The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-01-24

hallway jumping from Key to Key
? all the way to Key West.
CAPE SABLE
u 90 The other type Of Monroe Coun
" land is on the mainland, at th,
extreme southern tip of PENINSULA
Florida. ANY county, any State even
might be proud to be the possessor o,
: such an immense area of fine land
something like one hundred thousand
acres-as 10 comprised under what il
known as Cape Sable. 1t is an en-
pire in itself, awaiting development
Here the most prominent soil type Is
a blachsh loan, verging into muck
IN some places, and underlaid through
out with several feet thickness OF a
strong marine mari, which in its turn
gives place to the coralline rock so
conspicuous in the neighboring coun-
ty OF Dade. But there is no rock on
or near the surface, and, as about so
per cent. Of this entire section is open
prairie much Of It is ready for the
pillow today. The problem Of prspar-
ing it for cultivation is a simple one.
There is also a fairly large area OF
pure muck land, several feet in depth,
for those who prefer soil OF tho Ever
glades type with the additional pro-
lection against frost offered by Cane
Sable's more southerly location. The
remainder of the land is mainly Ham
mock, either covered with black man.
grove or such tropical growths as
ceiba, dogwood, stopperwood and ma
hogany. The soil in these hammocks
is much the same as on the high prai-
RE, except that it usually contains
more humus or decayed vegetation.
AMERICAS OPPORTUNITY
Here, to the writer's view, is pre-
scented today the finest opportunity
for tropical agriculture on the entire |
continent. Cape Sable is not guaran-
teed to be absolutely proof against
frost but being 80 far south and pro-
tected in addition on the north side
by the salt water of Whitewater Bay.
it surely is the nearest possible ap-
proach to that condition, excepting,
OF course, the Florida Keys which
are a little still further south and are
completely surrounded by water.
To find that happy combination,
soil productive enough by nature to
yield large crops without fertilizer in
climate in which a killing frost is
an unknown quantity has
long been the dream of the mid win
ter gardener. In Monroe county he
may see 1t come true.
ALL KIND OF CROPS AT ALL
SEASONS
(9) Not only this but in Cape Sable
here is illimitable opportunity to
grow all kinds of vegetables in win
er, spring and fall; sweet potatoes.
'otton, in the summer, land by the
way Sea Island cotton here becomes a
perennial, growing Wild, sugar cane
III the time, and for many years from
he one planting as demonstrated by
everal fields of cane now growing
lock eats with avidity the natural
RAISES which grow with such luxuri-
nee on the fertile prairies, while
part from these there are a dozen
r more different kinds of folders
mich can be planted in succession.
that for animals there Is no hum
ry period. II the newcomer can be
fruit man. he win find lines, that
ost profitable of citrus fruits.
roven success, as also cocoanuts. the
rgest plantation in the entire coun-
being located near Middle Cape sa
10. Figs also do well and dates
% promising. Oranges, grape fruit
Id the highly profitable avocado
ango, and other tropical fruits are
ostly untried but the climate Is
cal for these products and there ia
reason why expert horticulture
ouid not work wonders In this
lique section within few years
All that Monroe county needs is to
better known. The groundwork
r the best and widest DEVELOPMENT
Florida lies ready awaiting men
tn energy and vision.
TRANSPORTATION
The only detriment SO far has been
transportation but this is to be
NEEDED very soon. The Ingraham
ghway rock-surfaoed road from
ami' is being extended to Cape sa.
and even now is within a mile or
OF the Monroe county boundary.
ere is talk also of a ferry boat
10 connect the Cape with Kew
ST. from which port there is
ap transportation to New York bv
Mallory Line. Such a ferry Womb