The Republican journal., 1906-01-18

several residences in the city, built of
this stone, are much admired by all
visitors. 1t also makes the finest road
material in the world, and Dade county
leads all others in the State in mileage
and condition of her highways.
ORRIN j. DICKEY.
PALM BEACH, FLA, Jan. 7. l made
my breakfast the other morning on
fruit almost unknown in the north but
which is in great favor here. 1t was
the Avocado pear, fruit about the
size of grape fruit and much like a
musk melon in appearance, having a
heavy green skin and not very attrac-
tive The pear is grown with some
difficulty here but is rapid grower, a
prolific bearer ard the tree pretty and
graceful when not disturbed by the
frosts.
The fruit varies in size, many weigh
ing two pounds and in some instances
considerably more. 1t has been de-
scribed as "a ball of vegetable butter
enclosed in thin she'll" This ''butter"
is exceedingly rich and nutritious and
satisfies the appetite as would heavier
and more substantial food. One has to
learn to eat them, however, in order to
relish them. 1t is usually eaten like a
cantaloupe. scooped from the shell with
a spoon, after hav ng been treated to a
little salt, pepper and lime juice. Among
the residents here nothing is consider
ed more delicious. These pears bring
from ten to 25 cents each, and hundreds
have been taken from single tree.
The trees, like those of the mango, sap
padillo and guava. require warm eli
mate and very little attention aside
from fertilization.
Sugar cane does especially we'll in
this locality and frequent plots of it
are often seen on the well cultivated
farms. The large tracts of saw grass
lands will produce, when properly cult
waited, from So to IS tons of sugar cane
per acre. 1t is profitable crop and in
this county one of absolute certainty.
While there are thousands of acres of
this land which could be cultivated
much of it is now lying in waste, to be
reclaimed later.
There are many interesting things re-
garding Miami of which have not told
you. Few cities have grown so rapidly
as has Miami. 1t has all the modern
conveniences, streets well lighted with
electric lights, water works, sewerage,
telephone system, free mail delivery,
three newspapers, two national banks,
one State bank, etc. 1t has miles of
beautiful streets of native white stone.
1t is practically the terminus of the
Florida East Coast Railway, for though
an extension of the road has recently
been built, penetrating the farming
lands forty-tiye miles south, this is
merely feeder to the commerce of the
city. Here are located the steamship
docks of the p Il O. Steamship Com
pany, whose lines are operated to Key
West, to Havana and to Nassau. I'M
mense Wharves, etc, are being pro-
jected to keep pace with the vastly in
creased maritime business that must
follow on the deepening of the harbor,
work on which is now actively pro-
crossing An appropriation of $780,
600 has been secured from the govern
ment for harbor Improvements, and
Florida East Coast Railroad is also
pledged to expend like amount. Thus
5000, 900 is now being used for this pur-
pose and it is a moral certainty that
fult1er appropriations will be secured
until the harbor is in condition COM
with its Importance from a
commercial, geographical and strategi-
cal standpoint Importance recog-
nized by public men at the national
capital, and by all who will study the
location of this port and its relation to
insular and South American commerce,
to say nothing of the vast trade that
must spring into existence upon the
completion of the Panama canal. A
glance at the map will show the most
casual observer the possibilities the
future holds for the Magic City.
The principal industry in this section
is the growing of fruits and winter
vegetables for the Northern markets.
Tomatoes form the staple crop, but
there are large quantities of other vege-
tables grown, such as tomatoes, egg
plant, peppers, beans, etc. The plant
ing season extends from about October
to January Is, and the bulk of the
shipments are sent North from No.
vember until May, although, there
being practically no difference in the
seasons, seeds may be planted or vege-
tables gathered any day in the year.
Vegetables are grown usually on the
prairie lands, which are free from tim
Der and are composed Of kind of mari.
Charles G. Leighton of Dexter is one
of the recent Maine arrivals in THIS
section, coming to Ormond, where he
will be connected with the Hotel
Ormond this winter.