LEO- 
 
 A PESCRii'TJ V'E FAMPIIJ.KT, PORTRAYIN<^ 
 
 Tlie A<lvrn/tac!p.s of the BeAtiitifuUij -l'tclnrei<(ine find l\h-V .'li'j'i- 
 ouUural Rsgiori, hn.oivri as 
 
 "The Tiilhiliasscc Goiiiitrvor Pidiiioiit Fliiridii." 
 
 TOURISTS, SPORTSMEN, INVALIDS, 
 
 FARMERS, 
 
 TIU'('K'->rEN, FKriT-(Tli()\Vi:i{S. DAIRV-MEN AND OTIIKliS. 
 
 TALLAHASSEE. ELA.: 
 
 rKINTKD AT-TilK OFFIpK OK TllK t'l^OKlDIAM. 
 
 1881. 
 
Qass. 
 
 Book , lsi^ . 
 
LEON COUNTY, 
 
 FLORIDA. 
 
 A Descriptive Pamphlet. 
 
 PUBLISHED FOR GENERAL CIRCULATIOX 
 
 BY THE 
 
 LEON COUNTY FARMERS^ CLUB. 
 
 i^oX 
 
 
 TALLAHASSEE, FLA. : 
 
 riUNTED AT THK OFFICE OF THE FLORIDIAN. 
 
 188L 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 I. Inti-odiU'tory. 
 II. History aiul Topoyiapliy. 
 II!. Cliiiiati! and llcaltlifuliiess. 
 IV. Attractions Presc'nti.-(l to Ininii^rants. 
 V. Agricultural Proibu-tions. 
 VI. Stock Raising. 
 VII. Vegetable Culture. 
 VIII. Dairy Farming. 
 IX. Poultry. 
 X. Fruit Culture. 
 XI. Flowers of I.eon County, 
 XII. Transportation Facilities. 
 
 XIII. Exemption Laws. Interest, etc. 
 
 XIV. Hunting and Fisliing. 
 XV. Lal;or. 
 
 XVI. Lands. Pul)lic and Private. 
 X\'II. Conclusion. 
 
 
LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 L INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 The intending settler in Florida naturally desires, before leaving liis present 
 l';Ome, to fix upon some objective point in the State whose attractions shall, so far as 
 he can judge from a distance, outweigh those of other localities. To this end he gen- 
 erally sets to work to procure the largest possible supi^ly of information concerning 
 the diftei-ent sections of the State, and, after weighing and considering all, he chooses 
 the locality which appears most likely to suit his purposes, prei'erences, means and 
 condition, before beginning his pilgrimage in search of a new home. 
 
 The object of this pamphlet being to induce those who peruse it with such inten- 
 tions to select Leon county as the one which they may expect to find most likely to 
 fulfill the requisite conditions, its contents have been carefully compiled from a series 
 of articles prepared expressly for the purpose, at the instance of the Leon County 
 Farmers' Club, by citizens of the county, each specially selected with a view to his 
 peculiar knowledge of the particular subject assigned him. 
 
 II. HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHY. 
 
 Messrs. Lee and Simmons were the Commissioners appointed in 1821 by the Uni- 
 ted States to locate the seat of government of the Territory of Florida, which had 
 been ceded by Spain to the United States in the year 1830. They were men of 
 intelligence, and after an examination of Florida from tlie Perdido river on the west, 
 to the St. ]Marys river on the east, selected Leon county as being the nrost fertile and 
 beautiful part of the Territory for that purpose, and laid the foundation of the town 
 where it now stands, on the sloping summits of a series of high hills. To this, the 
 future seat of government, they gave the euphonious Indian name of " Tallahassee." 
 The surrounding country was emphatically one of much beauty, and the first section 
 of the Territory to attract the attention of the early settlers from the States. It be- 
 gan to be filled up by a class of citizens of energy and enterprise, and some of large 
 means, chiefly from North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, when, without the aid 
 of railroads, it required much resolution in men and women to face the terrors of a 
 joilrney of several hundred miles, a part of the distance being from the Ocmulgee to 
 Tallahassee, nearly two hundred miles, with nothing but a dim trail to i)ursue, and 
 without any population. 
 
 Leon county should have a bright future before her when we regard her past his- 
 tory. The culture and refinement of licr citizens has long been well known and gen- 
 erally acknowledged. She has given to the State a long list of distinguished public 
 men, including eight Governoi's. The general appearance of the country is attractive 
 in the extreme. The common idea of Florida, with those who have never seen this 
 portion of it or studied its topography carefully, is that it is composed of a succession 
 of barren wastes of sand, interspersed with impenetrable swamps. This arises from 
 the fact that a very large majority of those who have visited and described the State 
 have seen only portions of it, and have no conception whatever of the existence of 
 
i LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 such a re<fioii as Middle Florida, which is as ditlereiit from other sections in its physi- 
 cal appearance and characteristics as 3Iassacluisetts is diherent from Louisiana. 
 
 The northern tier of counties comprisiuL; ^Middle Florida and embracing all that 
 portion of the State lying between the Suwannee river on the east and the Apalachi- 
 cola river on the west, and between the Georgia line on the north and the Gulf coast 
 on the south, is about one huncb-ed and fifty miles in length, east and west, and vary- 
 ing in width from forty to ninety miles, north and south. 
 
 The topography of the country included in the above boundaries is exceedingly 
 varied and interesting. Along the Gulf coast the surface consists of almost contin- 
 uous marshes and swamps, not deleterious to health, being salt, but forbidding resi- 
 dence and cultivation within some miles of the Gulf waters. Next come low table 
 lands covered with pine and cypress forests, and known as "the fiat woods," and " the 
 piney woods.'' These extend to the foot of the hills, which form the third level of eleva- 
 tion, and, beginning from twelve to twenty miles back from the coast, rise iu succes- 
 sive gently undulating elevations to the height of nearly three hundred feet above the 
 level of the sea. These hills, with the broad, fertile valleys which lie between them 
 and the high table lands which extend northward into Georgia, were originally, and 
 are yet partially covered with a magnificent growth of live-oak. pine, red bay or 
 Florida mahogany, magnolia, water-oak, hickoiy. black-oak, white-oak, and other 
 hard woods, and are interspersed with numerous water-courses, lakes and ponils of 
 pure fresh water. The Jacksonville, Pensacola and Mobile Railroad, extending with 
 its connections from Savannah and Jacksonville to the Apalachicola river, pas-ses 
 through the several counties of ^Vliddle Florida, with a branch from Tallahassee to the 
 port of St. Marks, in Wakulla county, a distance of twenty-two miles ; the latter 
 place being situated some seven or eight miles from the Gulf on a beautiful and nav- 
 igable river of the .same name, and having an excellent harbor, custom-house, and 
 (luite an extensive trade in fish, oysters and sponges, taken from points along the 
 coast. A staunch steamship makes regular voyages between St. Marks and Xew 
 Orleans. A light house of the second class stands at the mouth of the river. 
 
