, 1905-03-22
FROM BALMY FLORIDA
Another Letter From the Gulf
State Describing that Country

tine IoiioWlng appeared in the
Elmer Times last week from the pen
OF Editor Foster, who is in the south
for his HEALTHY
Florida is a long state with more
coast line than any other state in the
union. The attention of northern peo-
pie has always centered chiefly on the
Atlantic ocean side where are located
the old resorts of St. Augustine the
Oldest city on the continent,) Ormond,
Palm Beach, Miami and other places
OF note. The west coast on the Gulf
OF Mexico, especially the Manatee
country, is just now coming into prom
lnence, and | was more curious to
see this than the older sections. One
hundred and sixty-seven miles South
west of Florida is Cedar Keys, from
whence come the oysters served in
jacksonville restaurants. | tried a
plate of raws but wasted money for /
could not eat them. | tried to disguise
the taste with pepper, salt, lemon
juice and mustard but disguise those
oysters as | would, they were really
not fit for food. The appetite once
whetted with Maurice river cove
oysters cannot be appeased with the
Gulf of Mexico brand. They are tough
and to me unpalatable.
l learned that L could buy Florida
oranges at a less price in the Elmer
stores, at retail, than they can be pur-
chased for right in Jacksonville.
From Jacksonville to B~raidentown.
near the Gulf coast, is 240 miles; a part
of the route is over the new Sea Board
Air Line road from Turkey creek to
Mantee-thence by hack to Braiden-
town, a ride of eleven hours which |
took in a sleeper at night. North of
the Manatee country the frosts of the
past winter blasted the orange groves
and the hopes of their owners, sweep
ing away the accumulated earnings of
many small growers who had their all
invested in the business. The Manatee
tooi'i hRiiohiy NntaHNd IN Will
profit by the misfortunes of their up
state neighbors.
AT noon Thursday, March 9th, |
reached the bungalow of VIM. Rich
man, Jr., formerly of D%aretown) and
dined with Mr.. and Mrs. r, who have
an inviting abode alonglManatee River.
| donned lighter clothing at Jackson
vile and was prepared for the heat of
Braidentown, where the mercury
registered SIS in the shade. l. noticed
by the official register that the ther-
mometer had not been below SO the
past week. | ate ripe Strawberries
from Mr.. Richman's vines, and vege-
tables in profusion, some ready for
market, are growing in his field.
Thousands of baskets of lettuce are
shipped daily from this section and
large quantities of early cabbages are
being sent to market.
The orange groves, many yet loaded
with the yellow fruit, have been to me
a source of interest and | have eaten
many other tropical fruits, picking
them from the trees, which / am not
yet able to classify by name. Mr.. Rich
man will o ship the balance of his
oranges and grape fruit. The latter
fruit grows in clusters on a strong tree
and I am told that single trees some
times net a hundred dollars in a single
season. | counted eleven in one cluster
on one of Mr.. Richman's trees and he
told me hat from one cluster he recent
ly picked ten which averaged two
pounds each. Near his residence is a
big cluster of bamboo, some of them
reaching a height of sixty feet. Every
where is seen the palmetto; indeed it is
the principal shade tree along the
streets. The largest | saw measured
over two feet in diameter. There is no
foliage except at the top where it
spreads out like an umbrella.
Pineapples, bananas, figs, dates, lem
ons, peaches and all %citronous fruits
grow here in abundance.
Near the home of Mr.. Richman lives
Samuel Harris, who, five years ago,
lived in Upper Pittsgrove township,
Salem county. He has a large grove
of oranges ready for market. 1t may
interest Times readers to know that
oranges are washed and scrubbed be-
fore being packed for market The
work is done with a large wheel fitted
with numerous brushes. Some of these