The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-01-18
FOR The FLORIDA AGRICULTURIsT.
The Sugar Industry of Florida.

may almost entirely confne ourselves to that
which has been done, and all that will be done,
on muck or reclaimed lands; for in looking over
tne bounty applications, we find that but few
farmers OF this State produce sufficient sugar to
go TO the trouble OF even making an application
Tor the bounty of ia cents, which all outside Of
the st. Cloud plantation would get, for most or
all OF the sugar producers of Florida use very
primitive methods, namely: A horse mill and
open evaporators. Where the syrup is boiled
down very low, to what is known in Louisiana
as 'crute'' and left to grain of it's accord;
and yet there is particular reason why many
hundreds of Florida's best pine and hammock
lands should not yield an immense revenue from
sugar. for it is a staple product and can be sold
at all times of the year, and generally at very
profitable figure, and there is no risk to be run
in it's transportation and it may be easily kept
for year.
1t has been observed that cane grown on pine
lands or lands containing much silicous matter
is impervious to the cold, owing to the fact that
the stalk contains more fibre and has better
institution. Muck contains little silica and
he stalk is consequently very soft and tender,
and where there is good water protection muck
land cane will stand through the most severe
weather we have yet seen in Florida
AS the ST. Cloud plantation is the only place
where cane is grown on muck we may confne our
remarks entirely to what it has done and what it
will probably do.
This place has produced some of the best yields
Of sugar ever made in this country, and yet there
are lands far superior to this which surround the
Okeechobee and BETTER for two obvious reasons;
1T Is very reasonable to suppose that the muck
land OF this region is older, for it necessary
Or that to form first, in order that the water
evel might be raised toform the lands higherup.
1t was the growth of all kinds of aquatic plants
in shallow water, which yearly decayed, that
formed our immense marshes; then if this land
is older it is more decayed the organic matter
being better decayed it is better soil, and con-
sequently more suited to a luxuriant growth of
cane, and able to sustain such a growth after it
has once fairly started.
The muck of this region is underlaid with lime
stone and phosphates; the alkali of which has
been of incalculable benefit in the decay and in
naturalization of organic acids.
Second, the immense body of water renders the
country almost free from frost as is Cuba, so
one might manufacture sugar as is done in the
tropics leaving the cane to go to pefect maturity \
Much of this land has already been drained, andi
still the operation goes on; it is necessary to
duce the water level very little, say three or foury
tions for there sufficient outlets to carry off all
the water before it can reach high stage Onecani
imagine how long and how much water would bel
necessary to much rise a thousandl
square miles, which is Okeechobee's extent.
There is water communication from Kissimmee
City to the gulf and line of steamers could easily
carry off all the produce of the country, and
should industry of any size be carried on in this
region line of ocean steamers could carry theI
products to all ports of the world. These landsI
are practically unlimited at present there areI
100000 acres available for cultivation ard FRONT
the roof of a steamer see nothing forl
miles and miles but this immense body of landl
and not even a tree in sight. Owing to the dryI
weather in winter and spring, usually prevalent
in South Florida, irrigation must be resOrted to-
which can here be practiced to perfection.
Besides it's natural abilities, this country is
beautiful beyond description; it is natures hot
palms, ferns and tropical flowers and plants oil
all description.
1t is only matter of time when the tropical
cane will have taken the place of the rank saw
grass" (the natural grOWth), and the land whicha
once laid buried in a watery grave will yield tot
the industrious strokes and ingenuity of man theI
richest harvest he has ever yet gathered
The results from cane in this State have notE
been very encouraging this year, for the season
extremely severe there being not one dropl
of rain for aboutfour months this was, of course,
very exceptional year and one may confidently
expect it's return in the far future, yet those in