 There are a number of towns, villages and settlements scattered abt)ut the county, 
 chief of which are Miccosukie. near the lake of that name, in the eastern part of the 
 county ; Centreville, twelve miles north of Tallahassee, near the centre of the county, 
 and lamonia, near the lake of that name, in the northern part of the county. Brad- 
 fordville, ten miles from Tallahassee, is a most attractive and nourishing little place. 
 The famous Wakulla Siiring is about si.xteen miles from Tallahassee, in a south- 
 westerly direction ; and this, with the wonderful St. ^Marks river, with the numerous 
 mineral springs abounding along its banks, and its Natural Bridge twelve miles from 
 Tallaha.ssee, the several lakes, the old city of St. ]\Iarks, with its ancient Spanish fort, 
 the old United States Armory and Barracks at Chattahoochee, now useil as a State 
 Insane Asylum, and many other places of interest in the vicinity, offer charming in- 
 (hu-ements to the Winter visitor in the way of sight-seeing exclusions. 
 
 The country above described has been called by a brilliant and delightful writer 
 "The Tallahassee Country, or Piedmont Florida," and his descriptions are so truth- 
 ful and pleasant that we camiot do better than to (piote what he says. He thus de- 
 scribes the view westward from tlic high hill on which the City of Tallaliassee is sit- 
 uated : 
 
 Towanl every side the hills swelled up, colored with colors that suggested fertility 
 and abnndaini! : tlu-ir ronnileil brows, their slojtes, the valleys between them were 
 full of green croi)s ; (;omfoitable honu^steads and farm buildings rejiosed in the dis- 
 tance, t^acli cluster of which had its own i)rotecting grove of oaks standing about it 
 in the lienigiiant attitudes of outer Inrrs and jx luifcs ; it was that sort of prospect 
 which tlie grave old Kiiglish writers would have calletl "goodlye, pleasaunt and smy- 
 
LEON COUXTY, FLOIIIDA. 5 
 
 lynge." These hills carried witli them no associations of hills. They did not in the 
 least suggest agitations or upheavals. They only seemed to be great level uplands, 
 distended like udders with a bounteous richness almost too large for their content. 
 And this indeed has always been the tone of things— not only of the hills, but of the 
 social life in Tallahassee. 
 
 Of the many beautiful lakes the same writer says : 
 
 Lake LaFayette — so called from its situation on the estate granted to the Marquis 
 deLaFayettebythe United States — Lake Jackson, Lake Bradford, Lake Aliccosukie and 
 Lake lamonia, (pronounced with the I long and the accent on the antepenult.) [all in 
 Leon county,] all form charming objective points for excursions, and offer substantial 
 results of tine hsh. as well as lovely views by way of invitations. Wild duck, brent 
 and geese are also found, often in great numbers. * • * * * The environment of 
 these lakes is varied and beautiful. The hills surround them with gently receding 
 curves, now with bolder bluffs, now with terraces rising one above another to the 
 height of a Innidred feet in all ; many grt)wths of great, glossy-leaved magnolias, of 
 water-oaks and live-oaks, of hickory, ash, wild cherry and mock orange, glorify the 
 shores ; and between and around and over these hang the clematis, the woodbine, the 
 wild grape vines. 
 
 Another writer thus describes one of the largest and most beautiful of these 
 
 lakes : 
 
 Miccosukie lake, nineteen miles northeast of Tallahassee, is about fifteen miles 
 in length, and from three-fourths of a mile to four miles in width. It has two main 
 sources or heads — tlie one coming from Thomas county, Georgia, northwest of the 
 lake, where Ward's creek, passing throiigh a succession of wide, tlat ponds, finds its 
 Avay into the lake at its widest part, and the other where on the west Dry creek 
 empties into what is known as the head of the lake. It widens from this point 
 gradually for half a mile, wliere it is three-quarters of a mile wide, and forms on the 
 southern side a basin, circular in form and very deep, say from seventy to one hun- 
 dred feet, while the northern side is shallow and continues to widen until it reaches 
 the continence of Ward's creek, where the lake is full four miles wide. Around 
 three-fourths of the extent of this basin (the other fourth being open and continuous 
 with the lake) stands a most beautiful and magnificent growth of trees, among which 
 may be seen the walnut, red bay or Florida mahogany, the tall and graceful ash, the 
 red, white, water, Spanish and live oak, the beech, the wild cherry, the olive or mock 
 orange, the hickory, and last the stately magnolia — towering above all — a thing of 
 beauty at all seasons, covered as it is at all times with a rich foliage of large, dark 
 green, shining leaves from eight to twelve inches in length, and in ]\Iay, Jvuie and 
 July, loading" the atmosphere with the delicate perfume of its large white flowers, 
 which expand to the diameter of eight inches or more. Some of these beautiful trees 
 are festooned with wild grape vines, others with clematis, yellow jasmine, woodbine 
 and trumpet fiowers, while at their roots may be seen the )<(i)ifjvi/iaria cnnodentiis, the 
 spigelia, turkey berry, daises, primroses, violets, and other unnamed but delicate and 
 pretty little fiowers peeping out from among a variety of grasses, which send up their 
 bolder, artificial-looking blooms, stitfiy and singly. The growth is not fully described 
 till we mention, as between these towering trees and the modest fiowers at their feet, 
 the shrubbery iti medio; the spaikle berry with its beautiful wliite drooping bells, the 
 wild plum with its feathery bloom, the dog-wood with its staring white blossoms, the 
 red-bud and the old man's beard with its long white fringe. The long, scmibre-look- 
 ing gray moss, which is pendant from every limb, wffhout detracting from the beauty, 
 serves to tone down the otherwise gay and brilliant appearance of the scene, and ren- 
 ders it, if possible, even more attractive. Tiie banks on wliicli this most beautiful and 
 variegated growth is found are precipitous and high, at sonu' points rising from the 
 water's edge as boldly and precipit<nisiy as a rock to the height of from ten to forty 
 feet, at others looking as if they had been graded, one grade rising above another to 
 the height of one hundred feet. * * * * Few more romantic spots are 
 to be found anywliere than "The Bluff" of ]\Iiccosukie. Above, beneath, and all 
 around is beautiful. * * * * j], AVinter innumerable fiocks of wild ducks, 
 brent, and sometimes geese, sport upon the broad bosom of the lake, while in Sum- 
 mer its surface, where .shallow, is covered by maiden cane, fiags and bonnets, with 
 their broad wliite fiowers. from eight to ten inches in dianu'ter, lioating on the water. 
 Corn and cotton fields of large (linuMisions and unsurj)assed fertility surround it oil 
 every side, all elevated, forming high hills '-with gentle slopes and groves between."' 
 
G LEOX COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 So Miccosukio lake, whetlier you view it as a sliect of water or turn your gaze upon 
 the beauty and loveliness of its banks, or with a more utilitarian intent, survey its 
 surrounding lands, challenges your admiration and justly claims a favorable notice. 
 
