The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-04-15
LIFE IN y.
FLORIDA.

Mr.. William Taylor returned last week
SO Elkton after winter trip to the South.
In January he spent some time at st.
Augustine, Fla, and found the town quiet
shea, as tourists spend the early months of
winter weather farther South, and return
il che sp M time to st. Augustine or
Jacksonville, where hotel accommodations
IRE much better than in Cuba or South
lflorida.
DR.. Worrall and wife, of North East,
Md, arrived at Hotel Florida, st. Augu--
tine, on same day Mr.. Taylor did, and
have spent the winter delightfully."- at that
famous resort. The Florida is a tirst-class
hosteiry, popular especially with our Mid
die States people, there being at least six
among the guests in January from Cecil
ard Lancaster countless and in the crowded
state Of che house recently one finds many
more Marylanders and Pennsylvanians.
Captain Sb;ies, the proprietor, and his
accomplished wife, are from Chester
cGnG:5,
January and the early part Of February
aiTorded warm, pleasant days in St. Angus
tiue, ami peas, strawberries and the lilies,
ross, etc, were in bloom in the ga,dens
there. After the unlock ed-for cold wave
from tN9 northwest that is the quarter
whence freezes all come to Florida /, all
tenjer vegetation froze, as the thermometer
Il
radlshes, turniIs and other garden sass"
were frost-browned, yet new growth soon
after came out; but the vegetable ship
ments north were late and inferior this
spring. Bloom Of peach apricot and plum
trees not only persisted, but many peach
trees will die-as will all the unprotected
orange and lemon trees. A frost in De-
cember last killed the big banana leaves.
Brother Taylor remained some time in
middle Florida, where even some orange
trees in the previous freeze five years ago
escaped injury; and citrus growth has not
all been killed the present winter. Mr..
Kinney, OF Volusia county, has saved some
Of his trees, and now they are laden with
bloom. One may see great activity now
among the lumbermen OF that county
{where pine lumber is so plentiful for all
the paying orange groves will probably be
grown under cover hereafter. Mr.. Kinney
of Pierson, and Mr.. Stetson, of De Land
attempted to save their trees this winter by
tns Old method of building fires frosty
nights in the groves, but the fierce wind
made this plan abortive, and most of the
groves froze down to the banked up trunks.
This banking up the earth ubove the gratis
will prevent the new growth taking start
from the roots that produce only wild sour
oranges. There are thousands of bearing
trees that grew since the freeze Of five
years ago, in many deserted orchards,
where only now aud then sour oranges
san be gathered. These are even FROST
hitten now, and if readers of the WING
vi III to get cheap orange farms, now is the
time TO buy III Florida. Mr.. Frank
Mead, Of Plerson, Volusia county, has
uume roLs farms-of his own or belonging
TO non'resldents--and anyone who may be
desirious Of owning grove ''for song"
can communicate with him. He very
sensl5iy does not depend solely upon citrus
fruits, though having several groves, but
owns 700 sheep, also several heads Of cattle
and hogs for which he finds ready sale
now in the Cuban market Stock raising
can be made to pay, Mr. Mead says as
pasture is tree the year round over the wide
region OF unfenced "hat wood" the prop
arty Of the railroads or the State. He
would be glad to correspond with our
nurtIern stOckmen.
Editor Taylor was among the CRACKERS"
(natives) long enough to see some curious
features of their life in the woods Teach
ers III their schools receive less than $l4 a