The Robesonian., 1918-01-03
BACK IN FLORIDA
The Journey and Some Places Wis
ited-Productive Hammock X
Land.

4SsSAiAs
To the Editor of The Robesonian:
Before leaving North Carolina diff
ferent persons requested US to write a
letter to The Robesonian, giving an
account of our return trip to Florida,
where we have made our home since
leaving North Carolina more than one
year ago.
We left Elrod on the night of De-
cember 16 AS usual, the train was
late. About 8:45 it came in with a
rush-stopped, and the conductor
cried, "All aboard" and off we were,
hoping that during the night lost time
would be made up and that we would
reach Jacksonville, Fla, on time next
morning. Before US lay the distance
of 134 miles to be Travelled before
reaching "Jax", as the people down
here call the prosperous city for short,
and during the time it would take to
travel this distance, there was in store
for US many a pleasant mod.
At Florence, S. c., our train stood
"stock still" until 1880 next morning.
Mr.. Editor, you know, perhaps, how
trying it is to have to wait when you
don't want to, and the only way to
dispose of such situation is to make
up your mind "lf you can stand it l
can," and then stick to your job. We
reached Jacksonville next day just be-
fore noon, worn, weary, and tagged
out. We took passage on street car and
were met at station by Mr.. J. N. Nc
Lean, and conducted to his comfort
able home, where good rest could be
had without money and without price.
On Friday following, we started for
Lakeland, a distance of 200 miles. We
passed through some beautiful towns
and by some beautiful lakes over this
part Of the road in Florida. We reach
ed Lakeland late in the afternoon and
were made welcome to the home of
Mr.. C. R. Ford, proprietor Of thee Ford
house., whose hospitality cannot be
excelled when it comes to looking af-
ter the comfort Of friend of by gone
days. Tuesday morning following we
boarded the train for Barlow, only 13
miles away. Here we went to the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. A. B. Mclean
the one North Carolinian, the other
a Floridean. These good friends had
moved out of the town into the coun-
try, about miles, and were occupy
ing the magnificent residence con,
structed by Mr.. Mclean on his farm
about which we wish now to speak
His land is of the hammock" type
Our people in Robeson will have tC
see this kind of land to know what i
is. 1t is not low but high and dry
and with proper treatment is very
productive. His farm is irrigated, con
sequently he makes rain when h
wants it, and herein lies his success
in truck farming. Last spring he wa
shipping cabbage when we were there
and during one week, he shipped thre
car loads which brought over 3,00C
You must not suppose this was all
for he had so acres under cultivation
in cabbage. On the same land, afte
the cabbage were taken off, he plant
ed Irish potatoes and made nearly 4
600 bushels, which he sold at So pc
bushel.
Mr.. Mclean told us that he raise
all the corn he needs planting afte
other crops, an average of SO bushel
to the acre. He sells his vegetabl
crops to local dealers and knows wha
he gets before the cars leave the sts
tion.
Well, enough of this. I spent yer
=. nearly one week with him and famil
before leaving. l went bird huntin
during the time and bagged SO qua
all alone. You can cut the naugl
loose from the figure 5, because Wei
ster says "it amounts to nothing.
was using gun which cost $3.50.
On Sunday we went with Rev. N
Reed, pastor of the Barlow Bapti
church, to Lake Ann, a mission st;
ton, where he preached and receive
four members into the church. SUI
day night we talked for the folks
another mission station near the hon
of Mr.. Mclean.
Monday morning we started f
Fort Myers, another distance Of Il
miles. The train was late and r;
slowly, so we did not reach Fort M
ers until 80 p. m. After a meal v
were off on car for La Belle,
more miles, the way we had to con
Just after dark we arrived in La Be
and were shaking hands with tho
we left behind on November 2nd
Christmas passed off quietly, wi
plenty to eat, and resembled Sund
more than Sunday resembles itself
this part Of Florida. Our turkey,
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Clark, w
wild turkey. We took supper wi
Mr. d. G. Mccormick and family a
had more wild turkey. There W
plenty of everything else to salts
the demands for a first class Chri
mas dinner, but we mention the tt
key because of it's nationality.
After supper at Mr.. D. G. Ms,
fore we had time to light the Gig
presented US, there was a call at t
door which required that we shol