 Tlic foregoing description would be incomplete without the following extracts 
 from Mr. George ]\[. Barbour's charming new book, '• Florida for Tourists, Invalids 
 and Settlers," just issued from the press of D. Appleton t.t Co., New York : 
 
 Tallahassee, the Capital of the State, "the floral city of the flowery South," is 
 one of the loveliest places in all America. It is built upon the broad, gently rolling 
 surface of a high hill, surrounded on all sides by other lovely hills and deep valleys, 
 for it is in a rcgicm of hills, valleys and lakes. It is laid out in scpiaves. with Main 
 (Monroe) street — which is its principal business street — lined mostly on one side with 
 plain, old-fashioned brick stores for a distance of four blocks. This street is fairly 
 level and wide. All the other streets are charmingly irregular and uneven — in fact 
 many are quite declivitous — and are lined with grand, old mammoth-sized magnolias, 
 live-oaks and other magniiicent shade trees. Broad, roomy, open squares are fre- 
 quent, all shady, park-like and inviting. At one end of the city stands the State- 
 house, a large and very plain brick structure, painted a light color; with a front and 
 rear portico, having each six great, two-story columns. It stands in a spacious 
 s(iuarc on the crest of the hill, and can be seen from a long distance. The grounds 
 are laid out with winding paths and lawns, shaded by grand old magnolias, oaks, and 
 the like, and the air is retlolent with perfume from the many flowers always bloom- 
 ing there. It is an unpretentious old city, with an air of village-like simplicity ; no 
 factories (except one cotton-mill) ; all is quiet, country life. The residence-avenues 
 are mostly lined with cozy little cottages, and comfortable, roomy, substantial man- 
 sions of the good old style of architecture, and all are surrounded by neatly fenced 
 lawns and gardens, almost all having cpiite ample grounds, well kept — and flowers, 
 flowens, flowers ! Everywhere, in tlie greatest abuntlance, are flowers. A most cred- 
 itable pride in their lovely home grounds is exhibited by the citizi'us, who seem to 
 have a friendly rivalr.y in these beautiful ornaments of nature, that is expressive of 
 culture and a line taste for the beautiful. Tallahassee is truly a "floral city." The 
 suburbs are everywhere lovely, and the views from the streets or house-tops — espec- 
 ially the roof of the State-house — are exceedingly line. The surrounding country is a 
 vast range of hills, valleys, brooks, lakes, park-like clusters of large trees, broad, well- 
 cultivated fields, large plantation dwellings and cotton-gins, and distant forests — in 
 all, a remarkably beautiful natural panorama of nature, such as is seen nowhere else in 
 Florida. Here we remained several delightful days at the (luaint, old, tavern-like 
 "City Hotel," enjoying nuim-rous drives about the surrounding country. One beau- 
 tiful day I rode out to •' Cn)odwood."" the grand old estate of Major Arvah Il(q)kins. 
 several miles out of town. This residence was well worth visiting, because it was a 
 striking evidence of how elegantly the old-time planters enjoyed life. Erected in 
 1844, It comprises numerous buildings, ranged around a large squai'C m the rear, u.sed 
 ibr laundry, <;ook-liouse. milk-house, saddle and harness-house, etc.. etc. ; and the 
 spacious surrouniling gnninds are laid out in park-like style, with i)aths. lawns and in- 
 numerable strange plants, ferns and llowers. Another day a party of us went on a 
 trip to Lakt' .lackson. a large and long laki', six miK's from the cit.v. It closely re- 
 sembles Cayuga lake in \esv York, surroundi-d Ijy high blufl's, all cleared, and every- 
 when- the broad lields reaching down to the wati-r's edge. * * * * l^\w people 
 of Tallahassee have a beautiful custom of holding a fair, each Spring, that probably 
 dilVers from anything in the way of the fair exhibitions held elsewhere in the South. 
 It is a floral fair, held at their spacious fair-gronnd.s, open to all, but of cour.se nearly 
 or (piite all the exhibits are made by the Tallahasseans. The exhibits are vegetables, 
 fruits and llowers, es])e(ially lloweis. As might be i-onjeitnred. tlu' managers, ex- 
 liibitors and ])atrons gi-nerally. are the la<lies. who take great intt-rest and jnide in thi.^ 
 exliibti()n, so distinctively local, so ])leasant. and so indicative of relined taste and cul- 
 ture. I attended the fair of isyo, held in March. Floral Hall was a beautiful sight. 
 with a i)rofuse disj)lay of flowers of all varieties, kinds, forms, colors, and perfumes, 
 all artistically arrange<l, and e.\hiliited to the best advantagt-. Nowhere, it may be 
 said in conclusion, is there a more relined and cultivateil society than in Tallaha.'<.see. 
 Among them are many descendants of the most i)rominent and aristocratic old fami- 
 lies of .\nierica. with names that leiall old colonial, revolutionary and 1812 days in 
 the battle-liclds and in State councils; and their large, well-attended school.s. numer- 
 ous handsome clinrches, beautiful homes and surroiuidings. all attest to the high 
 standard of the best society of Tallaha.s.see. 
 
LEON COLTNTY, FLORIDA. 7 
 
 III. CLIMATE AND HEALTHFULNESS. 
 
 A venerable physician, who ha.s resided in Leon county for over fifty years, bears 
 the followiuj;' testimony to its healtlifuhiess : 
 
 In reyard to the climate I will say, after lifty-two years' residence in it, and com- 
 paring it with other climates in other latitudes, that it is in many respects superior to 
 most others in the United States. I have observed the thermometer closely durinj*- 
 the present Summer, which is admitted to have been an excepfionally warm one. and 
 rhe mercury has only indicated ninety-six degrees, but has ranged ui> to ninety-one 
 degrees frequently. With the heat we have uniformly pleasant and constant breezes 
 from the Gulf, so that we get accustomed to the warmth and do not regard it. The 
 diseases of the country are few, and rarely fatal. The word "malaria" conveys 
 the source of three-fourths of our troubles in that regard. Our chief diseases are 
 intermittents (chill and fever), remittents (bilious fever), and typho-malarial, a low, 
 slow form of fever, often lasting many days. Formerly there was the congestive or 
 l^ernicious fever, which is now very rare. But science has taught us this in regard to 
 the hidden foe, malaria, of which so little is really known, that heat causes it to as- 
 cend in the day, and when the atiuosphere cools at night it again seeks the level of 
 the earth. By avoiding night air we in a great degree avoid malaria. 
 
