Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-03-13
A Short Visit to Florida.

corning the baimy lana or ho"eIs
that we have decided to give brief
account of Florida and our visit
there. !,
We left Highland, FRIDAY, the
18th Of FEBRUARY, travelling some
1900 miles through five different
states, we arrived at Parrish, Fla
the following Monday evening, m
GLIDING dav and night spent in
Stanton and Richmond, Va. TIE
route we went was very interesting,
especially so after we had passed
through the Carolinas, the country
taking on tropical appearance,
which was certainly a feast for ones
ewes after leaving zero weather and
snow drifts from 5 to 20 feet deep
Having reached this little station.
Parrish, at night fail, we concluded
to spend our first night in Florida
here. At this little village there
was every indication of warmer
climate, the windows up, doors
open, children barefooted, 1t was
SIS above. The houses are not built
for cold weather. Most all of them
are of light structure with but one
chimney. used in cooking.
The next morning we were up
bright and early and got a convey
ance of Mr.. Parrish to send us out
{. to Mr. Huyler's place some twelve
miles distant. Before starting he
treated us to the first oranges and
grape fruit we had ever eaten just
taken from the trees. A big diff
ference from the fruit bought OH
our home markets. On the way to
Mr. Huyler's the country is forest
of fiat sandy land, streaks of which
is found productive. Ponds from
one to five acres square are very
numerous and generally from one
to three feet deep. A great many
Of these ponds one can wade
through without even getting the
soles' of your shoes muddy. This
is because the sand is packed very
solid at the bottom. The aligators
make their homes in these ponds,
but. we were told. not seen often,
In mentioning few Of the things
that came under our observation
on this drive we must not forget
the many wild fowers-roses, vio-
lets, lilies and various kinds that
were strangers to US but none the
less beautiful. They are rather
delicate looking, resembling our
hot house plants. When we had
gone some distance our attention
was diverted from these beauties of
nature by large coveY of quail
along the road which made our
sportsman's blood Jingle We did
not need much encouragement to
get out and give them round as
we were stiff from the long ride
and only longing for an oppor-
tunity to stretch our limbs. BY
the time Sport made a point we
were at his heels, but it was with
great difficulty we could get the
birds to fly, they persisting in run
ming along on the ground, which
we lea, ned later is characteristic
of the Florida birds. We killed
three OIL the first rise and followed
them to clump of palmetto bushes
where we succeeded in bagging
quite a few of them. The birds |
of Florida are somewhat smaller
and darker than the Virginia quail
Their flight is something similar
to our birds, but not quite as swift.
Feeling much elated over our sue
cess and the anticipation Of coming
sport little did we realize how tired
we were the rest of the way. On
our approach to Mr. Huyler's place
we were confronted by an orange |
grove of unusual size loaded down |
with hundreds Of boxes Of the gold
en- fruit, a sight we will long re-
member. To the left some three
hundred yards we drew.np before
q brand-new house which our host
had recently erected. and where we
were welcomed by genial house
party who had preceded us a few
days. There were nine Of us. Had
this not been our destination, we
could not have been induced to 60 |
farther, so pleasant. home-like and
pleasant were the surroundings. |
At supper we were met by Mr. Huy-
Ter and members of the party,
whose good-fellowship and associa-
tions we were to enjoy during the
visit.
As a host Mr. Huyler can't be
beaten! Each day his plans and fore
sight brought something new in
the form of pleasure. treat or
amusement. We hunted quail. |
chased foxes, fished, gathered the
beautiful wild flowers and feasted
on fruits and good things gcner-
ally.
To our unaccustomed eyes the
sight of Mr. Huyler' orange grove
was a wonder and a thing of beau
ty. He has forty acres of grape
fruit and orange, about 5000 trees
N all. The trees are all sizes from
The frst-year plantisg to those
with rich, golden fruit
Snnh nrchads have 70 he nlnMad