The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-31
FLORIDA.

Florida Is the most southerly state
OF the Union and the second largest
east of the Mississippi; area 1856
square miles. 1t is nearest to the
West Indies, South America and the
Panama Canal The flora and fauna
are the most varied and abundant In
/ America. The sea coast. with Inc
beaches is over 1000 miles long with
out counting indentatipns of bays and
inlets. Interior lakes and fine springs
OF fresh water are numerous, with
many navigable rivers. The soil is
wonderfully varied. The highest ele-
walton is S02 feet.
Florida is not classed as a mineral
state, yet it leads the Union by rs
per cent in phosphates and fullers
earth with large exports of bali clay
for pottery The state is underlaid
with lime stone, and coquina rock,
formed of fine shells, making an at
tractive building material, abounds
along the East Coast, while, coral
keys or islands fringe the south end.
Coral rock is still being formed and
accordingly ours is the only state be-
ing increased in landed are by the
additions of new reefs and the en-.
largement of old ones in the sea.
Long ago shell fish were busy and
their stony coats, now found in i'm
mense deposits in all parts of the
state, are used for making roads. It
is one of the most interesting of
states for biologists and antiquarians
and many distinguished ones have
studied and written about it. II con-
tains the Oldest city in America set
tied by white men, and no state has
longer or more romantic histiry.
Florida is one of the great timbered
states, having millions Of standing
merchantable pine and cypress trees.
Live, red, white and water oaks, CO.
dar, hickory, elm, palm, magnolia, ash
gum, birch, etc., are widely distribu-
| ted, while in the south section. and
on the keys are lignum-vitae box.
wood, mastic, satinwood, crabwood,
etc., in all, some fifty varieties of the
mahogany class Of trees. There are
two kinds Of trees of the yew or CO..
dar family, not known to botanists
elsewhere on earth. The camphor
tree fiourishes and a plantation in
Putnam county, the only one in this
country, is now making camphor for
commercial use. Other like indus.
tries are under way. The pine is the
source of large industry in turpen-
tine and rosin, besides it makes fine
building material. The State has
many extensive saw mills and lum-
Der is sent by ship-loads to foreign
countries, and by train loads to the
North. Wood is the chief fuel. Ey-
cry farmer can have a wod lot and
make it profitable.
Nurseries are reported in 80 coun-
ties of Florida, total Of 166, each
with standardized citrus or deciduous
varieties of fruits, pecans, ornamen.
tai trees, shrubbery and flowers. Buy
home grown stock.
More than 600 kinds of fishes are
found in the salt seas around Florida,
and in the numerous fresh water
lakes and rivers of the interior. The
business of catching fish for market
is large one, besides it furnishes
intending sport for who is it that
does no like the thrill of nibble and
then the strong pull of big fish !?
The fun of fishing will not cure old
age but it will lengthen it, and serve
as panacea for many ailments. Be.
sides the finny tribes, shell fish in the
form of oysters, clans, crabs,
shrimps, ETC., abound. Sea turtles,
200 Founders, and the manatee, or sea
COW, often, half ton in weight, still
exist. The only sponge fisheries in
America are here.
\
There was an abundant wild ami.
NAL and bird life, but It has been
hunted to the point of extinction for
some species. The paraQuet has dis
appeared and some of the plumed
birds. Bear, (ursus flofridanusl.
deer, foxes, offers, coons, opossums,
squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, quail,
ducks, and shore birds, are stin
n