 All other diseases are mild and manageable. Pneumonia is rarely seen amongst 
 '•well-to-do" people, and is hardly ever fatal ; but it must be said that with the ne- 
 gro race it is exactly the reverse. They are seriously affected by it in Winter. This 
 is because of the peculiarities of their constitution, and owing to their utterly ignor- 
 ing all the laws and rules of health. They are too often badly clothed and housed. 
 Other diseases I shall name, such as scarlet fever, which is rare, and never epidemic, 
 measles, whooping-cough, croup, which is very rare and never fixtal ; all of which are 
 very mild and require little treatment. As an evidence of this I will state that in Tal- 
 lahassee, surrounded by a dense population, tirere are now only three physicians. They 
 attend to all the practice of the town and a radius of several miles around it. Con- 
 sumption, that most fearful of diseases, sometimes appears in the county, but there 
 must be strong hereditary predisposition to develop it, and any case of it l)rought 
 liere, if early in the disease, is always greatly ameliorated or cured. I will give one 
 case, which is a type of many others, in illustration. In 1826 a young man (Mr. Wil- 
 liam Wilson) came out to Tallahassee from Vermont far advanced in consumption. 
 He was pale and emaciated and stooping in his gait, with constant cough, profuse ex- 
 pectoi'ation and night-sweats. But he was a great walker, and drank a little whiskej\ 
 He taught a small school, and as his health improved he started in 1H28 the Floridiaii 
 newspaper, of which, in his own language, he was "sole editor and proprietor." He 
 got rid of his cough, increased his weight to about two hundred pounds, became as 
 "rough and rugged as a bear," enjoyed a good respite for about twenty years, and 
 llnally die<l in New York of dissipation. 
 
 We have kncnvn many such cases as bad as this in Leon countj', and consumjjtion 
 is curable by climate, and by climate only. I believe it to be a most eligible lucality 
 for the cure of this disease, for the following reasons : There are two conditions nec- 
 essary for the relief and cure of this disease, viz : temperature and elevation. Here 
 the thermometer never reaches one hundred degrees to produce relaxation and ener- 
 vation, and the breeze from the Gulf, only twenty or twenty-five miles distant, com- 
 bined with the resinous atmosphere of the pine country through which it passes, all 
 exert a healing influence on the lungs. Then the elevation of the country, being 
 about two hundred feet above the level of the sea, gives it a comparative dryness of 
 atmosphere, which is thought to be so important in consumption. 
 
 The drinking water of the country is perfectly jjure and free from any admixture 
 of calcareous matter or iron ; though there are many strong chalybeate springs to be 
 found. Free-stone springs abound, and wells of from twenty to forty feet in depth 
 yield an unfailing supply of excellent soft water. 
 
 IV. ATTRACTIONS PRESENTED TO IMMIGRANTS. 
 
 The following pages on this subject have been contributed by several actual set- 
 tlers who have recently come into the county. The first says : 
 
 To one who has been reared in the northern or western i>ortions of the United 
 States, with the alternating excesses of severe cold in Winter and parching heat in 
 Summer, the enjoyments of the mild and genial climate of Florida arc a constant sue- 
 
8 LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 cession of . delightful surprises, whose benign influences are rather multiplied than 
 diminished with each additional year's experience. Instead of the cold, wet Spring of 
 February, March and April, to which he has been accustomed, with its disagreeable 
 routine of discomforts, not to mention its agricultural disasters of late frosts, its 
 weeks of roads "hub-deep" in mud. its boggy lields impassable for manor beast, 
 and its succession of "bad colds." too often developing into the most insidious and 
 dangerous pulmonary diseases, he finds here in February the warmth and comfort of 
 a northern April. witli,only an occasional ''March wind " or cold rain ; in 3hirch. the 
 airy, balmy weather of a northern May. and in April the fullness of forest foliage and 
 luxuriance' of vegetation of a ntu-thern June. In May. and generally until the middle 
 of June, there is some dry weather with hot sunshine, causing the only approach to 
 an "unhealthy season" in the entire year, and this consists of a tendency to bilious- 
 ness and "Spring fever." with possibly a cliill or two, easily prevented by careful diet 
 and proper sanitary precautions. In June the Summer rains begin, consisting of an 
 almost daily shower, with daily breezes right from the salt water of the Gulf, lasting 
 from early morning to eleven or twelve o'clock, from one or two o'clock to seven, and 
 form eight o'clock during the entire night. Nowhere. North or South, (embracing a 
 residence South of some sixteen years.) has tlie writer ever experienced such refresh- 
 in"- rest at night in Summer as here. "The " rainy season" lasts through the Sum- 
 mer, and however hot the rays of t\w sun may be. the nir is alirays cool, and almost 
 alwai/s in motion. In September or October there is almost always a dry spell during 
 which the crops of corn and cotton, potatoes, etc., are gathered. November corres- 
 ponds to the "Indian Summer" of higher latitudes, and December and January 
 constitute the Winter. During December the cool, bright, dry. bracing weather, com- 
 mon in October and the early part of November in the North, afford ample oppor- 
 tunity for the heavy farm and garden work of the year — the preparation of the soil 
 for Winter gardening and next year's crops, fencing, etc. — besides being the linest 
 season for field sports among the abundant and various kinds of game which overrun 
 the country. After a residence of several years each in Illinois. Iowa and .Missouri, 
 in the North, and Tennessee. Georgia and Florida in the South, besides nuich travel 
 in every other Southern State except Texas, the writer unhesitatingly asserts as a fact, 
 that the climate of ^liddle Florida is the most uncpiestionably delightful climate "for 
 Summer wear'" in the Union. Indeed, scarcely any one who has ever experienced it 
 can understand how it is possible in this latitude for tiie days and nights, week after 
 week, throughout the whole Summer, to be so cool and bracing and uniform in tem- 
 jierature, and so delightfully free from those fre<iuent stilling and oppressive spells 
 which are familiar to tiie residents of higher latitudes during the "dog-days." There 
 is another feature of the climate, of far more imjtortance. especially in this latitude, 
 than the mere {[uestion of personal ccmifort ; that is, the yellow fever cannot exi.st 
 liere. Diligent inijuiry develops the fact that the latest and only well-delined cases 
 which ever occurred here were in 1841, and then there were but a few si)oradie cases. 
 When it visits, (as it sometimes does.) the sea-board towns, their inhabitants arc 
 accustomed, literally, to "flee to the mountains" of Middle Florida for refuge and 
 safety. 
 
 Tiie character of the people among whom he ex])ects to make his future home is 
 one of the first snbjects to which the expectant settler directs his attention, and is, 
 ])erhaps, the most important considination tliat may present itself. The aspect in 
 which tlic citizens of Leon county may apju'ar to him who anticipates becoming one 
 of them, is the only one witli which we are now coiucrned. and it may truly be said 
 of them that their e«iuals are hard to lind. They welcome the stranger with open 
 arms and hospitable hearts, well knowing tiiat uijon the " infusion of new blood'' 
 and the introduction of new ftu'ces and new methods depend the entire future welfare 
 of their magniiiccnt country. They gladly learn all they can from those accustomed 
 to other and i)erliaps better modes of agiiculture ; and so far as their social bi'havior 
 toward immigrants and new-comers is concerned, so anxious have tliey been to en- 
 courage imiuigratioii and make the lu-w settler fee! at lionu>1h:it they have olten failed 
 to disniminale lietween worthy and unwitithy objects of tlicir generous attention, 
 and have taken to their confidence and comi»ani(jnsliip many wlio j)roved tliemselves 
 unworthy of them, simply because they were strangers and possible new citizens, until 
 it now seems strange tliat they can feel a weler>nu» toward any. 
 
 Let m> intending .settler be fearful of tailing to lind a hearty welconu', not only 
 from the now settleis alreatly resident, but from those of the older citizens whose 
 welcome would be desirable. 
 
