The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-11-30
FROM THE LAND OF FLOWERS.

FROM THE LAND OF FLOWERS.
The following letter received by T. ID.
Thomas, Of Bank street, will not prove un-
interesting to our many readers who may
have wrong impressions OF this, that and
the other concerning Florda's sunny cline:
DEAR BRo.-I intend to give you dsscrip-
zion of Florida as had promised you in my last
letter.
Since order and system are necessary for the'
successful accomplishment OF any purpose, we
intend to commence with the soil and give its
surface, composition, natural productions, &C.,
streams climate, then to describe the artificial
productions or the agriculture, concluding with
the people,
The soil is OF the marine formation, and like
all such formations, the surface is generally
level 1t lies upon a limestone OF coral tormsG-
ton. The term sandy applied to Florida soil
misleads western and northern people. 1t CON
tains no clay or aluminium AS northern soil
would, but is almost pure silica or clean sand,
After washed 1t is similar to the sand used in
the north to scour tinware. 1t is very fine and
worthless for plastering or making mortar for
general work. After heavy shower it looks us
IL slight snow had fallen on the ground, and
the writer was deceived by it several times.
when leaving the house in the evening. When
wet 1t does not become muddy, as there Is not
enough aluminium in 1t to make it adhesive. Tie
soil contains but very little vegetable matter as
that 10 annually washed away by the spring
rains. The writer has seen soil upon which the
pine leaves aud grass have fallen for centuries
rs white as the paper upon which this is print
cd. A settler remarked to the writer, upon be-
ing questioned in regard to fertilizing. that the
rain carried is away. Fair CD crops can be
raised by fertillzing, but we will leave that for
a succeeding letter.
Persons in the northern States might enter
tain the idea, as the writer did. that the orange
grew wild, as the plum, apple and cherry at the
north, but thoy are highly mistaken. At two
places only did the orange grow wild and those
were worthless for eating; they were bitter or
sour The sweet orange might have been
grated on them had ttss known it, before they
destroyed almost half of the trees
Another idea might prevail in northern minds
that is also msconception. Northern people
might imagine that the soil produced an innum-
cradle host of flowers to crown with a many
colored crown the greenswsrd with which it
had already decked itself; but that Is far from
the truth. Hardly any flowers grow In the
worthless for fodder but when young grows
anywhere; only when nearly starved will cattle
cat 1t; when matured they prefer the tops of
young pines. 1t is round and slender in share.
similar to bulrssh. but very hard. When 1t is
Young cattle grow fat on it.
Instead OF orange trees laden with golden
fruit, we flnd tall pines in the highlands, CEDAR
oak and cypress in the swamps. The cedar is
valuable for the manufacture of lead pencils and
considerable is cut In the State for that purpose.
Cypress does for building when no other can
be had. The pine is most numerous and IS
botanically known as PIFUs RIGIDA or pitch
pine. As a building material II is almost worth
less for outside work, when a better can be had.
For inside work it makes a very nice furnishing
material on account Of IL coarse grain and sap
pores, which give 1t very beautiful color. II
IS not Gs the yellow pine sent north. That is
the fine grGined or selected pieces. Water will
not remove the pitch &C in the northern pine
The wood is very heavy and brittle and when
burned givea forth smoke as soft coal. II is
affected by the least moisture, and quickly
attacked by worms. In moist places it soon de-
GAYS. Even mortise covered would decay
completely IN few years. so am told. 1t is
5 Id here for $40 pes M and some is shipped
north. 1t Is plentiful, but the marketable trees
aye so scattered that numbering Is not profitable.
Groves containing fifty or mere trees OF this
sort are occasionally met with, but 1t generally
is dlsperoed among the smaller timber. The
trees vary in size from small sapling to those
thirty inches in diameter. From Richmond to
Gainesville, Fla, the writer did not see a sec
ton worth purchasing. The route Travelled was
the Atlsntie Coast Line running through North
ana Sousl. CsFolins, Georgia ana Florida. All
along the route the same uniformity OF growth
was visible and none worth purchasing for any
purpose whatever.
Such Is the condition OF the southern timber,
so much spoken about BY northern papers and
spectators, yet the writer not wish 70 con.
denn their feporsas no saw but the Eastern
portions OF the states PASSED through; though
he Is certain that Florida has none but such as
he described.
AS an Illustration OF the numbering industry
in shis state, We mention the sale OF min cost
ing 5000 but year old. and yet IN sold for the
sum Of one hundred and ive dollars. No one
wished to buy 1t, though it was in an excellent
condition. as all said it was the surest thing to
bankrupt man in the state. The most had no
money TO purchase. had they wished to do so.
There are more mills than there is demand
for lumber and they can be bought all over the
state for mere trlhes. One of settlers remarked
that saw-mnl was the surest thing to bank
rupt a man that there was in the state
AS an investment for the present or the
future FLORIDA offers no inducements in tim
Der, yet or anything else as the development OF
the state is very slow. and viii continue so for
tine to come. Certain towns in the southern
part OF Inc state are booming and might offer in-
ducements In other lines.
In Justice 10 all concerned We mist say: II
you want TO move 20 Florida, FIRST come and see
foryougselyes; but bring money enough along to
return home n you do not you may be compelled
10 stay In very undesirable place. II you do
not bring money enough along, take photograph
of that which you do as you may not see any
more. As winter resort it is beautiful and
healthy fer people OF means, for the poor man
4 Is horrid and slekly. FOR teachers the pros
PEGS is iAlf they beinE fairly paid Ey advice
10 any one Is; DoLt come TO Florida TO get
rich easily Respectfully your Bro.
.. d. T2eAAa.