Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1875 — Letter From Florida. [ARTICLE]

Letter From Florida.

Jacksonville, March 31, 1875. Editors Union: As I, am still in the “land of sunshine and flowers’ 1 permit me to address my friends through your columns. In a former article I said something about the climate of Florida and the. city of Jacksonville; this time I will write on other matters. I have spent the last four week; twenty-five miles east of here, near where the St. Johns empties into I stopped with a farmer—an old Indianian. The land upere he is is pretty gypd for

this State—will yield perhaps forty 1 bushels of corn to acre. He I was planting last week, and I dropped some for him. There is a great variety of' timber here that we doliot have North, such as magnolia, white and red bay, myrtle, cypress, palmetto, etc. The scenery is quite romantic and interesting. Most of the land now covered with timber was one vast plantation of sugar cane, a century ago, cultivated by the Spaniards. •Indeed the bld furrows' can yet be traced in the woods. The house where I stayed I suppose is near a hundred years old, was built by tire Spanish, and is quite ancient in style. I will not stop to describe it. The greater-portion of the land of this State is poor. There is, however, some pretty good land around the Capital (Tallahassa) and in the interior, which before the late war was in a good state of cultivation, but not since. lam told

tliaTsuch lands can be bought as low as five dollars an acre, which would make nice farms. People from the North ought to come and settle on it, and make for themselves srood homes in this delightful ' climate. A The natives here seem to have no energy or “get up” about them; -they are lazy, very ■poor, - and’ can hardly live. The country will never be developed or brought into good cultivation until people from the North or elsewhere come and accomplish it. Perhaps a few more cold winters, like the past one, will cause some of them to think of making a change. Thousands have been here this winter to escape the piercing winds of the North, and I think some of them intend to return and make their homes in the South. But if persons come here expecting to find business, manners, customs, habits, and society as they are in the North, they will be disappointed. What further I add will be the opinions and suggestions of others, not my own, for I am not posted. They will be from that übiquitous and generally well-informed person ThevSav.

First, person coming here with some capital can make mo ley. It is, also, a good place for a poor man. If he has means to get fifteen or twenty acres of land, and cnoiigti to live on for a year or two he is all right. He should first-put an acre or two in an orange orchard, planting 100 trees to the acre, which in a few 7 years will almost afford a living for his family; then he should put a few acres in vegetables, which will add much to his living, for they always bring a good price, and they can be planted and ready for market the year round, it we except the months of July and August which are not so good to plant in. Hence it is claimed that people can make a living here easier than at the North. I wish to call attention again to what is said about orange growing. A person with a few 7 thousand dollars to begin with can become wealthy in a few years by cultivating this fruit. It pays largely and always will, no matter how 7 many engage in the business. There will always be a good market for all that can be raised. The best .regions for orange growing are along the St. J ohns and Indi an rivnrsi- U-

The vast crowds of people that have been filling the streets of this city for the last two months are very much diminished. The greater number of pleasure-seekers have gone or started home, while we poor invalids must content ourselves to remain awhile longer. In conclusion, I would say to my old friends that after being here nearly 1 three months I don’t think my . health has been permanently bettered. Aly cough still continues. Sometinies I have almost dared to think it a little better, then by a! little cold it is made just as bad again. ' Persons take cold here as easily as North. I hope, however, by remaining here a few weeks longer, the latter part of my stay: may benefit me more, and that I i may then, if spared, be permitted 4o return in at least a better degree of health than I had when I left home;-and that I may a while longer enjoy the society of my' family, and many old and well-tried friends whom I highly- esteem.

J. C. CROUCH.