The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-05-15

est principles would be still more Sue
cessfu1 and that the near future will
show this section as trucking center
to be even superior to those mention
ed.
From the standpoint of hea1thfu1ness,
character and fertility of soil AMI
transportation facilities, as we'll as edit
cational and social advantages, prob
ably the most desirable location in
Florida is that section of Hillsborough
county known as the Pine11as PENN
| sula, a strip of land 80 miles long, and
from 6 to 10 miles wide, bounded on
the west and south by the Gulf of
Mexico, and on the east by Tampa
Bay; and enjoying all the salubrity Of
an island situated in Southern seas, be-
ing famed by the balmy sa1t-laden
breezes from Gulf and Bay alike
The temperature and other climatic
conditions of this section are unsur-
passed for sa1ubrity and p1easantness-
The winter is marked by abundant sur-
shine and warmth, the summer by rain
fall and GOODNESS. The weather bureau
records prove that the winter is warm
er and the summer cooler than other
sections in the same latitude Nights
are cool in the hottest summer, and
the heat is dissipated in the hours of
sunshine by constantly blowing land
and sea breezes. The country is free
from phenomenal or damaging rain
falls, and it occupies a position with
regard to the trade winds which pro-
tects it from violent disturbances OF any
character.
During last December Florida was
visited with cold snap which did con-
siderable damage to nearly all parts,
the cold extending in varying degrees
OF severity as far south as Miami,
while points north of St. Petersburg
were severely damaged. This section,
as usual, escaped without injury, as is
evidenced by the appearance Of the
avocado pear trees which, while very
delicate, were 11nhurt This exemption
is all the more remarkable from the
fact that the lManatee.r section, only
few miles away to the south, suffered
severely, some groves losing their en-
tire crop Of fruit
So much testimony has been given
to the l1ea1thfulness of this region that
a large volume could not contain it.
The insular position, the equable eli
mate, the ozone supplied by the sea
breezes, the health-giving carnations
from the pine woods, the absence Of
extensive swamp land, all make the
Pinellas Peninsula justly celebrated as
health resort.
A climate where the delicate may live
practically all the year round in the
open air cannot fail of being beneficial.
Rheumatism, pulmonary troubles, and
nervous diseases, are all alleviated and
in large number Of instances cured
by residence in this clear, pure, sun-
shiny air.
Good water, so important to the
healthfulness OF any community, can be
had any where on the peninsula with
very little expense, usually driven
we'll striking plentiful supply at from
10 to 20 feet depth, while artesian
wells are had at $50 feet.
The following extracts are taken
from recent letter addressed to the
Board of Trade OF St. Petersburg by
Prof. Rolls, Director of the Florida
Experiment Station at Gainesville, af-
ter he had visited St. Petersburg and
carefully examined the land lying west
of there along the trolley line near
its western terminus:
"The surface of the soil is made up
of a grade of sand that is very excel
lent for vegetable growing and also for
citrus trees. Under this layer, aver
aging about fourteen inches, is more
impervious layer variously called clay,
hard pan, etc. This impervious layer
IS very important consideration in a
vegetable field, since it makes sub-irri-