The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-08-20

The Southern Pine Lands Making
Extraordinarily Large Crops.
From the ST. Louis Republic.

most inqu'stive people on earth. Brother
Jonathan is noted the world over for the
numerous questions he can ask. If the
inquiries that are constantly pouring IN
ppor us N regard to the muck lands for
vegetables and reclaimed lands for sugar
cane are a sample. | can we'll understand
how we gained such reputation
felt so inquistive abou the wonder-
full reclaimed and muck lands that took
run down in that country to satisfy my
self about their being a fertile AS rrpre-
sentc3 | found nature IN her SUnmeSt
mood, and the whole ki>Sinmee country
.>u1t ocean ol rcrdure.
1t is not the reclaimed lands that pro
iuce the richest sugar-csuc. 1t has been
demonstrated that the cane which was
first planted in small quantities ON pine
land as an experiment aas yielded more
and far richer cane than that raised on
reclaimed land.
As the train rushed along the shining
steel rails and smooth road-bed OF the
South Florida Railroad, thousands OF
acres Of magnificent orange groves veg
etable farms, banana plantations, sugar
cane and toDacco fields were passed. The
primeval forest. awaiting the woodsman's
ak, the virgin soil untouched by the hardy
plowman, unfolded to the vision like the
witching charm of a swiftly moving pan
Drama. The lakes Of this region add
charm to the landscape that might 9th
erwise grow mOnOtonous.
The picturesque homes which are sltu-
ated upon these beautiful lakes astonish
IL. -.
architecture. One is scarcely prepared
TO find Gin distant wilds by human eye
unseen" homes which betoken SO much
culture and refinement
Gardens Of tropical Splendor surround
every home, roses and iessamine surround
each door and convince one of the prodi-
gal nature of the climate and soil
The St. Cloud sugar fields present one
j ,he prtitiest sights to be found any
where in Forla-a sight to make the
,.,4ar planters heart dance for ov. From
its present appearance 1000, 900 pounds
OF sugar is not considered by good judges
an over-estimate Of the crop.
Il is bard To imagine all these improve
lLents made upon q spot which but few
short wears ago was a wild waste of wa
tar. 1t shows what labor and the inge-
nuity of man cam accomplish.
believe that the pine lands and re-
claimed lands Of South Florida will, in a
few short years, furnish twothirds of the
sugar supply Of the United States, when
it becomes known what fortune is in
store for him who can own and cultivate
a South Florida sugar plantation.
The West, with her tantalizing and
disappointing mining schemes and severe
climate, will lose her charm for people
looking for investments.
Truck farming is lst beginning to be
profitable in this region Acres and acres
all along the railroad are devoted cxclu-
sively to vegetables, and they mature
here before the snow and ice have disap-
peared in the Northern markets.
1t now seems To H. that the great fer
tility OF the soil OF this part Of Florida
would have bccM one of the most patcnt
facts even to the first inhabitants. but
such Wa> no; the case. They produced
almost nothing; purchased everything.
Most ut thr articles consumed were inn
ported IRON the North. bu' after a few
experiments and beating about Of enter
prise, The people are DISCOVERING more
and more every year the great resources
of the soil
The lands that are devoted to the cul-
ture OF sugar cane are source Of never.
ending interest and curiosity to all. PEG
pie are constantly writin. and inuuirinp
for particulars in regard to the yield of
land aud of the cane.
1t has been demonstrated beyond a
doubt that the cane grown on the re-
claimed land, and, in fact, on any land in
South Florida, is far richer and Yields a
much larger per cent. OF saccharine mat.
ter than the Louisiana, Mississippi, Cuban
or Central American cane.
Although the wet weather did great
damage to last seasons crop, the crops of
1888 and 1889 on the ST. Cloud planta.
ton amounted to 100000 pounds OF drv
centrifugal sugars and $4,000 gallons OF
molasses. They were compelled to leave
untouched in the fields lis acres of cane
as 1t was unfit to grind-the effect of high
water. Owing to the acidity of the upper
portion OF the cane that was cut it had
to be cut half in two, the bad portion left
in the field entailing heavy loss in ton
mage and sugar
The same crop under ordinary circum-
stances, the cane having matured, would
have yielded not less than / 500, 900
pounds. The elements conspired to rem
der the crop short. The long continued and
heavy rains cause the mmaturity of the
cane. lp proportion to the sugar made.
the quantity Of inolasses was about three
times too great which shnwn HON .-r4.4...