The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-03-15
FLORIDA
Interestingly Described By
Mrs. Thomas Weir
Who Is Spending The Winter
In The Sunny South
Met Many MI. Vernon People
In State Of Florida
st. Augustine. Fla. March 9.

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We are again on trip aud thought
would tell my brothers iand sisters nj
the North how differently the South
is, Today 1t is only 80 degrees the
shade, and seems; very pleasing to
see the trees in .bIoom, and the spring
crop of potatoes up and piowed.
Winter gardens are In full blast and
the spring gardens, are planted. i3t
We took a triptn ttis sninrth, Beach
on the steamer Paaiina. capacity Of
over 100. and had q very bleasant ride
OF several miles around the bay and
landed at the beach where a street
car awaited, us docking ike a huge
corn crib with 4seats on both sides the
car holding75. pec4ieg The horse and
driver was on one side about the mid
die of car and sort OF path was worn
along the track where "NeIly" pulled
and kept the car going at q good
pace. With lots Of fun the car was un-
loaded at the big ocean amid white
sand, shells and water.
Oh, the great blue sea. How the
waves roll up to,youi casting sprays Of
white to any one,s delight.
Eighteen miles of,lhard white beach
stretches out to, the walker who may
go the dlstanceit ito Island Point should
he like. Many people from pour home
town are ften.lenconntered. Mr.. and
Mrs. John Sleeman we found pleas
antly situated on featfai layenies1il y
Mr. and Mrs. Charies Reed. of Nc
Keesport, Mr., and Nara, :1sepley of Dan
vile, Mrs. Clara Gordon and Mrs. n.
Garish, of Jacksonville. Fla. and Mrs.
l.. w. Edwards sad dapghter. Miss
Mary, have all arrived In st. Angus
tine. Some pass on. some stay. We
were delighted To meet MT. Vernon
people. ID, lRs t.st -
Have you ever been to the woods In
the spring? Of COURSE you have.
When you come South take Q drive,
through the Palm roads out to the
pines. See the island rose gardens,
and taste the native wine.
An Ohio man, MIR. II. N. Holmes has
a grand farm. Talk Of raising pota-
toes one season--he has three crops of
the fields, one Of potatoes profit may
be 100 per acre, Sweet potatoes or
grass follows and he thinks he has the
hn
expressed 1t.
ST. Johns Co. shipped over 265 900
barrels OF potatoes alone last year,
one thi d increase Us assured for this
year
Figs are grown In abundance and
are great money makers and fancy
prices are paid for this luscious fruit,
Every vegetable that grows In the
North grows here with many addi-
tion.
Cattle are very profitable AZ they
range, being no fences. Hogs, we saw
some of the finest hogs In this sec
tion; also some native hogs--razor
on the native animal,
Poultry; 1t seems that there are
plenty of chickens everywhere and yet
the demand exceeds the supply
Shell roads are Gne for driving and
automobillng.
Mr.. Weir Is quite fisher and may
tell some wonderful fish stories, but
they will all be. true. from tho whale
down. He caught 81 In an hopr not
such good day for fish either. A
most delighted water "trip IL TO the
boat at Jacksonville and so to San,
ford and return. You see everything
native from the flea on up. You
can see the snakes. the trees covered
with native moss. the banks covered
with vines. flowers and birds and "gat'
ors," Surely you will not miss the
river trip.
In the thickets are sea grape, pigeon
plum, makes good wine II IL hard to
believe these trees are first cousins to
the familiar buckwheat of northern
farmers, such is the case.
A great tree is there with rough, rod
bark, oval leaves ak or seven inches
long, yellow flowers, breathing forth
delicate perfume az sweet as a rose.
SO many strange trees, rubber, mul-
berry, hypllate. thorny shrub, staff
tree, red stopper, whose leaves eshale
unpleasant odors.
Ferns OF all descriptions,
And now as the summer comes on
1he orange trees laden with blossoms
the magnolia with Its fragrant bios
SONS, honey sackle and jessamines, m
the air with d most pleasing odor
Wish all my friends could see and
heart and smell the South.
MRS. THOMAS WEIR