 The school facilities in the county are good, as good in nn)st respects as in any 
 
LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 9 
 
 county of like population in a northern or western State, and in some respects superior. 
 Besides the system of eomnion schools, which is well-established, the West Fk)rida 
 Seminary is located at Tallahassee. It is liberally endowed by a ]ar<ie grant of public 
 land, and is under the management of a Board of Trustees appointed from different 
 counties. It is authorized to confer degrees, and is under the care of an efficient 
 corps of instructors. It has both male and female departments, and a primary 
 department which is under the supervision of the County School Board. The male de- 
 partment has just been organized as a military school, with an instructor in tactics, &c. 
 
 The church privileges are extensive and varied. Throughout tiie county are sta- 
 tioned a number of local ministers of different denominations ; and in Tallahassee 
 there are many handsome church buildings — Episcopal, Baptist, ^lethodist, Presby- 
 terian and Boman Catholic, besides the numerous "colored" churches. 
 
 The trades are well represented, but good workmen can almost always find em- 
 ployment in any trade. Manufacturing interests are as yet not large. There is a 
 small cotton factory at Tallahassee, also a planing mill and a tannery, besides cabinet 
 and wagon-makers' shops. Saw mills and grist mills are to be found in different sec- 
 tions of the county. Lumber is worth froni .sl2 to !?17 per thousand ; brick from $5 
 to 88 per thousand ; shingles from $2 to §3 per thousand ; lime from $1 to $2.50 per 
 barrel. 
 
 Another recent settler says : 
 
 The climate is the most delightful in our country; land is cheap, and the owners 
 of large properties are willing to sell. Northern people are treated courteously, and 
 sometimes better than they deserve. It is strange what notions some northern people 
 have of the state of society here I Some even ask if a man is "safe " here. The feel- 
 ing of the people is decidedly friendly and favorable to northern immigration, and you 
 might live here for years without knowing your neighbor's politics. We have many 
 northern families here, and Wwy mingle and associate with the natives, and are visited 
 in turn as freely and friendly as if tliey had never lived in any other State. If you 
 value good soil, climate, markets, schools, churches, railroads, navigation, fruits and 
 fish, oysters, crabs, wild fowl in profusion, and all other game, don't fail to visit Leon 
 county before you buy a home for your family. You will find a welcome whether you 
 come from the North, East or West. Our lands here are mostly cleared and ready 
 for the plow. You can cultivate the soil and plant something for family use or sale 
 any day in the year. 
 
 And another furnishes, from experience and observation, the following excellent 
 and practical hints and advice : 
 
 1st. Be sure to bring a good supply of endurance and staying qualities. The sec- 
 ond year in a new home is generally the trying one. If you make a wi.se .selection of 
 location and land, and reasonable improvements on your place for three years, you 
 could not be dragrjcd away from Florida. 
 
 2d. Bring as much cash as would be necessary to make a start in the West. By 
 all means, do not pay all your money out for land. Buy no land to speculate on, and 
 no more than you can make a good use of. 
 
 8d. By all means bring others with you. Come in colonies ; if not more, three 
 families will do. 
 
 4tli. As to teams, don't over-do in this matter. Horses and mules are about as 
 cheap here as with you. One good horse — or a mule is better — is sufficient work- 
 .stock for a thirty-acre farm. Don't bring any wagons or buggies. Ours here are the 
 " wide-tread.'" If you have first rate brood-mares, bring them. You can go into the 
 business of colt- or mule-raising, which will i)ay. 
 
 5th. Good milch-cows. Jerseys, or those especially noted for the production of 
 butter, will pay to bring. 
 
 Gtli. Bring a few good stock-sheep. We would recommend the Spanish ]\Ierino. 
 wool being the object, and our pastures more suitable for them. AVe can obtain good 
 .stock hogs and jioultry here. 
 
 7th. I would not advise the bringing of many farm tools en- machinery ; can make 
 or order such as you will need, other than we already have. 
 
 8th. In seeds, plants and trees we can get most of those we want here as cheap 
 as elsewhere. 
 
 9th. If you hire a car, bring all the flour, bacon or pork you can. It will sell 
 readily, if you have any to spare. 
 
 10th. Bring all your clothing, heavy and light ; it will all be useful. 
 
 11th. Don't pay freight on furniture, except it be good cook-stoves. 
 
10 LEON COUNTY. FLOltlDA. 
 
 V. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIOXS. 
 
 A practical lannei- of many years' experience contributes the following excellent 
 article concerning the agricultural productions of the county : 
 
 Leon county is naturally and practically an agricultui'al country. The soil of the 
 northern portion of the county is composed of sand, with a red clay sub-soil from 
 twelve to twenty-four inches bck)W the surface, with the growth of the yelk»w pine, 
 interspersed with some oak and hickory, whit'h may be termed a high order of pine 
 land. The central portion is hirgely composed of vegetable mold, with sand and a 
 rich, red clay sub-soil from six to twelve inches below the surface. Portions of tliis 
 section are quite elevated, and the surface undulating, in which clay largely predomi- 
 nates, and is termed a clay loam or red hammock land ; other portions of this sei'tion 
 are less rolling, somcAVhat a table land, and is composed of a black soil intermixed 
 with tine sand and clay, and is termed a sandy loam or gray hammock. These latter 
 are very rich and i)roductive soils. The extreme southern portion of the county pos- 
 .sesses some of the properties of the soils of the two other sections to a limited ex- 
 tent ; but generally the soil is light and sandy, with either no clay sub-soil, or a con- 
 siderable distance below the surface ; yet this sand is tine and of a dark color when 
 the land is fresh, and produces well; the natural growth being pine and scrub oak. 
 Thus constituted by nature and circumstance, time and experience have demonstrated 
 the adaptability of these soils to a very large varietyof agricultural crops. The staple 
 products of Lef>u are cotton, corn, oats, sugar-cane, field-peas, sweet potatoes, and 
 l)indars. Rye and barley succeed well, but are grown principally for Winter and 
 Spring pasturage. Within tlie past few years experiments made with the growth 
 of the Irish potato have resulted in success, and demonstrated the adaptability of our 
 soil and climate for its successful culture for the early northi>i ii markets. Wool. liax. 
 liemp. jute, ramie, and the silk woiin will liourish liere ; but hitherto the culture of 
 cotton has overshadowed these industries. Wheat, rice, tobacco, tea and indigo all 
 grow well here, and woukl be highly remunerative under the same care and attention 
 now so zealously bestowed on the growth of cotton. 
 
