The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-01-24
FLORIDA'S WEALTH
AS Displayed in the Sub-Tropi-
cal Emp Sition.
THE GUAVA JELLY INDUSTRY

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, January 17.-[Special. /
Florida is called the Italy of America" and
the loyal Floridian sings the praises of the
land of his nativity or adoption from one
years end to another.
Jacksonville has put on her best bib and
tucker, and on all sides arc the regulation
exposition scenes. The streets leading to the
exposition grounds are lined with cav booths
from which is dispensed red lemonade galore,
with all the condiments peculiar 10 circuses,
county fairs, expostions, etc. There are
fakirs and fakirs. The man with
the rat show has arrived, and is getting
in his work on the gulible; at one
corner the possessor of a stray dime is enabled
to see sketches of the principle" battles of
the war, while on another he can have his own
''pictur TUX in the most approved style.
The best view of the interior of the main
building is TO be obtained from the gallery
over the main entrance. The scene is one of
rare beauty. In all parts of the vast hall
there is to be seen wealth OF the products
peculiar to the sub-tropical regions-all kinds
of tropical plants many choice varieties of
fruits, cotton, corn, tobacco, oats, wheat. rye;
samples of everything which this Florida soil
is capable Of producing.
People have an idea" said one exhibitor,
that we can raise nothing but oranges.
There never was bigger mistake. Florida
soil Will produce almost ANYTHING: in fact,
there is no limit to the possibilities in this di-
rectlon. L know you think our claims eXtrava-
giant, look around you and see ii we haven't
right to make such claims"
One of the first displays to attract the attan-
ton OF the visitor is that of Nolusia county,
county noted for its fruits. Here are seen
samples of guava jelly, the making of which
promises to become a great industry i'll Florida.
me guava grows luxuriant bush"
SAID the gentleman in charge of the display,
and has thrifty, rapid growth, but is pecu-
liarly sensitive to frost. in the southern por-
tons of the state these bushes grow to inn
mense trees. They yield very large crops dur
ing the summer, and well into tho winter.
The fruit is in appearance, something like
pomegranate, but is a bright yellow. In size
1t is about that of a small orange. Its taste is
pleasant and the fruit itself is a staple article
of food where it is grown. The parings are
considered the best part for jelly, and as you
see, the jelly is beautifully clear
The making of guava jelly is great industry
in the West Indies, and has been introduced
with great success along the Halifax river, in
Florida, especially along the peninsula be-
tween the river and the ocean, where the
pushes have q special protection.
The Cattley guava, or as my informant wrote
1t the ,Psldlum cattleyanum." is new variety
which has lately been introduced. 1t is said
to differ III appearance, both in bush and in
fruit, from the old varieties The leaf of this
the fruit is red and another yellow about the
shape and size of damson plum. This is very
hardy and will stand the frost.
Nolusia county also displays some
very fine samples of honey. Bee rails
is q great industry on the
uth Halifax and Hilsborough especially at
,ew Smyrna and Hawks park. The present
display is made by Commodore Hart, who is
well known to all bee keepers. lie has had as
high as twenty tons of extracted honey in u
season, and it is said that his bees earn him $50
day. The freeze of two years ago set back
| the honey industry great deal. Even some
| OF the forest trees were killed, a fact which
| leads the Floridans to believe that repetition
of the frost is not probable. The black
mangrove furnishes fine feeding ground
the honey made from it being
| equal to that from the white clover of the
! north Along the east coast great islands OF
| this black mangrove is found The saw pal
metto and the cabbage palmetto also furnish
! great pasturage for the bees