The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-15
FLORIDA.

Inducements Which Florida Offers To
the Capitalist and Health Seeker
Variety OF Climate and Soil-In.
aux OF Northern visitors-severe
Winter In the Land OF Flowers.
Lake Maitland, Fla, Feb. l, 1893.
Editor Press and Banner:
this country as see 1t for you. or course ev.
cry one knows how Florida is situated. This
Is very interesting country In some respects
and has great many attractions for the visl'
tor, and offers some inducements TO the capi
talist But like all countries II has Its draw.
backs as we'll as It's advantages. To the man
who desires q winter home II offers many spe
cial inducements, and TO all who ere disposed
to pulmonary complaints or any trouble re
sulting from cold, think this country would
suit and be OF great advantage.
With some exceptions the soil is generally
poor and sandy. The pine timber occupies
this grade OF land or did before it was made
greet the eyeo all sides. All OF this grade Of
land has TO be fertilized heavily before fruit
or vegetables can be grown at profit.
Then we have the hammock lands which
unfortunately are so limited In area that they
are held at fancy prices. The fertility OF this
grade Of land is omething to be wondered al
Indeed. In a wild state It is generally occu
pied by heavy growth OF live oak. hickory
tna grTT as LARGE as OGs
OF tropical vegetation, all covered by the
Spanish moss that hangs In long festoons
from the branches.
The orange tree grows to perfection In this
ing immense crops Of fruit without requiring
any fertilizer. This land also grows large
quantities Of vegetables for the Northern
markets. The vegetable industry Is very
we have had for the last few weeks have play
ed sad havoc with the hopes OF the market
gardeners.
Dotted over the country are a great many
beautiful lakes Of clear water, swarming with
fish and wonderfully deep. A great many ol
these lakes have no visible outlet or commu'
nication with any other water, yet the water
is healthy and good to drink: rink: They They vary In
They once abounded In the alligator. but they
have nearly disappeared In the smaller lakes
II Florida had the soil OF some Of her sister
States she would easily lead them. For her
climate Is delightful in which great many
tropical fruits flourish. The winters are mild
and the summer heats are regulated by the
delightful sea breezes. The orange outranks
all the other fruits In Importance, and Is at
orange can never be supplanted by the foreign
article in the affections of the Am erican peo.
Pile, Then comes the grape fruit, banana,
guoya pine apeIe KUN 919, and
And last, but by no means least, comes the
crop OF tourists and visitors. Thousands and
thousands Of people are arriving In Florida 10
spend the winter and escape the rigors OF a
Northern climate. The hotels are taxed to
their utmost capacity In most places to enter
tain their visitors. The people here say that
this ia the coolest winter experienced here
since 1885.
While they complain very much Of the cold
we think 1t very pleasant. We had ice about
as thick as knife blade on exposed water for
several mornings. But at this time-Februa.
ry lst-it is az warm and pleasant as any May
6uv in SOuth Carolina and the rOSpa have
been blooming IN the open yard all winter.
The orange trees are beginning to show new
buds and begin TO put out q few blossoms.
The peach trees have been In bloom since the
latter part of December. The cold spell
checked the shipment of fruit for q season,
but now immense train loads OF fruit are
moving Northward for the markets in the
land OF billiards.. r. +. Morris.