 It may be of interest to briefly i-eview some of the crops cultivated : — 
 
 Cotton — From the natural soil, unfertilized, in an average year, under fair cultiva- 
 tion, our lands will produce from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds 
 of lint cotton per acre. This crop is usually plaiitt'd in .March and April i>ii beds fioiii 
 tlircc to four feet apart. It is ciUtivated with the plow and hoe, usually requiring five 
 plowings and tliice hoehigs at intervals of about twenty-one days. Cotton lands are 
 preparcil for planting here in February and March, when there is no green vegetation 
 on tlieni. Since the first .settlement of this county cotton has been, and still is, the 
 leading j)roduct. Here it is a certain crop und(!r fair cultivation, and is not so .sub- 
 ject to those fearful disasters that fretiuently destroy the cotton crops of the South- 
 west. True, we always have the caterpillar, but generally after the bulk of the ciop 
 lias matured. Tlie boll-worm. too. is occasionally ibiuid here, but its damage usually 
 is liglit. We sometimes have rust in particular localities, usually on light, sandy 
 soil; very rarely on the red clay lands. Cotton is not claimed to be our best-paying 
 crop, owing to tlie low i)rice of the staple for the past five years. 
 
 CoKN — Indian corn is another leading product of this county, and is considereil 
 the stalf of life for man and beast. Our soils being composed largely of linu' and 
 l)otash are especially adai)teil to the culture of corn, which i)artakes. in its organism, 
 laigely of botli. The regular sea.sons of rain, in Si)ring anil Summer, make this a 
 most favorable climate for the production of corn and all the cereals. Scarcely are 
 there two weeks at one tinn- during the Summer mouths but that we have refreshing 
 showers. In .luly fodder is pulled from the corn, cured and housed, or stacked in the 
 field, where it remains \nitil the corn is matiued. in October, when both aie lionsed. 
 This fodder sujiplies the principal long forage tor our work-stock during the Winter 
 and Spring. 
 
 Oats — Our .soil and climate are ju'culiarly adapted to the culture of oats — the 
 best of all the proveniler crops : there being little labor or expense in their cultivation, 
 and constituting both long and sliort forage, tliis cn>p has reconunendetl itself for our 
 a<loption. The time for planting varies from Sei»tember to February, aeconling to 
 the jud;iiuent anil eonvenienc*' of the i)articular farmer; however, the earlier they 
 are iilauteil the lieavier the yield. The yield of oats is from twenty-live to one hun- 
 
LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 11 
 
 dred busliels per acre. The oats are out in May and June, cured in the ficlil in shocks, 
 then housed. 
 
 Scoak-Caxk — The suu,ar-cane ,iL>rows to perfection with us, and is very generally 
 planted, but only for home consumption and local trade. All that is required of us 
 to conrpete witli Louisiana in the culture of this ureat pi'oduct is capital and enter- 
 prise ; with these it is destined at no distant day to Itccome one of our leadini;' pro- 
 ducts. Its culture is simple and much less expensive and hiborious than cotton, 
 re(iuirin<i,- about the same (fultivation as corn. Plantinji' is done by openin<;- a wide 
 furrow and laying- the stalks of cane, cut into sections of two feet, in the furrow, and 
 coveriui;- with two furrows with a turn-plow. The cane matures about the tirst of 
 November, wlien it is cut, stripped, passed through an iron mill, and the juice thus 
 expressed is boiled in kettles until reduced to syrup or sugar, as is desired. The 
 yield per acre in syrup is from four hundred to six hundred gallons. 
 
 SoiiGHUM -I- Sorghum flourishes finely here and was extensively grown during the 
 late civil war. Its present culture is quite limited, being oversliadowed by the more 
 remunerative crop of sugar-cane. 
 
 Sweet Potatoes — Tlie sweet potato is extensively and very successfully grown 
 here, and is a leading product among our provision crops. It is an indispensat)le arti- 
 cle of food on tlie table of all classes, and when corn meal and tlour are scarce, the 
 sweet potato supplies an acceptable substitute. It is a tine feed for cattle and hogs. 
 The potato is idanted from j\Iay until August, from a hot bed, or from vines grown 
 from the wliole potato planted in beds early. There is always a good local demand 
 for our sweet potatoes at from 40 to 60 cents i^er bushel. Here is offered a lucrative 
 field for the enterprising, in an extensive culture and shipment of this valual)le pro- 
 duct. 
 
 The Ground Nuts — Pindars, goobers and chufas are grown very easily and 
 cheaply, yieltUng largely. 
 
 FiEiiD Peas — The field-pea or " cow-pea " is a very important crop with us and 
 grows and fiourishes finely here. It is used very generally for the table, and as a ieed 
 for milch cows nt)thing is superior, producing an increased fiow of rich milk, and ad- 
 ding vastly to the (juailty of butter. We plant in July to produce the pea ; but for 
 a forage crop, planting is done in April or May, when it runs to vine, making a fine 
 hay, but few peas. The field pea is an important factor in the restoration of depleted 
 soils, the heavy growth of vines being turned under with a large plow. This restora- 
 tive system is now being practiced by our progressive farmers, and lands thus treated 
 show a large increase in tlieir annual products. 
 
 Wheat, Baki-ey and Rye — These cereals, of late years, are but Uttle grown 
 with us. Barley and rye are planted only for pasturage and succeed well. Wheat 
 grows finely on our high red lands, but its culture has become neglected, from the 
 want of a rust-jjroof variety. 
 
 Rice — Tlie upland variety of rice has been planted here for years past, in a small 
 way, but sufficient to satisfy us that it can be very successfully grown upon our best 
 soils. 
 
 Tobacco — Tobacco can be grown very successfully here, as was demonstrated 
 durhig the late civil war, when it was then cultivated very largely. The growth here 
 is e.specially suited for the manufacture of cigajs, which are very superior in (piality, 
 and preferred by some to the purest Havana. Imported seed are usually planted and 
 seem to succeed better than seed grown here. 
 
 VI. STOCK-RAISING. 
 
 The following is contributed by a native of the county who has long and success- 
 fully made this industry a special matter of study and practice : 
 
 Stock-raising in Leon county has, from its earliest history, been an important and 
 profitable adjunct to the oi)erations of every farmer. In ante-bellum tinu's every 
 planter raised his own sui)ply of pork, and devoted considerable areas of theii' large 
 estates to sheep-walks and pastures for cattle ; and ipiite a numbei-of them bred their 
 entire supply of work-stock, horses and mules. Since the war this industry lias been 
 much neglected. The decay ol' fences, and the adoption generally of the tenant sys- 
 tem on the plantations, made the care of stock (luite impracticable. At present there 
 are very few instances in the county where stock-raising is conducted as is under.stood 
 
12 LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 by that term among the model farmers of tlie North and Northwest ; nor are tliere 
 any operations resembhn^r the methods of the ranchmen and herders of tlie western 
 prairies ; but there iloes exist a considerable and rapidly-inereasin_;r investment in rais- 
 ing stock by what might l>e considei-ed a modified plan of the western herder, im- 
 proved by a method and providence, borrowed from the more economical and scien- 
 tific farmer of the North. 
 
