The Florida agriculturist., 1889-01-09

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interest to rural readers aiming to assist in cul-
tivating the soil and the mind, and in some de-
gree broadening the horizon of life in Florida]
At one time we heard great deal
about "Southern literature, Northern
literature English literature etc.,
etc. ,butnow llintt ligent English speak
ing people have discarded the idea of
sectionalism in literature ga touch of
naturev or of the ''divine afflatus," in
song or story will reach the heart and
make ssthe whole world kin" in feeling
and emotion, whether it is written in
Norway or in the South Sea Islands; and
true genius is a universal language,
everywhere understood and appreciated.
But there is a decided and very marked
sectionalism in agriculture and horticult-
ure, nearly all the processes of which diff
fer essentially in different climates. Thus,
a work on farming, the cultivation OF
fruits, etc. Calculated for the meridian"
of New England, is of little or no value
in Florida. and so we must to a great ex-
tent recognize and encourage something
like, 'sectionalism' in our own chosen
pursuits.
Happening to visit an editorial 'tsanc-
tum" the otherday L took the opportunity
of looking over pile of rural. Eek
changes from all parts of the United
States; and was greatly surprisf to
find in them so little matter of practical
value TO the Florida farmer, gardener or
fruit grower. They are all well and in
dustriousIy edited ,and filled with articles
doubtless of great value to the farmers
of their own section but even the ablest
and best of them had nothing of special,
practical value to us. The student of
agriculture cannot, of course, fail to
be interested in all that per-
tains, however remotely, to his
calling; and, those beautifully print
ed and ably edited papers and maga-
zines to which we allude are, [ admit,
very attractive in general way. But it
is our first and most obvious duty and
interest to sustain our own home publi-
cations literally and then if we have
the means, we may subscribe for all the
others that we can find time to read.
*x
A friend, just from California, gives
glowing description of grand Citrus
air, at Oroville, in the Golden State,
Dec. 18. The great feature of the Fair
was the novelty and originality of the de-
signs for exhibiting gfruits-especially the
orange. There were mammoth emblems,
requiring thousands of oranges to firm
single model; among which our inform
ant mentions the Crock of Ages"
Japanese Pagoda wire summer house,
ornamented with all citrus fruits and
filed, also, with olives, apples, grapes,
plums, pomegranates, figs, tomatoes,
green peppers, cotton, ramie, hemp,
flax. tobacco and manv other products.
1t is evident that our Pacific coast neigh
bors have an admirable amount Of taste,
liberality and qualities wor-
thy of emulation, if we would hold our
own and fully illustrate Florida. We
shall have an excellent opportunity to
show the varied capabilities of our State
at the coming meeting of the American
Pathological Society Tin February, but
we.must be up and doing.
*x*
There are, of course, many drawbacks
and disappointments in rural LIE, as IN
all other earthly pursuits; but while we
see these often with saddened and
troubled eyes, let us not forget the many
and peculiar blessings that we enjoy.
Justnow, one of the children came tod
ding up to nv desk with an illustrated
number of "Our Dumb Animals"
beautiful little paper published monthly
in Boston. by the Massachusetts So
cietv for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals" On the first page of this
issue (December) there was picture
and a little poem that compelled thought
and reflection. At our home, in Florida
4L0 oinhf OntSi6Q was