The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-10-23
.HORAHONE.S EXHIBIT
C0ugnt The Eye Of PTQCtiC0I
Northern Formers.
A Prosperous QDd HOBBY Community
Editor PALATKA news;


Editor PALATKA NEWS:
Through the favor of the managers
of the G. S. d F. Ry., and under the
direct efficient management of Maj.
w. l.. Glessner of Macon, Ga, COM
missioner of the agricultural depart
ment of that road, the delegates to
the National Mariners Congress,
recently held at Macon, were treated
to II free excursion from Macon to
Palatka, Fla. About 400 of these Wis
| itors from the north enjoy ed-many
of them for the first time-a view Of
the Sunny South and partook of its
bounteous climate to the expressed
delight of all.
On their return, and according to
previous arrangement and notice
one week in advance, the train made
n stay of half an hour at our station,
Florahome, to examine few of the
pickup products that the colonists
here were able from the field and
garden to find. Our colony with its
short notice determined to show the
visitors what a few short months in
this favored climate could do in
transforming forests and water COW
cred muck prairie into profitable and
pleasant homes.
Accordingly on October 10th, a few
came to the depot, lumber was haul
ed and an open shed l0X30 feet was
erected near the track, which with
palms, Spanish moss and flowers was
decorated by Il committee of ladies
appointed to that purpt Sc by the fairs
mers exchange. Very few exhibit
were placed there on Saturday, bu-
early Monday morning they came by
the wagon load, in baskets, boxes,
pals and what not until by 10 o'clock,
the time appointed for the arrival of
the train, The hastily gathered eXhib-
it had assumed proportions surpris-
ing to the colonists themselves. 1t
was II revelation to all of us. We are
a busy people here and little knew
| the results of the constant labor we
were doing, each in his own little
province.
TO say that the eXcursiOnists were
pleased and also surprised is to put
it mildly. There was sugar cane,
cassava, rice, corn. chufas, cow peas,
velvet beans, egg plant and various
other articles of like nature. A large
banana graced the front, its base
surrounded by pineapples and other
of the tropical productions, while on
a table near by huge lemon on a
tree scarce two feet high proved it
possible to grow fruits of the citrus
family this far north. Inside the
shed the ladies had placed their par
ticular exhibits, where, themselves
removed, that the exhibits might not
suffer from contrast, the excursion
lists had opportunity to examine
what Florahome in the kitchen and
by the handiwork of wives and
daughters could produce to cheer the
inner and outer man.
Attracting particularly the atten-
ton of the practical farmers of the
congress, sugar cane, rice, and more
particularly cassava, held attention
Questions as to the value of cassava
it's uses as food for man and beast
were asked and sample of both root
and stalk were freely distributed and
as freely received. The velvet bean,
magnificent samples of it's eXtraOrdi-
nary yield being shown, also attract
ed attention and elected from cattle
men the opinion that Florida has
| w lbillil IlCi u VI WCtJlbil
in the cattle and hog industries sec
ond to none in the United States if
in the world.
Nearby bulletin showing not only
the possible but the actual products
of this immediate section was placed,
a copy of which is here given:
1.-THE story is told of a lady, who
travelling through Florida viewing
its fields of white sand was heard to
frequently ask: What do the peO-
pie live on?' A Florida Cracker
pertinently and somewhat truthfully
answered: Madam, we live on sow
belly and sick Yankees"
The colonists at Florahome add to
the Crackers list the following
list of products, all of which have
been grown or are in process of grow
ing on the lands of this colony, pre-
facing the list with, the best climate
God ever gave to His children:
VEG ETABLEs.
T i,,,o