The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-11-19
I.AWTEY.
Which, Through Her Luscious
Strawberries, Is known TO All

Men.
Special Correspondence OF the FLoRIDIAN
This pleasant little place is in Bradford
county, located on the Fernandina, Key
West & Southern Division of the F. c. &
P Railway, nineteen miles south of Bald
win, where the road crosses the Jackson
vile and River junction Division, and seven
miles north of Starke, the county seat
There are about
SIX HUNDRED
inhabitants within radius of three miles,
and almost the entire population for a
much greater distance around is more
or less interested in the culture of
strawberries, for which the soil is peculiarly
we'll adapted one of the principal advan-
tages being that there is less sand to con-
tend with and the berry always shows up
in better condition.
The first berries for market were grown
four years ago by three parties, and they
shipped about 81 900 worth. The follow
ing year this was increased to about $780,,
000 This year there will be at the lowest
estimate $4,000 worth, although some
with whom we talked claimed that this
was too low. 1t is hard to estimate, how
ever, without knowing exactly how many
plants have been put out this fall. There
has been very large increase and 1t will
probably go higher
The refrigerator companies have so far
furnished fair accommodation, and will this
year give increased facilities by furnishing
one line to Chicago and two TO the East
They make Lawtey their headquarters for
this portion of the country, and all cars are
finally sent on their long trip from here.
The plants are looking WELL as far as we
can see and from what was told us there
is no cause for complaint in any respect
Among the growers seen were Mr.. j..
Dunlap Smith, the resident manager OF the
Bradford County Fruit Company. They
also grow many other kinds OF fruit and
have largely increased the number OF varle-
ties this year.
Mr.. T. J. Burrin, who is one Of the origi-
nal owners of 1900 acres of land on which
the town and farms are now located, has
tried strawberries for wine making with the
greatest success. A short but exceedingly
interesting visit was made to his cellar
He is also an enthusiastic gardener and
showed us fine fresh Irish potatoes, let
tuce, onions, beets, radishes, etc., growing
as thrifty as in the spring. 1t was hard &c
! look at them and realize that this was
chilly November.
Mr.. S. Powers is probably one of thu
most careful planters. He was tount
out in his patch at work trimming
the runners The ground was cleared
| from thicklv timbered and damp hat las
spring and next spring will not only pay
for all this but will yield handsome
bonus
But we might go on and talk about sue
cesses until the readers head would swim
The fact is, the strawberry as an elemen
of wealth, has come to Florida to stay an(
in all the State there is no location Superior
to Lawtey.
Among the friends made by the FLoRID
IAN are also Lewis & Culley, general mer
chandise and berry growers.
| Mr. J. G. StaughtOn came here last yeal
from Central New York and leased the
Burrin House which, by the way, is credi
to the place. He also caught the prevailing
complaint and has a nice patch OF berries
AS to the town itself it is improving, this
with all the thrift in and around could no
he well otherwise. They have substan-
tial school house and town hall, and hand
some Methodist church will soon be com
pleted. Other improvements are being made
also, aud the day is not far distant, with hel
present strides when Lawtev will be one of
the important towns on this line of road
and the FLORIDIAN wishes her all the gooC
luck that can be forced along. G. NJ. q.