 So little care and protection are necessary to insure comparative success in breed- 
 ing and raising stock of all kinds in a climate like ours, that most operators are satis- 
 fietl witii a degree of profitable success that nu)re ambitious men can greatly imi^rove 
 upon. Under the beneficent infiuences, however, of agricultural exhibitions, competi- 
 tive shows, and a great anntunt of excellent literature on the subject of improving and 
 breeding stock, togetlier with the fact that w*- have wholesomely-administered laws 
 that give protection to stock they did not enjoy for some years after the war. tlie ma- 
 jority of our farmers are recognizing the great value of stock as an adjunct to their 
 farm operations, and are beginning to foster that brancli of their business in a way 
 that will soon place Leon <'ounty in the front rank of meat and butter producers. 
 Thoroughbred stallions, bulls, boars and bucks have been introduced to tliat extent 
 ' that it will be a safe estimate to say that two-thirds of all live stock in the county are 
 grades of some improved blood or another. Several very line horses have been 
 brought to the county during the last \\\ii years, and on every farm are to l)e found 
 well-bred colts ; Durham, Devon. Ayreshire, Jersey, and Alderney cattle have been 
 liberally introduced ; and several very respectable lierds of thoroughbreds and high 
 grades of these several stocks are to be found in the vicinity of Tallaliassee. 
 
 Of the healthfulness of live stock in this section of Florida too favorable a state- 
 ment can scarcely be made. Horses occasionally are addicted to what is known as 
 •'blind-staggers."" and work horses and mules are frequently killed by flatulent colic. 
 Both diseases yield readily to treatment, and the latter need never result fatally if 
 l)roperly attended to. About twenty-two years ago a plague called '• black tongue "' 
 raged annnig tiic cattle and deer in Florida, as it did throughout the South, aiul de- 
 stroyed great numbers. With this exception the writer knows of no serious malady 
 that has ever affected cattle here. It has been found that thoroughl)red cattle 
 brought here from the North frequently die after a few months residence, but just 
 why I have heard no intelligent reason assigned. It was pronounced to be pleuro- 
 pneumonia, but if so it never became contagious, for no native cattle are ever alFected 
 similarly. Milk stock sometimes '" scour," but I never knew a case that was not cured 
 at once. 
 
 In addition to the general healthfulness there are no pests in the way of mosqui- 
 toes. bulValo-gnats, screw-worms, horse-llies, deer-fiies, and heel-Hies to torture and 
 destroy cattle as in some parts of the South. 
 
 Sheep do most excellently, and owing to the absence of waxy mud to cake and 
 hai'den between their toes, foot-rot. that dreaded scourge, is entirely unknown. It is 
 never cold enough to necessitate sheltering them. They lamb in the open fields in 
 December and January with perfect impunity. Hogs have several times been .seri- 
 ously decimated by '"cholera." 
 
 As to what stock find to eat in Leon county we submit the following : Horses, 
 cattle and shei]) have been successfully and i)rofitably raised in Leon county, year 
 after year, without being fed at all. but left entirely to subsist on the nalural and 
 wild supply of food, and without being sheltered one hour from their birtii to their 
 maturity. In the cases of Mr. Geo. A. ('room and Gov. U. K. Call, on their planta- 
 tions on Lake Jackson, we know this to have been done. And of cour.se this could 
 only l)e possible where grass grows — good gra.ss and ))lenty of it. The nermuda 
 stands i)re-eminent as a permanent ))asture grass. It .sods clo.se and solid on our stiff 
 <lay land, and atlbj-ds an inexhaustible sui)ply of tender, rich food, from the first of 
 Maich until about the first of December. The testimony of a large cattle and sheep 
 breeder near Corpus Christi. Texa.s. is, that it will keep more stock to the acre than 
 any grass in America, and lie declares that ten ai'ies of his Henuuda equals any one 
 hundred acres of his best " me.squito." It llourishes with us in Leon county better 
 than at Corpus Christi, because of our having more rain and a more ])orous soil. 
 
 Next in ordt-r of ex<'ellenee among our wild iMunianeiit pasture grasses is what is 
 Itojiiilar termed "black-toji" or "smut grass." This is a coar.ser specimen than lier- 
 muda. does not run but stools well, and s])reads until it becomes .solid ; when kept 
 grazed it ]nits up tender si»rouls from Ajiril until December, and co<iuets with the 
 warm days all Wiutt'r. 'I'lie writer wintered a lot of calves mainly on a small eiiclos 
 ure of this grass during the \Vinter of lH7S-".>. It is exceedin^rlv nutritious, and stock 
 
LEON GOUNTr, FLORIDA. 13 
 
 of all kinds eat it greerlily. We have, indigenous, several varieties of a rather coarse 
 grass, termed inditterently ••hrooni sedge." This very common growth springs up 
 upon all lands turned out. If allowed to grow to maturity it is tough and woody, 
 and of little value, but kept well under foot it furnishes an inexhaustilde supply of 
 sweet and fattening food throughout the year, and is the main chance for green stulf 
 to cattle in the open range during January and February. Ftn- sheep it is e(iua.lly 
 good, but the latter kind of stock get through Jaiuiary and February very well on a 
 succulent little weed or clover that covers all land cultivated the previous year, during 
 these months. The name of this plant we arc unfamiliar with. There are also 
 four other distinct native grasses, the names of which we do not know, that fur- 
 nish a large percentage of our permanent pasture, and sod closely, come early and 
 stay late ; they are called by the country people "carpet grass," ''velvet grass," 
 "sheep grass," &c. 
 
 In the cultivated fields we have several excellent hay grasses. Crab-grass and crow- 
 foot, the two most prominent, spring up wherever the ground is broken, yield as inucli 
 as eighteen to twenty-live hundred pounds of most excellent hay to the acre. Botli 
 of these grasses, when properly harvested, are <iuite as good ;is timothy. A native 
 white clover, one of the hrst Spring visitors, is abundant and universal. Blue-grass, 
 from Kentucky seed, has been known to do well in shaded pastures. 
 
 "Beggar-weed" is one of the greatest productions of this country. This is a 
 plant that comes up wherever the land has been stirred, or on stubble ground, in corn 
 fields, &c. It grows to be often ten feet high, completely covers the ground, and 
 yields more green forage than any known plant. It is a cousin-german of the pea 
 family ; every leaf, twig and stem is sweet and tender, and possesses greater fattening 
 properties than any plant known to feeders. Stock of all kinds devour it greedily. 
 It is the freedman's crib from which " Ole Mike" and "Jude" draw their rations 
 from " laymg-by-time " until frost; it is indeed the salvation of 00 per cent, of the 
 freedmen's mules, which, l)ut for the rest and "beggar-lice" in the Fall, would never 
 get through the Winter. This i>lant shades the ground completely during the August 
 and September heat, has a long tap-root, and brings up the salts and returns an aston- 
 ishing amount of vegetable matter to the land. The tlcad wood is brittle, pulverizes 
 easily, and is far superior to clover or anything else to recuperate land. It can be cut 
 for Winter forage at the time it begins to bloom, and if properly cured does not throw- 
 its leaves, and is the best Winter feed for young stock we have. 
 
 As has been said elsewhere in discussing dairying, we have several excellent soil- 
 ing crops ; but Avhen it is remembered that stock of all kinds can be kept here all 
 Winter, if desired, on growing oats, rye or barley, we can easily understand how lit- 
 tle care and expense attends the Winter keep of stock of any khid. We confidently 
 expect before long to see Leon county, with her tw^o sisters, Gadsden and Jefferson, 
 supplj'ing all the butter and cheese used in the State. 
 
