The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-15

for the year 1896 met Tuesday after the
adjournment OF the adjourned regular
meeting and, after going over the rolls,
approved them. The rolls show total
valuation OF property in the county of
| S. 72O279 This amount is divided as fol-
lows: Real estate Sc, 301, 100; railroads and
telegraphs, Sl078. 22l; personal 1885, lW.
The total amount OF poll taxes assessed
is 1881 The total tax TO be collected
for the county is SIT 1S017 and s32 1913.
w. A. Jones of Brooksville. who has
been soliciting donations from the far
mers and merchants of that city and its
vicinity for the storm sufferers in Middle
Florida, received a letter Monday stat
ing that the stricken people were amply
supplied just now, and to hold contribu-
lions for fernando till later. The far
mers have brought in a considerable
amount of corn. syrup, potatoes, etc. j.
f. Hgginbotham is running his corn
shelter every day. and Laws & Trammel
will grind 1t into grits and meal. At
present the supplies are stored away in
a building set apart for that purpose, and
will be sent to the people as they are
needed.
A Mocking bird serves as a night watch
man at the residence of r. f. Bettes at
Tampa, and notifies the family of the
coming Of dawn every morning by pecking
on the window pane. Often when the
doors are left a1ar the hooking bird comes
inside and perches on the chairs and
about the room. 1t will allow the family
TO come very close, and shows marked
attention to Mrs. Bettes and her little
daughter. When they start out for a
visit 1t follows them some distance, and
then returns to the yard. When the
family returns it appears very glad, and
will fly all about them. and gives evil
dence Of Its Joy in other ways. The chill
dren feed 1t about the house, and when
the family meal is to be served, If the
window is not raised, it gets on the out
side and makes its presence known by
pecking on the window. During the day
it gets out on a neighboring brush or
tree and sings its roundelay of song for
hours at a time.
The crop OF pineapplese of the Florida
Keys will be doubled by next season. From
Elliotts Key and Key Largo, two of the
thickest populated keys of the long chain,
1900 crates of pines were shipped last
spring, and 10000 crates of tomatoes were
sent to northern markets, making a total
OF $1,000 crates. That was the largest
number OF boxes ever shipped. Next year
the growers estimate that the number of
boxes will be nearly $4,000 To the I'M
usally large yield of tomatoes and pine
apples must be added at least forty acres
in other truck-caulihower, beets, and
elephants. The crops of that locality have
been divided among about 100 growers
who have averaged something more than
300 crates each. A few of the growers
have made pineapples or tomatoes their
speciality, and have shipped a greater
number of these than many of the others
who have had only a few acres under
cultivation. Land is being cleared for
the extension of crops, and the growers
are greatly pleased with the prospects.
West Palm Beach correspondent Jack
sonviue Citizen: A large fall and winter
crop of fancy pineapples is nearly ready
for early shipment. The fruit is of very
fine quality, and of the choicest varieties
A demand has existed here ever since this
section became popular as winter resort
for a pineapple crop that would ripen in
time for winter visitors. Progressive
planters have introduced this kind, and the
result is very profitable. Nearly all win
ter visitors to this section can feast on
the choicest pines, ripened in the open
air The growers find ready sale for
them at the hotels. Some of the finest
Porto Ricos and Trinidads ever produced
in this section were exhibited by G.. c.
Matthams at the Hotel Royal Poinciana
last winter. These apples sell for So cents
and 31.5o apiece. w. S. Glow raises on the
Windella plantation several varieties,
which sell for $3.50 to 50 per apple. Dur
ing the current year the pineapple acre
age has been greatly increased. Thou
sands OF new plants have been set out, and
next years crop bids fair to be immense.
The Pineapple Growers Association is ex-
tending its territory, and before next sum-
mer's crop shall be on the market ar
rangements will likely be made that will
place the entire east coast crop from In
dian river to the Florida Keys in the hands
Of the association. The association han
died about so per cent. Of this years crop.