The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-09
Florida Agriculsure.

Wa pse the term Florida agriculture, says
49,. Indian River Mirror, because in our
Union agriculture in this State, or, more
eorrectly this portion of the State, the
lontbarn portion, along the east coast, is
ditferent. or ought to be, from that of other
sections of higher ATTITUDES.
faihre to recognize the special differ
orco which exists in soil, climate and pro
AUCTIONS between this and more northern
lotions is the prime cause of the failures
which many people make and the origin of
,,onv Of the objections some have to living
in Florida. .
A man from the blue grass region of
Vantuckv, or one from the corn fields of
Tennessee. or from the cotton belt in Geor-
c,a Alabama or Mississippi, or from the
rica lands of South Carolina, or from the
sea island cotton producing regions of
GEORGIA and Northern Florida, on coming
IN tbis section will begin at once to institute
COMPARISONS between the land, products and
Weld of his native section and the appear
ance and supposed yield of this Florida
sand"-much to the disadvantage of the
said sand"
Because ''this sand" is not adapted to the
growth of Indian corn or cotton or rice, or
other leading crops raised in another lati-
tude. the whole State is condemned as unfit
for agricultural purposes, valueless bed
Of sand and fit only to be divided up and
sold to invalid Northerners by land sharks
TO be used as winter homes.
In more northern climes men judge of the
admiration of certain soils to the production
of certain crops by certain standard APP
pearances or signs. When they come here
they look for these standard appearances or
signs. and failing to see or find them, they
stand convinced by their own judgment
that 'Florida will not do" The sandy
lands of Florida, judged by the standard
in vogue in other States, would be pro
nounced unfit to sprout cowpeas,n while
the fact is this writer has seen right here in
Cocoa, on a bare sandy garden. innocent of
fertilization, as fine squashes, peas, onions,
tomatoes and beans as usually are grown in
choice garden spots in other sections. 1t
would be ridiculous to institute a compari-
son between the crop producing capacity OF
Florida and that of other and better adapted
sections for the same crop. A corn planter
need not come to South Florida to plant
crops of corn The wheat raiser need not
abuse Florida because he cannot raise wheat
here as he can in Minnesota. The devotee
to 'king cotton" need not kick here because
his cotton stalks grow into trees and fruit
little or none at ALL 1t would be about as
iudicious for man to come down here pro
specting for location for an iron mine and
blast furnace as for one to come prospecting
for farm where he may plant and raise
corn, cotton, rice, wheat or blue grass.
But by consulting the law of adaptation
as related to SOIL climate and productions
there need be no fear of results. A judi
cious selection Of land-and there are lands
totally unfit for any cultivation, as in al
sections-thorough preparation and wise
selection of crops to be raised, and South
Florida will not be one whit behind any
section anywhere.
Tobacco, sugar cane, fibrous plants fol-
textile fabrics, milo maize, vegetables
citrus fruits and the whole range of semi
tropical fruits could be suggested as substi
tutes for thestandard crops alluded to above
and many industries possible only on &C
count of the existence of material here
could be made successful in lieu of the SCI
industries and occupations of the older anc
more northern States