The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-10-31
OIL SURVEY OF THE OcALA
AREA

. We are indebted TO Senator Fetch
for copy of a pamphlet entitled,
Soil Survey of the Ocala Area" The
hmphlet contains sixty pages of
rinted matter, besides very large
Nap. illustrating the various charac-
IL of soils.
II is issued by the department of
agriculture and its data and conclu-
#ons are authentic.
. The following is the summary,
|hich no doubt will be interesting to
pr readers:
Summary
The Ocala area Is situated in the
&prtheentral part of the Florida pc
Ursula and comprises an area of
Doe square miles, OF 64l.2S0 acres.
includes parts OF the counties OF
arion. Sumter. Citrus aud Levy. 1t
brms an elevated portion OF the pc
&nsula and is underlain by limestone.
The topography is varied. ranging
rom low and fat areas in the swamps
|hd flatwoods 10 rolling in the sandy
ms and high hammocks. The high
ID point In the area is go feet. and
De lowest 20 feet above sea level \
Sarked feature OF the topography is
be sinkholes and depressed areas
nd the general lack OF surface drain
.Ee systems. the drainage waters
hssing downward through the porous
bis.
THE area drains into both the Cult
y Mexico and the Atlantic ocean. The
rnhlacoochee river passes throagh
BE area in its central part. fiowing
|orthwest. and emptying into the
.alt on the northeast the Silver
brings rise nom SssAterranean chan
. els and flow east 20 the oSlawaha
|ser. emptying into the st, Johns
.Ser. which in turn empttes into the
SslAntic ocean,
settlement Nexsn prior 70 1850,
|ak the extension OF settlement has
len slow. aud the rural population Is
sparse The early settlers were
N'om Georgia and North and South
|ArOllna, In recent years numbers OF
.letlsrs have come from the northern
ND western states
THE railroad facilities are eScep-
foaally good. both the Atlantic Coast
me and SeahoSrd Air Line Rail,
'eAas passing through the area, These
he main trunk lines, In addition TO
ese are the ocala Northern and
Deals Southwestern railroads, Wa.
DC transportation is afforded by Sill
.eF Springs run and the oklawaha
Nd 81. Johns rivers, There is also
bal water transportation on part
y the withlacooehee river and Pana-
|eakee lake. The county roads are
Femeroas. They are being rapidly
approved. and there are many miles
p stone and clay surfaced roads.
~ocala. the county seat 90 Marion
Eeanty. with about aSoa Inhabitants,
TIE largest town. II is an impor-
pat business and railroad center
|QonaelloR. Hernando and Inverness
the western part of the ares, are
'pNns OF considerable importance IN
n phosphate.mining section, Belle
ew, Sammeraeld, oxford, wildwood
d Coleman are important towns IN
y eastern part OF the area on the
.allroads, Their interests are aSr'e
'0lsaral
The climate of the area is mild, ap-
eeAeAlag the s0A.tropscal The mean
AAaaal temperature is 81 degrees F.
~ TIE mean annual precipitation
sNeat - Inches,
The early Agriculture was reSsrscfs
b the growinS Of the subsistence
eeS and Sea,iSlaNd cotton, aloaS
4 q stock ralSiNx, After the eNit
~ citrus fruit growing WAS taken
y Which Industry was almost entire
IN aAAndoNea. when the trees were
sAea BY the neese ef l$St.sa, Since
w Phosphate mluing, tarpeatinmg'
- MmAerlng have been important
ssAsrleS Aside from these the az
sSlsare, while not developed over
y Whole area. consists IN the pro
's,'na Of general field crops. truck
NJ and citrus fruits. Corn. oats,
''sss potatoes, SUGAR cane. aud vel,