The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-07-09
TONS UPON TONS OF GRAPES.
Three Hours Tramp Through the
Magnificent Vineyards Of the Tai
lahasSee Country.

Magnificent Vineyards OF the Tai
Iahassee Country.
Seated in the comfortable buggy OF NJ. Chas
Lankey; the good horse guided by the def
hands of Charlie Jr. up Mills and through fer
tile valleys over the hard clay roads leading
westward from Tallahassee delightful breeze
blowing; the surrounding greenery of the land
scape glistening with the tear drops OF recent
shower sweet song-birds chipping in the tree
tops; all nature smiling-and happest OF all IN
this bright picture was the light hearted repre-
sentatives of the FLoRIDIAS.
One and half miles west of Tallahassee, upon
an eminence overlooking the surrounding coun-
try sits the pretty cottage of Mr.. Charles Lam
key, the efficient and popular upholstered OF the
Florida Central and Peninsular Railway shops
Two years ago Mr. Lankey bought this land,
then only bare, bleak-lookng broom sedge
field. Now his cosy cottage sits there, prettily
laid off flower yard in 'front.' vegetable garden
filled with all kinds of truck in the rear, and a
handsomely laid out vineyard covered with
great clusters of pink and purple grapes on
either side.
Standing upon Mr.. Lankey's front porch one has
q grand and comprehensive view Of Tallahassee,
and of to the southwark the scenery is magnif-
cent-n TACT look in whichever direction you
choose from this elevated site, and you are forced
to acknowledge that few prettier sweeps of land
scape exist anywhere.
Mr. Lankey has seven acres in grapes all
showing thorough and careful cultivation, and
besides selling several hundred pounds of table
N; bo ~ 49,
rels Of excellent wine Next year the yield will
be much heavier, and in comparatively few years
he will have handsome income
After eating several punches of deliciously
favored grapes we started out for a stroll
through the vineyards, which are laid out in
long, straight rows, stout posts being set at reg
ular intervals with wires stretched between upon
which the vines are trained. Mr.. Lankey has
several varieties, all of thrifty growth, and the
great purple bupches 50 tempting.
Onward We s.rolled, apparently travelling
miles through the soft earth-grapes grapes,
everywhere. Passing through Mr. Lankeys
vineyards We entered those of Mrs. Lemoyne
Here, too, the vines were heavily laden with
fruit growing nicely, and promising golden
reward Tor the labor expended. Through the
entire length Of these vineyards we tramped
then up steep hill-and We stood among the
grand beauties OF Mr.. Emil Dubois Fort san
Luis Vineyards, the Oldest and most prolific in
the Tallahassee Country. Few realize the enor-
nous quantities OF grapes now growing in the
Tallahassee Country and never will fully ap-
precate the magnitude and beauty Of these vine
yards until they go on foot through them as we
did-through acre after acre OF vines laden with
ton upon ton OF grapes, which annually
crushed and converted into thousands upon
thousands OF gallons o. wines-rich, delicious
finely favored wnes-unexcelled by those Of
any other country.
Mr.. Dubois certainly has a magnificent es-
tate-beautiful beyond comparison The vine
yards are laid of with broad avenues running
north and south and east and west through
them. Along one Of these avenues bananas are
planted on either side now IN bearing; another
has rows Of hg trees either side, and still
another is lined with peach trees Beautiful.
poetic, charming avenues. One feels as light
as air as he stros along their shady borders
Mr.. Dubois has also many other choice varie
ties Of fruits. nuts, etc, such as Kelsey japan
plums Japan persmmons. Spanish chestnuts,
etc. He also has some choice varieties of Euro
pean grapes whcl ar so delicate that they car
not endure sunshine or lain, and are therefore
grown under shelter.
On u va, tack we stopped at the old spring
and drank e It's clear, cool, refreshing waters,
and as We did ghosts Of dark browed, frey-eyed
Spanish knights arose before our mental vision,
for hundreds Of years ago bold and dashing
Spanish Cavaliers cavorted over these grounds
and drank at this spring, they being stationed at
Fort San Luis, which stood near by.
Ga returning to the house Mr. Lankey showed
rs mammoth cucumber, thirty inches long and
fifteen inches in circumference enough to
gladden. the heart Of every doctor 10 this fair
region After indulglng in more grapes and
resting biz We stepped into the buggy again
and were soon transferred from the poetic fields
OF grapes 10 the stern reality Of duties in the
sanclum, feeling like an escaped bird that had
heen recaptured and thrown back into mpri.on-
uent.
VfgOr and Vitality
Arc 1y mis- sc