furnished by the North.
Tbe following selections are taken
from u letter received by MIS-. NJ
Webber from friend in Florlo''
They are we'll worth the space given
them and will be read with Iitele9'
in boreal Minnesota:
We are thankful that we are APP
preaching the finish Of this our ah'iu,
al pilmrimage to the Summer iahd.
We have passed n delightful winter
the average weather having Deeh
equal to Minnesota's best in July OF
August, with the mercury ut or near
so degrees, almost every day varied oy
an occasional cool wave from Morris
bringing the mercury down into the
neiphborhood of Jack Frost. On TWO
or three occasions Jack has been mere
in sufficient force to I'M ure fruit anu
Young orange trees TO some eAlei''
We are in South Florida, latitude 20
! Farther North, at and near Jackson
Vile. frosts have been of frequent oc-
curreuce and in many localities or
anges were entirely spoiled. OLD Florl-
dams pronoune This an uncommohly
hard winter. At this season OF inc
wear, this, to the Northerner,. is pc
culiarly interesting country. You
find it. with the four seasons, all
mixed up and thrown together pro-
miscuously. Drainage trees, loaded
with golden, luscious fruit with myfi-
ads ofbeautiful little white blossoms,
lust too fragrant for anything, peeplng
out from the golden globes, just walt
ing for the "old folks" to return TO
Mother Earth, and clear the helo lor
the rising generation, while the De-
wildered lemon and lime are always
in and always out ofseason, with puds'
fragrant blossoms, half grown ana
rine fruit to YOUR hearts content; all
ON one tree, and on all the trees, the
wear round. The banana and pine
apple, much the same; only they 90
their heaviest work in summer, ana
mature only stray clusters and cones
under difficulties during the winter.
Thev are not nearly as hardy as the
citron's family.
The forest trees, aside from ever
greens, present about the same appear
ance as in Minnesota. The Jack Oak,
covered with sore and brown leaves,
stands waiting for spring ana ouos.
AsI write to you 1 am in sight OF
numerous, roses, oleanders and geran-
iums, all in full bloom, upon the
grounds of our town hired house.
The growth of vegetation never
"knocks off, for winter here, as at the
North. The animal and feathered
tribes appear even happier in WINTER
as they are less oppressed by excessive
heat. Some of our hens have stolen
nests and are now marshallng dozens
of little velvety chicks about the
grounds with IMMUNITY, in search OF
cockroaches and insects. l could
write you all about alligators, but you
have read and heard the whole story.
I will only state that they abound in
all the little lakes for which South
Florida is so famous, and can be seen
on the grassy banks on almost any
warm day, basking in the SUM- Zen
feet in length is not "long drawn out"
for thew occur in these waters a foot
or two longer.
To appreciate Florida you should
spend winter here. With my eA-
nerience, / can recommend it as good
state in which to spend the winter and
and extra good one to leave i'll the
spring. The native white people are
lean leathcry specimens Of humanity.
Thenegroes who constitute, probably
onehalf the population, are, almost to
an individual, ignorant, lazy, theivlng
yagabonds. This I say from know
ledge.
The three great staples are orange
groves, (not particularly oranges) COM
mercial fertilizers and Mort h erners
the latter being about the only source
of revenue. One year ago last sum-
mer, while at home in Minnesota, l
received letter from a pioneer Of
Orange CO. Florida in which occurred
this paragraph: 1--WE have a fine crop
of oranges in prospect, but you know
our best crop is the Yankee" Even
so, the demizens of these sandy wastes,
during fall and early winter, sit and
wait, as does the maiden for her bella.
ted lover. About all the nerve and
push are furnished by Northerners.
You find the once lordly, but now
crest fallen Southerner in the back
ground in every instance, a modest,
polite, subdued individual and while
he hates his old enemy, he hales his
coming with intense delight, for he
brings with him cash and thrift,
neither of which are on the Johnnie's
bill of fare.
Every cubic foot of Florida atmos-
pheric contains just the least bit of
malaria ;>not enough to harm you how
ever ifyou skip away for the North in
spring as soon as you can possibly 'get
out to grass" Since you wrote of
YOUR illness have wished you here.
7 gould almost guarantee apermanent
cure. These grateful breezes don't
blow from ocean to ocean for no pur-
pose: there is medicine in them with
out the pills and powders.
- 5sz51.@TEJl-
The Man Who Advertised