The Ordway new era., 1908-02-14
FROM THE TROPICS.
Sorrento, Fla, Feb. G, 1908.
Dear Mr.. Editor:

Dear Mr. Editor:
AS | sit on the east
porch OF an old fashioned southern
''o'iie' ana The sun is bearing on nv
toes ana extracting the uric acid rrnu
my limbs, | must tell you Of the de.
lights or this Italian namel CITY
cant express the relief from the
chIiiihg blasts of Missouri, Illinois.
ONO, Kentucky, Tennessee and even
Georgia. Was IL degrees colder AZ
Atlanta than Ordway when | left and
when we shvcrcd around the steam
pipes on board Dietary" going down
st. Johns River, Florida, | told the
captain that VIC had certainly made n
mistake at Jacksonville, and boarded
some Arctlc expedition. Eut realize
Today. as men IN an adjoining lot are
planting the melon seeds. another is
hocing the cabbage and celery which
about cover the ground. that this is
old south. Still retain my northern
dress, but will have u shed and be
shcarcd, soon as this "nurther" passes.
Sorrento Is one Of the mans dead
towns Of central and northern Florida.
Ihc majority Ol the crackers have not
yet awakened from that chilling freeze
OF 1896, which in one night DESTROYED
the orange groves that had been Il
lifetime in growing and trees foot in
diameter were frozen and these old
Stumps decorate every field rs evidence
Wide awake northern men rcplantcd,
and many fine groves are bearing these
sweet and juicy oranges which suffer
no competition from the California
sour fruit. Thousands OF acres Of this
choice garden land or sand-can be
purchased in any ncighbOrhOod for n
sony, almost. Homes for the million.
where the Industrious gardener can
reap n rich reward for his labor, from
his fruit, melons and cantaloupcs On
May, cabbage, lettuce, cauliilowcr
tomatoes, etc, In mId-wintcr-yct the
poor cracker will have a hard time
and dCSnlatiOn and decay follow his
footsteps.
Our American people have spread
over a vast area and greed demands
her 900 acres for living. and it is
becoming popular opinion that our
farm land is about gone. We shall
soon have To Ill in the Pacific Ocean
for our cntcrpriSing land sharks.
T.. hl 4 .,l,.l In, ('ratp hns
three. fOurths the car, and yet there
are no negroes to spare-nObody wants
them to 90 north. They are a great
bonanza to the South when an cncr-
getic white man will guide them.
On entering the postofiicc yesterday
a young man was inquiring OF the
postmaster If his Rocky Ford canta-
lOupc seed had come yet. ITO whom
did YOU send?" 'Mr. Burrcll." 81
understood he sold the "Pink Meat
melon seed" lost no time in max
ing myself known and assured him he
was dealing with the right man ana
the right seed. How astonishcd we
both were. The young man tells me
that he has raised cantaluupcs here
for several ycars-Ships IN May ana
June by express. That they produce
wonderfully and are rs fine as any in
the United States, and that he Is
making a special effort to interest
enough growers to ship by car load
lots.
am on the "still hunt" and have
found no ely in the ointment rs yet.
With no irrigation necessary, ana
Florida sand and sunshine. and land
at $40 per acre, nearby markets and
cheap transportation. 1t is very DIM
cult to find the little flea but surely IL
exists somewhere.
This is said to be delightful place
for the health. seeker and with advan'
tapes of cooler summer, although
longer one, than St. Louis. The odor
or the pine woods is everywhere ana
the yellow jascminc. orange, peach'
plum, etc, are in full bloom.
Yours,
ID. c. ROBERTS.