The Harrison times., 1917-02-24
SEEING THE SOUTH.
Miami, Florida, Feb. 13, 1917,

Editor Times
The good Lord (and the Kaiser)
have been good to me, and | am still
alive-in fact very much alive.
have now been in this wonderful and
peculiar southland three weeks, and
still seeing wonders (and | haven't
drank anything stronger than coffee }
Having dabbled with agriculture and
horticulture all my life-except about
80 years yet coming to me-l always
consider, first the soil, and right here
| am up against a hard task on ac,
count of the peculiarities of the soils
of Southern Florida.
They have here two very distinct
varieties of soil. One the Everglades
and the other Pine Lands, and as diff.
ferent from each other as day from
night, and all perfectly level, and only
four feet above sea level.
The Everglades is black muck de.
posit of about four feet in depth and
then they strike rock formation
which is Of a soft nature-could be
considered Coral rock, all honey
combed and porous and looks like
sponge Through a system of canals
they drain this land, and it becomes
very productive, producing tomatoes
cabbage, beans, potatoes, and in fact
anything that grows, perfectly. They
do all their farming here during the
winter months and get high prices.
The Pine Lands are all Coral rock
on top and all the way down. They
use a machine, invented for use on
this kind of land that Scarifies these
rocks, leaves the land even and
smoothe, and on this land they plant
their orchards. | saw the orchard of
w. J. Bryan, planted to grape fruit, on
this kind Of land. Anyone observing
without investigating either Of these
soils would condemn them, but if in
vestigated could not be otherwise than
converted, as to their fertility; and
when the climate is taken into the
account, | think this one Of the best
al 20 70 Iiun IN, in tho 1TnitnI GtDfac
North Arkansas of course, excepted,)
picked my first banana February
IS and my first cocoanut yesterday. |
have put an extra joint in my neck
looking up at the cocoanuts and air
craft in the air Three or four up In
the air at time. They carry passen.
gers, and very reasonably too, only
one dollar a minute. | planned to go
up ten dollars worth today, but con-
cluded to wait until came back from
Cuba to where am going from here
leaving next Sunday or Monday.
The city of Miami is a Tourist
City" Of $4,000 residents and $4,000
tourist population, a rival Of Los An
geles, Calf, and | thing both would
starve to death If it were not for the
tourists.
would attempt a description Of the
city but for the fact that | know too
little Of 1t yet. After the yacht race,
which comes off the last Of this week,
and visit to w. j. Bryant mansion,
and the Deering four million dollar es.
tate, and after ! have had my ride In
the aeroplane-if am alive will
write more.
am enjoying every minute, and in
perfect health. In fact every body
seems to be healthy; haven't heard but
one man cough, and | think he had
something cross,ways in his gu2zle, or
his wife was making him cough up one
dollar and ninety.nine cents to buy a
pair of one dollar hose,
Since commencing this letter | have
been across the bay to ocean Beach
in boat coming back by auto, over
a l2 mile bridge.
While there took in the Aviation
camp and bathing and fishing grounds.
am too busy just now to write and
will ring OFF, until have more time.
am in perfect health and really
glad ! am alive
Il IL SCHWEITXER.