Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-03-31
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
Miami. Florida,
March 20, 1921.

Marcn 20, 1921.
Dear RegiSter-Althoueh have
oeen IN Florida before, this present
trip with the National Editorial AS
sociation has been most remark.
able revelation of the wonderful
beauties and resources of this far
southern State. Having been on the
East Coast and West Coast and through
the inland section and having travelled
many hundred miles in automobiles
and on boats and upon the special train
used ev the editors, ] have had op-
portunity TO see large part of the
State-and having seen and observed.
! can only marvel at this great par
OF our country. Discovered very early
AFTER Columbus first sighted land on
inc western hemispherc-before the
Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock-the
great peninsula remained un1eyelop-
ed while the indolent Spanish earned
an easy living from its generous
products. II was discovered i'm a bust
ness way some thirty years ago bv
Henry M. Flaeler, a man of vision and
energy, who built railroad down the
East Coast from Jacksonville TO Kew
west, S22 miles. and opened up n rich
and fertile and beautiful and attractive
empire. There are monuments 10
flagler here and there along the line.
but the greatest monuments is his
great railroad and the development
mat he envsioned and then made pos
Sible.
After the business sessions OF the
editorial association had been con-
Guided at st. Augustine, the editors
started out to see Florida and the sec
tons devoted TO special agricultural
and fruit growing industries. The
first place visited was Hastings. A
town Of some 700 inhabitants and the
centre of population Of 1000 in tho
community. Potatoes! You lust ought
to see the hourishng green fields
stretching on every side! Thousands
and thousands OF acres in this section
are devoted to potato growing. the
soil here being especially adapted to
this crop. Some idea OF this indus
try may be gotten when il is stated that
last year about 1000 carloads OF
potatoes were shipped from Hastings
The crop is planted in January and
natures in about ninety days Potato
bugs have not yet discovered this sec
tion-which is wonderland spray-
ing for enemies Is unnecessary. The
yield is from 40 TO 90 barrels per
acre. The potato grower is inde-
pendent OF rain. From artesian wells
driven about 200 feet deep he gets a
strong fiourshing stream with which
he irrigates the land. The potatoes arc
planted in long rows. hlled up very
high. and there is an irrigating ditch
about every sixth row.
Monday the editors boarded a
special train Of fourteen Pullman cars
which were to be their homes for ten
days and started out on the big tour.
The first stop was at the beautiful
and thriving city of Gainesville. in
which place IS located the University of
Florida, having an attendance OF about
800 students. Here an elaborate
luncheon was served, the walters be-
ing students OF the institution, and the
$50 guests were delightfully."- enter
tanned. A delightful dining hall. and
music was furnished by the university
orchestra and male quartette. Ad-
dresses were made BY the president OF
the university, DR.. A. A. Murphy. and
other distinguished residents Of the
city, responses being made by MEM
bers OF the association. Gainesville ie
| a lovely old town. It's streets arc
broad and are shaded by noble live
oak trees from which is suspended the
queer Spanish moss waving in graceful
pennants. The town has a population
of 5000, and is a delightful place.
In the evening the guests arrived at
Leesburg, another live town. Here the
editors were warmly welcomed by the
people of the community In the pub
lie park tables had been spread, and
the guests were served delicious sup
per that had been prepared by tho
ladies OF the city. After addresses Of
welcome had been made and respond
ed to. and as the band made sweet
music, the hungry editors enjoyed
a bountiful repast. Perhaps 400 per-
sons were served, but there was enough
and to spare. II was very delightful
there in the park in the balmy evening
air, and the hospitable people left
nothing undone for the pleasure OF the
guests. 1t was al Leesburg that fon
the first time in my life had as many
really good oranges as could eat
great quantities of delicious oranges,
| was working on one of them when
along came a pleasant gentleman who
proved to be Mr.. A. r. Sandlin, one
of the most important fruit-growers OF
that section. 81 see." he remarked.
that you don't know just how to eat
an orange" and being requested to
demonstrate. he cut the outer skin
from around the middle Of the orange.
cut The spere in two, and using each
part as a cup, got the real nectar. He
fetched a fresh crate, and by the time
had eaten sixteen | could do il al
most as we'll as he. Another motive
also had a satisfactory plan of diff.
ferent sort-he cut the top Of the
orange off at the stem end. removed a
part of the core, and, oh, boy! This
orange-eating episode attracted some
attention and Mr. Sandlin will long DO
remembered. Florida folks say thai.