The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
SCRANTON WOMAN IN FLORIDA.


cent Orange Grove, and On a bluff over
looking the beautiful Indian River.
have spent three very happy months.
When | came / felt sure of only two
facts--my friends and the climate.
The freeze of "a and '95 had so ruthless
ly leveled to the ground Florida's great
attraction and pride-the orange trees
that | was told there was absolutely
nothing to see but dreary stretches OF
sand and thick jungles. These found,
but much more.
As | neared my destination by rail,
the tall palmetto trees like giant sem
tries warned of the approach to the
rich hummock land so peculiarly adapt
ed to the culture of the Indian River
orange. In every grove the wise plan
ter allows few palmettQs to remain as
proof Of the fitness of the soil for sue
csssful orange culture. Did l see
orange groves?
Yes, lots of them, and though the
trees are so shorn of their former
strength and beauty, they are making
rapid strides upward and outward.
Present indications point to at least
some fruit at the next harvest, but the
lions share of the trees have had To
begin all over again from limbless
trunks and will require three years to
mature.
THE INDIAN RIVER
is by all odds the most charming body
of water | have seen in Florida. 1t iS
parallel with the east coast and but
ten miles from the ocean, extending a
distance of 100 miles from north to
south. 1t is fed by fresh water streams
with sufficient inlets from the sea to
give 1t a seasoning of saltness neither
too strong nor too fresh, but just right,
and the gentle southeast breeZes that
fan It's surface carry healing and pre-
seivation, while tempering old SOrs
fierce rays. The ebb and flow are con-
troiled by north and south winds. The
fish caught in its waters at all seasons
of the year are particularly fine. The
COquina Rock so generously distributed
over the basin of the river makes eX-
ceptional foundations for oysterbeds.
In addition to bountiful supply of fat.
fine oysters for home use. large canning
establishments do thriving bust.
ness In shipping elsewhere. Mallard
ducks by the thousands dive and play
over its rocky pillows. Beautiful cranes
and herons wade along the banks and
shores. These, with the white sea-
Sulls, seem the most gentle and domes-
frightened do not flee from the unob-
trusive passer-by. Alligators. though
preferring the marshes, seek its cool
ing depths when drouth and heat pre-
vail. They have grown wise in their
day and generation, and must be-
sought for If found. An alligator
hunt" is the pet fad for energetic young
spoftsmen from the North.
House boats. sail boats, steamers and
naptha launches make pleasure transit
a daily delight up and down the Indian
River to the restless mass of winter
travellers in Florida.
Many of the choice orange groves
reach to the margin of the bluffs which
fringe the shores along the entire
length of the river. These margins of
palmetto. live oak and hickory not only
protect the soil from depletion, but
shelter the groves and homes from
winds which sometimes blow too fierce
ly for comfort and safety. Dotted here
and there behind these safeguards are
picturesque h0me-like cottages and
hotels for guests in search of health
and the Intoxicating air Of the south
land. l visited one of these at Rock
ledge. The name itself suggests the
huge boulders Of Coquina rock at the
shore line. The hotels at this place are
close to the river. separated only by
the grounds and promenade. Guests
can sit on the verandas and recognize
friends on incoming steamers or pleas
ure yachts, as the water is Of sufficient
depth here for boats to land without
a wharf; they virtually deposit their
passengers on the hotel steps.
IN AND ABOUT RoCKLEDGE.
are cemented walks and drives, on
which guests can enjoy the quiet pic
turesqueness Of the surroundings and
breathe in the life-giving air without a
thought of weariness, but Just let them
step out into the simon-pure sand and
pursue the even tenor of their way il
they can. It Is surprising how quickly
the romantic scenery loses it's charm,
the step its elasticity. and the entire
body goes inching along at poor, dy-
ing rate.
Florida sand is most beguiling on the
surface 1t is beautifully white, but use
spade or hoe to get down to bottom
facts and 10! the soil is dark and grimy
so Will the hand and linen be If but
touched with 1t. / hasten to say that
even this yields readily to an applica-
tion of soap and water, and hence need
be but transient discomfort.
All winter long the air has been re-
dolent with perfume of flowers on trees
plants and shrubs. The sweet bayberry
tree rivals in its bloom our northern
arbutus. whose fragrance 1t much re-
sembles, though 1t lifts it's flowers up to
the sun instead Of hiding them under
the snow. The pure white bloom of the
magnolia must be seen to be appreci-
ated. The tree is stately in itself and
the dark green handsome leaves seem
to vie with mammoth blossoms for su-
premacy and acceptance. The UNI
brella tree. so popular for shade about
the cottages. has an exquisite bloom Of
lavender tint, which with it's soft green
foliage shelters the home with beauty
and sweetness. Roses here are the
most prolific boomers I have ever seen
anywhere. My friend has one large
bush that by actual count has had
seven hundred seed-pods cut from its
stems during my three months stay.
In addition to furnishing daily bou-
Quets for the house. And this Is not n
fish story either hibiscus. prim- roses
bignonias, the sweet scented yellow
jasmine, the graceful Thumbergia
bloom, and host Of other small flowers
make the walks abroad in January,
and March, seem like the veritable
summer land It Is. The live oaks, with
their long gray boards Of hanging moss.