Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-03-29
FAIR FLORIDA"
c. w. Marston, Formerly Of Bethel
Writes from Manatee Co, Fla.

Writes from Msnatee Co., Fla.
March 10th, 1905.
Mr.. EDToR:-I promised many Of my
Vermont friends that ! would write
a letter for your valuable paper whlls
jOurneying in the tSunny 5Outhi
and this is my reason for doing So now
although rather late in the season. How
ever it gives me great pleasure 10 extend y
yon greetings from this beautiful lana OF 4
salubrious climate, healthful lruit ana
beautiful flowers.
This country Of Manatee is considered
below the frost line, situated upon the
broad and beautiful river OF the same
name that no doubt exercises a great IN
huence 10 mitigate a frosty temperature.
In the great freeze Of IS, this county sur
fered no loss and produced nearly one
half of all the oranges sold IN the state
that year. Near here is situated the great
Atwood grape iruit grove, which Is the
largest in the world. In 1904 the crop sold
for over $50 900. ] recently had the pleas
ure Of seeing nice grape fruit tree and is
photograph taken when loaded with %
boxes Of fruit in 1901 and which sold for
s260. OF course this was a rare instance.
Although the people OF this country
pride themselves on citrus fruits, the
trucking or vegetable industry is carried
on very extensively also, and brings good
returns to the producer. just imagine Tor
Christmas dinner, a menu consisting OF
turkey and cranberry sauce as served IN
the North, supported By all the garden
vegetRb les that we are used to in the
months of May, June and July and you
will have a fair idea of what this country
produces This is indeed the sportsman's
paradise, the rivers and bays abound with
hsn and the woods with game. /, like
hundreds of other tourists coming from
~ a
share OF fishing and hunting.
On my journey across the state in No-
vember, had the great pleasure of accept
ing an invitation from Mr.. Curtis OF the
Seaboard Air Line TO visit the great State
Mid Winter far held in the city OF
Tampa. I wish all my Vermont friends
could have seen the exhibit especially
from Manatee county, beautiful citrus
fruit and semi-tropical fruit IN all their
beauty and lusciousness. In the main eX-
hibition building, il was grand and beau
tiful beyond comprehension and I stood
almost paralyzed when viewing the exhi-
bits from this "Fair Land Passing on
we came to the stock pavilion, aud still
our wonder grew, for I did not think il
possible to raise such fine horses and cattle
and hogs in all the state, while the poul-
try eXh bit was the best | had ever seen at
any poultry exhibition or fair.
EipItNh - not SIMPLY pihNSEOhuu
v here the idle and sick can pass the
winter away from the cold winds and
SHOWS OF the cold north, but on the con-
Lrary like other lands was made by Gods
own hands. The soil is here and splendid
climatic conditions exist. Intelligence
and labor properly applied will be well
rewarded. The doors Of this fair cline
stand open by kind and hospitable peo-
pie, and the field is broad for the applica-
ion of the energy and intelligence that
achieve success.
have enjoyed several cruises among the
keys and island between the mainland and
he Gulf OF Mexico, camped out several
lines with northern friends on the
Stands, hunted turkeys, ducks, quail and
wen porpoises, and had lots of fun with
he conns, / mean the Vermont kind that
nfest the corntields) and | was going to
ell fish story but as Il. +. Arnold,
we'll known TO Bethel people, has Just APP
Feared on the scene with a fish called the
drum, weighing 81 pounds that he just
aught in Sarasota bay, ] Will pass along
nd in closing will say, ! hope it will be
he good fortune OF many OF my New
England friends at some time to come to
florida and especially visit this part OF the
tate whose lands are covered with vege-
ables, fruits, flowers and evergreens, and
he climate tempered by the tropical
Winds from the Gulf OF Mexico.
Very truly yours,
G. w. MARsTON.