The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1914-04-03
EDITOR DAVIS ON
PUTNAM COUNTY
Former New York Editor
Spends Winter in Palatka
and Writes Home.

Mr.. R. R. Davis, an uncle of the
proprietors of the Palatka Daily Item
is lust closing his second winter
residence in Palatka, and likes the
town, the country, its possibilities, and
the people.
Mr.. Davis whose home is in To-
ronto, Ontario, was formerly for Is
years editor of the Tully, On. "
Times, and it is to this paper that
only week or two ago he sent a
letter telling of his regard for this
section. From this letter, copy of
which has been sent US, We make
the following excerpts
The section of the country in and
around Palatka is admirably adapted
to the growing of oranges, grape
fruit, peanuts, sugar cane, pecans,
strawberries, potatoes - Irish and
sweet-corn, and all kinds of garden
truck. There are many thousands
of acres of land for sale. This land,
in most cases, is unimproved, grown
over with pine trees most Of which
are slashed. The slashing is doHe
for the purpose Of allowing the
pitch TO run out. This Is manutacT-
ured into turpentine and rosln.
There are also palms, palmettos,
small oak and brier; the ground
being almost a complete network Of
roots: but these are easily removed
well, easily if you work hard-and
when the land is once cleared it Is
easy of cultivation. The sandy soil
being adapted TO the growth Of
oranges, grapefruit, peanuts, sugar
cane, etc. While the clay soil Is well
adapted to potatoes, corn and oats.
AS much of the land lays low, it is,
when drained, suitable for the growth
of garden truck, or truck farming
Vegetables of all kinds including the
lucious watermelon, yield large crops
to the acre and invariably command
q good price, especially as all this car
be and is grown at all times OF year
Unquestionably many other things
in the vegetable line can be grown
here. | mention those things ! have
seen growing. Palatka and vicinity
is in q section where arteslan wells
are numerous, hence the water sup
ply is only the matter Of sinking one
of those wells to have a lasting sup
ply-no matter what quantities sI-
required and used. As frost ana
freezing are unknown in this section
Or rather rarely do any damage
water pipes may be laid on top the
ground or at the top Of the orange
trees, as the grower desires for his
convenience. When this land is once
cleared and drained it is soon put in
shape for producing the crops ! have
spoken Of.
The price of land depends upon Of
whom and how purchased. A num-
Der Of real estate sharks-of the
same breed to be found in other plac-
es-hold large tracts of land. Some
yes, the greater quantity-they
bounght for IS, SO ana SIS an acre,
in large tracts. Some of this same
land near Palatka is now on the mar
ket, the price being placed at 500
an acre. This is the one reason that
l have advised all who contemplate
to this section, TO come
here, look over the land, find out
something Of climate, etc, and then
select such land as suits them. BY
doing this intending settlers can save
not only money. but time, worry as
well as placing themselves in q po-
sition to avoid failure.
The Climate-Many living in the
North are under the impression that
the same kind of weather prevails
at all times of the year. This is err
roneous. During the summer months
the weather gets much warmer than
in the winter; the temperature reach
? II l,,-