Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-29
CHAT

So MANY letters have come to me con-
corning this state and its possibilities
that I am going to try to tell you
all that know about IT,
First and foremost comes the tact that
a very severe winter in the north means
more or less cold down here. That there
Is a line in Florida that Jack Frost
cannot pass over is a myth. Every year
OF exceptional cold finds him little
farther south Clearing off the timber
in Alabama is said 10 have ruined Madi-
son, Hamilton and Sewanee counties as
orange and truck lands. They in turn
have lost the bulk OF their pine timber
and again the frost line has moved.
This year there was ice and frost
right here in fernando county. and even
lower, so don't come expecting 10 wear
linen suits all the year. There may be
several days in succession when you will
need a fire, and the evenings will de-
mand a little heat about four months
Secondly. don't imagine the land near
a railroad can be bought cheap, II IL
will sprout cowpess. Land around
BrooksviIle is splendid but Ii is at from
IS an acre I'D to 500
There is wild land miles away from
any railroad that can be bought cheaper,
and be sure that IL you make success
of your crop the railroad. like sin. will
find you. One must use commonsense
in locating. just as you are expected TO
do in moving from one city TO another.
DON'T 20 TO a sandy country and expect
to raise the same crops you did on the
clay lands or plant what there is no
demand for.
Don't come to this country and ex-
pect to raise chickens as you did bees at
home There are all sorts OF insects,
hawks and wild creatures TO look after
and its eternal vigilance that brings sue
cess. II you are lazy and want TO con-
tinue half starving. Florida is the land
for you. for a hand TO mouth existence
is to be had There are hundreds OF
thriftIess men half starving their fami-
lies here just as they are the world over
II you have energy and you are not
ashamed to buckle down to daily labor,
the poor man has a fine chance, and he
has that the world over. Here. however,
the poor man has some advantages He
does not have to lay up money for coal,
nor for the days that the bitter cold or
snow viii not let him work.
Labor is a problem. consequently a
man can always find work out OF doors.
i wouldn't advise anyone to come who
expects his Office work to pay for his
home. Oxford. Cambridge and Yale
graduates are today blowing. hOeing and
that all that you need do to an orange
grove is to plant IT. The trees need
pruning, working, fertilizing and con-
slant attention. All sorts OF crops are
planted in the groves, and in that way
two birds are killed with one stone.
Sweet potatoes and corn can be raised
easily. hay is big crop with no trouble
and stock flourish with little attention
There should be a law that no man
should have more cattle than he can
keep fat. for right now the woods are
full of dead cows. yearlings and calves
belonging TO people who made no provis-
ion for the few weeks that must be tided
over when the woods are burned.
Here are some OF the questions:
I'VE are thinking of locating south of
Ocala- Do you think we would do well
there. and is there a suspicion that we
might not be satisfied"
How can tell. never having seen my
correspondent? What would suit one will
not suit another. Some people don't
know q good thing whe nthey get IL.
/ saw a man on the train who had
lived in northern Alabama ten years, an
Ohio man. he has bought near Silver
Spring, has land that a man on the train
frankly told him wouldn't sprout cow
peas. But he had been there, and laugh
ed at the other mans purchase in another
county, and promised to send him cow
peas as big as they ever grew, and asked
him 20 come two years from now and see
q lot OF other things
Two people can go to the same place
and one fail. while the other may make
a success I know two men who have
made small fortunes on OF potato slips.
They are shipped all over the Unitei
States. AS one expressed II. ITS small
business. cutting and tying them in bum
dies OF a thousand. and a man must be
honest and send them fresh and true 10
the variety he says they are or he won't
have any customers the next year. His