Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-02
MIDDLE FLORIDA.
A VISIT TO MONTICELLO AND
THE BLACK BELT.

An ADte-Bellum Team-A PrIuceiy
Planter-His Farm StatIstics- The Lee
COnte Pear-Acresgs in Jefferson
COunty-Grape Culturs-Watermelo ns
-MOnticellO's SchoO Churches,
Population, Eto.-GeneraI Remarks.
Thirty-one miles west of Tallahassee
the train of the Florida Railway and Navi-
CATION Company pauses long enough at
the junction of the Monticello branch
with the main trunk 10 allow passengers
DESTROYS of visiting the charming town
named after the historical home of the
author Ofthe Declaration of independence.
distant four miles }, to proceed thither.
Tne route lies through a gently undula-
ting and fertile district, in a high state OF
cultivation, and dotted with farm houses
and pear plantations. Soon the spires of
the little city appear, which is most hap
PLY situated ON an elevated ridge, and at
once enlists the admiration of the be-
holder.
Monticello Is the capital of Jefferson,
which Is one of the richest and most pop
ulous OF the northern tier OF Florida coun-
ties. 1t numbers $1,000 Inhabitants, near
vi mum are vi
AFRICAN EXTRACTION.
Indeed this is the very heart of the
"6lack b IT. in our sister State, and yet
the freedmen are quiet and orderly and
seem To take but little interest in politics.
Perhaps they are beginning TO realize
from wholesome experience that the laws
operate equally upon all classes, and
their quoDdam owners are alike interest
ed with themselves in securing the
benefits OF good government. At all
events the county goes Democratic, and
the cOlOred folks seem contented and
happy.
TIE taxable values of Jefferson foot up
$l,46S, 1903, and within its limits may be
found large areas of the best land in
Florida.
The writer enjoyed the pleasure OF meet
ing one of the opulent planters OF the
county,
b. w. BELLAMY ESQ.
whose estates might justly rival some of
the petty principalities of Germany. He
was accompanied by an immense wagon
drawn b! SIX superb mules, not one of them
less than sixteen hands high, daintily ca
parlsOned, which was heavily laden with
flour, sugar aud other household supplies.
The driver and other servants appeared 10
share the importance of the owner, and
one Of them exclaimed with a consequent
tial look, "Our boss is zig man, he knows
how to take de shine OF ebry body" We
found Mr.. pellamy plain and unpre-
tending gentleman, the very reverse OF the
bl0ated aristOcrat. Drawing him out in
conversation, the fact transpired That he
was the proprietor of
EIGHT NTHoUsAND
acres of land in one body lying on the
nf AtroIIlu mil of
Monticello. This formed portion OF the
famous Gen. Bailey estate before the war.
Mr.Bellamy cultivates five thousand acres
of corn and cotton, about equally divided,
besides oats, potatoes. sugar cane, peas
and vegetables. The average yield of cot
ton per annum is
1000 BALES,
and his corn crop usually produces II
bushels per acre. This would amount to
10000 bushels. In former times, when
the soil was fresner and more carefully
tended with slave labor, the yield was
about one-third more.
Mr.. Beliamy said the farmers were al
most universally involved in debt grow
ing out of low prices and the ravages of
the caterpillar. Fortunately they had
held on to their patrimonial possessions.
All the real estate OF the cOlOred people OF
jefferson county would not exceed 500
acres. The time WAS approaching when
diversified crops and the cultivation of
fruits and vegetables would work a salu-
tary change tor the better.
THE LIE CONTE PEAR.
This toothsome fruit. which does not
blight, and may be prOpagated readily
from the cutting, seems to have found its
native soil in this region. Finer speci-
mems have never been grown in the
South.
The writer walked through Mr.. Part
ridges orchard and nursery, which coy
eTs many acres, and saw the pear tree In
every stage OF it's growth. The cuttings
are set in trenches fifteen inches deep,
four feet asunder and six inches apart in
the drill, with about two inches depth OF
well r0tted manure placed in the bottom
of the fuIrow. The manure is first COW
cred with earth well packed, and then the
twigs, about eighteen inches in length,
are stuck down perpendicularly, just over
the fertilizers, with only
TWO EYES
exposed above the surface. All will put
out, but the proportion of those that root
firmly and grow of seldom exceeds 90 per
cent.
Mr.. Partridge estimates the pear orch
ards of jefferson county to cover an area
trees are inside OF the corporation OF
Monticello. Some trees will yield ten
bushels in three years after beginning 20
bear. Our informant had eaten fruit from
trees five years from the setting of the
cuttings.
The trees in this section are Just COM
ing into bearing. Two hundred acres
will be added the present season to the
orchards OF the county. The demand for
young trees continues undated, even as
far North as New Hampshire.
GRAPE CULTURE.
Mr.. A. Simons sold last year 500
worth Of grapes of she Concord and Della
ware varieties, from two and halt
acres OF ground, besides expressing fifty
six gallons OF choice wine. some of the
bunches of grapes weighed as much as
nineteen ounces each.
THE WATERMELON INDUSTRY.
W. NJ. Girar1eau, Esq, planted $50
acres Of the kOlb watermelon last year
and realized very satisfactory returns.
He also sold 1000 pounds of the seed in
Northern markets at over 81 per pound.
He will 20 Into the business larger than
ever the present season. A bed of mica,
very superior In quality, has recently
been discovered In Jefferson county.
Monticello can boast of an elegant
brick academy, with l2jpupils, unuer the
charge OF superintendent j. II. Girar-
deau, assisted by three teachers, anu has
four white and two colOred churches, one
planning mill, two large hotels nearly com
pleted aud ready for occupal ion, several