The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1912-07-11
JUNE 1S HOTTEST DAY.
In Florida. a.-Climate Is Excellent
while Soil Is Poorest.

Editor County Record
My previous letter was devoted
almost exclusively to the climate of
Florida. To what was said in that
letter about the climate / wish to
add few more sentences and will
then speak of the soil.
The hottest day we have had so
far was on June 16, when the ther-
mometer registered go degrees, yet
it was not an uncomfortable day.
The writer rode in an open buggy
going to and returning from church
and did not even perspire. The
breeze is the secret. The sunshine
was hot ,as it is bound to be here, al
most in the tropical zone, but the
cool breeze in conjunction with the
relatively short days tempers the
heat to an extent that can hardly
be appreciated by one living in a
more northerly cline. The breeze
is great factor in this seeming
anomaly that we have here, but it is
not the only factor. To my mind the
length of day is equally important.
For instance, Friday, June 81, was
the longest day in the year. Here it
was a little more than thirteen
hours, while in Williamsburg, South
Carolina, there fourteen and a half
hours of sunshine.
From 7 to 9 o'clock in the morn
ing is the most unpleasant part OF
the day. During these two hours
there is usually but little air in mo-
ton. After 9 o'clock even those not
yet acclimated do not complain, for
the winds that come from that hour
on throughout the day and succeed
ing night leave nothing of which to
find fault. The nights are invariably
cool, and the way a fellow can sleep
is a caution. No lullaby is needed
and soothing drops are not called for.
All you have to do is to lie down,
draw up the cover, or you will get
chilly, close your eyes and the sun
of the next day will be shining on
your face before you half realize
that night has gone by.
The so-called rainy season is now
full upon US. We may look for a
shower every day for the next two
months, but, in fact,we get shower
about every second or third day.
The truth seems to be that these
summer showers are not more fire.
quent than they are in the old Car
olina State. The chief difference OBJ
served so far is the lack of thunder
and lightning. The showers come
gently and are not accompanied by the
terrific displays of electricity and the
tremendous roar of thunder so COM
mon in Carolina. The rains are true
showers. When the water falls, it
literally pours down for a few mo-
ments and then all is over. The
cloud rolls away like a curtain
drawn aside and the sunshine at
once returns.
When | began this letter, it was
the intention to write a few addi'
tional sentences only about the eli
mate and deal at some length with
the soil. Contrary to this intention
so much space has been given te
temperature and rainfall that | shal
write only few introductory lines
with respect to the soil, leaving the
greater part of this subject for dis
cussion in a subsequent letter.
Taken as a whole, the soil Of Flor
ida is probably the poorest OF any
State east of the Mississippi anc
south of New England. To strang
ers riding along in railroad car
riages, the State seems vast sant
bed interspersed with swamps
Throughout the northern and cen