The Florida agriculturist., 1889-01-09

an insipid sweet quite a crowd of
people kept coming to enjoy ga dipper
full" / watched with interest the great
kettle boiling over the furnace, and CON
stantly stirred. | saw some fine sugar
Mr.. Goodson has made, and we were duly
initiated into the pleasant enjoyments of
"skimmings," "cane beer" etc. He has
been busy packing and shipping oranges,
though he said he had no crop. The
hundred boxes which had been packed
could not be missed, however.
Mr.. Malcolm Suggs, son-in-law of Mr..
GoodsOn, lives near him, and has also a
fine grove and fine family to help enjoy
it. His girls and boys are healthy, happy
looking lads and lassies, and we enjoyed
SO pleasant a day with them and Mr..
Sugg's "better half that we1ook forward
to going again to Seven Oaks, SO called
from a cluster of handsome oak trees.
These men and women allwOrk hard, and
| don't believe the groves and farms would
be half SO nice if the women didn't do
full share. / look on my sisters here with
eyes of exceeding admiration and wonder.
at the many things they can do,
and do well. Florida owes them a big debt
of gratitude.
Another most delightful day was spent
at carlton, on the Santa Fe Lake, the
beautiful home of Gen. Elias Earl, the hero
Of three wars, the Mexican, the Indian.
and our sad civil trouble. Gen. Earl is a
courtly, handsome, soldierly gentleman
whose appearance would not take you
back to Mexican war times by any means.
His wife is a sister of one ofthe best men in
Florida, John w. McRae, and is, as all
the family are, full of kind and hospitable
thoughts for the stranger within their
gates. Gen. Earl's place is very large and
beautiful He employs numbers of ne
groes, many of whom he once owned, and
he ships great numbers of fine oranges,
and raises quantities of sweet potatoes,
cotton, sugar cane, etc. He has between
two and three hundred acres in groves of
the best quality of oranges There is on
the Generals grounds the largest, most
magnificent oak tree, should Judge in
all Florida. He has also a cork tree
which is tall and handsome, and a lovely
oak grove for picnics, which is coveted by
all who see it.
| have not mentioned Mr.. j. w. Nc
Rae's place yet, | believe. He is large
landowner, a Georgian as is also his
about eleven years ago in such poor
cover. But he came to the right place,
has lots of pluck and energy and much to
live for; SO, though far from being a
wealthy man at that time, he went to
work, and as glove helps those who help
themselves" has prospered. He owns a
good grove and farm, the former just
coming into bearing, the latter produc-
ing cotton, corn, sugar cane and food for
his family But his business is merchan-
dizing; he is trader, one ''to the manor
born," has good business here, is full of
plans and projects for the benefit OF his
section, and forever on the wing.
Among other prominent people whom [
have not been able to see, are DR.. Burton,
late able pastor of the Baptist church
here, also Bro. Hall (Uncle Hall of the
Witness), Mr.. F. E. Wiltberger who sells
so many Strawberries, Mr.. Wurts, who
has splendid farm of $50 acres on love-
ly Lake Swami, Mr.. Monroe Bush, Mr.
Oscar l.. Whitcomb and number of 9th
ers whom [ wish to see. Mrs. King, who
often graces the columns of the Fruit
Grower, has also fine place near here,
which | have been hoping to see.
This is a very oddly-cOntrived little
town to which Alachua county cannot
Justly lay claim, since it is situated in the
four counties of Alachua, Bradford, Clay
and Putnam. What a placefQr a county
seat! Wouldn't the choice of it greatly
simplify the matter of court house build
ing?
The new hotel is in the center of the
town, and together with Mr.. McRae's
store Tor separately is for sale or lease.