 Sheep-Raising — A successful sheep-farmer, living within two miles of Talla- 
 hassee, furnishes the following : 
 
 I began sheep-raising in 1874, by selecting eight head out of a lot that I had 
 bought for killing, and keeping them one year as an experiment. 1 raised eight lambs, 
 (one pair twins,) and as they did well I decided to increase my liock, and in January, 
 1876, I had sixty-six head of grown sheep. I then began to keep an accurate accimiit 
 with tliat branch of my biisiness. I iiave bought some eacii year and killed olf tlie 
 inferior ones, and kept only tlie best, until I have now three hundred head. I take 
 account of stt)ck each January, and (charge myself with s'i.OO per head for all of the 
 grown sheep, and credit the account with all sales of mutton or wool, and have never 
 failed to realize from the llock the wiiole amount of the account, or $2.00 per head, 
 for the Hock, and leave the stock increased each year and a small balantjc over. 
 
 I have no pasturage except the native grasses of the country for Summer grazing. 
 The pasture lands are rather poor and sandy, and when I began raising it would 
 require from two to three acres to keep a sheep. Now, after live years of constant 
 grazing, I can keep on the same Held three; to four head to tlie acre. " I have sonu' nut- 
 grass, and while I would not advise any one to put it on their lands, as I deem it an 
 awful pest, it affords t(jlerably good i>asturage. I have some Bernmda grass, and 
 think well of it. It affords good pasturage, and I believe when I get my land well set 
 in it, it will keep from live to ten head per acre, from April to September. This grass 
 will not only atford good grazing, but wlien tlie land is made rich, it will afford good 
 mowhigs, and make a good hay fVu- Winter feed. It will also kill out nut-grass. I 
 use very little long feed for my sheep, as the grazing of cultivated lands alforils food 
 
U LEOX OOUXTY. FLOliWA. 
 
 fluiin<;- the Winter : yet some hay is very desirable to have and feed in wet, cold. 
 Winter weather. Cotton-seed, at the rate of two to three bushels to the hundred 
 sheep, make a good feed. I also j^row turnips, and l)y usin<^- movable fence.s, can cut 
 off small pieces of the turnip land and let the sheep eat the turnijis out of the land, 
 and while doiiit;- so they manure tho land, and as soon as they eat out the turnips I 
 plant oats or rye on the land for late Winter or early Sprinj^ ^i-aziny. Sweet potatoes 
 are excellent and cheap feed, two to three bushels to the luuulred head. 
 
 I believe in the free use of salt, and always keep it where the sheep can have free 
 access to it. I vise a box three feet long, four inches deep anil wide, and from April 
 to September keep the inside and edges of the box well and freely coated with tar. 
 The sheep in eating the salt get the tar on tlieir faces and noses, and it keeps olf the 
 flies. I think it otherwise healthy. I also use sul])hur with the salt occasionally, say 
 once in each month, and particularly in Winter ; it keei^s off lice. 1 sow oats in my 
 cotton fields at the last working, and lind it makes good \Vinter pasturage. I have 
 no tine stock ; only the best I could select from the native stock of the coiintry. 
 
 My sheep average me four to five pounds of wool each year. I shear in April 
 and September. The Fall shearing is more to keep the sheep from being laden witli 
 burs during the Winter, as our plantations are full of burs. I do not believe a sheei> 
 should be kept after it is five years old. I kill off after they are five years old, and all 
 male lambs as early as they will dress twenty-four to thirty pounds. By such a course 
 I have no very old sheep, and rarely ever lose one. As for dogs I keep a bell on every 
 fifth sheep. It makes considerable noise, but I like it and the dogs fear it. I have 
 lost but one sheep by dogs in two years, altliough there are fully three hundred dogs 
 witliin three miles of my flock. 
 
 The best natural grass that has made its appearance in mj'^ pastures is a grass 
 called " velvet " or " carpet grass." It completely covers the ground where it takes 
 hold, and attbrds good grazing. In the fields on our best lands there is a weed called 
 " chick-weed" that grows all Winter and aflbrds good pasturage, and sheep are fond 
 of it. Old sedge-iielcls aftbrd good grazing all Winter, as there is always a green cro]> 
 under the sedge. Sheep are ravenous feeders, and eat almost anything green in Win- 
 ter. While the present open mode of cultivation is continueil, there need be no fears 
 of sheep suffering for the want of feed in the Winter, as they will tiavcl three miles 
 and rctiuii the same day ; l)ut when the pri^scnt murderous and wicked system of 
 botching up the lands shall have come to an end, and we have a population of live 
 men, our farms will be enclosed and we shall grow rich by the production of wool and 
 mutton. Then it will be necessary to look more after Winter pasture. 
 
 IIOG-R.^isiNG — One of the most successful planters in the county contributes the 
 following on this subject : 
 
 The first great important point is to obtain the breed tliat is best adapted to our 
 climate, and the breed that will produce the most pork at a given age. I have found 
 that the Berkshire and Essex make the best iwoss for feeding jiurposcs. As a i)rinci- 
 ple I do iu)t considci' it atlvisabk- to cross the improved Berkshire with any other : on 
 tlicir own account I prefer to keep that breed pure and up to the mark hy occasion- 
 ally recrossing with a foreign blood of its own kird. They are a standard breed, very 
 near peifection in themselves, jjossessing qualities that cannot be improved upon. 
 The true, well-bred Berkshire has the stamp of tlie thoroughbred and possesses the mer- 
 its reciniied for its purpose ; and great pains should be taken to perpetuate the purity 
 of that blood. 
 
 However, when it is necessary to cross them it shoidd be made with the Eis.sex. 
 The result of a single cross will always give satisfaction ; the i)roduct being such as 
 will feed (piick and mature sooner than the pure bred Berkshire, and tlu' i>ork is sec- 
 ond to none. This cross contiiuied upon itself will soon lose its identity with either 
 breed, and will evintually result in a lot of mongrels. But continue to u.se a tlior- 
 ouglibred boar \\\nn\ the product, and you will have all you want in the way of a hog. 
 "^ I will give my plan of feeding, which I adnjited fifteen years ago, and have tlior- 
 oughlv tested for the period nanu'd .successively, and feel confident that pork can be 
 laised profitably. In the place of corn I feed on cotton-seed during the Spring and 
 Summer months, and fatten on svveet-i)otatoes and ground-i)eas. I geneially com- 
 mence feeding cotton-seed about the lirst of Ajiril. To each bushel of cotton-seed I 
 ;iild two quarts of corn or corn-meal, a very little salt, anil boil the .seed until well 
 cooked ; Wrd on this twice a day as much as they will eat uji clean, in troughs. An 
 idea i)revails among the most of farmers that cotton-seed will kill hogs. This is true 
 if fed to tli'.'jn raw and drv : but thorou'.'hly cooked .seed is not only innocent but 
 
LEOy COUNTY, FLORIDA. 15 
 
 healthful lood for ho<i;s of all ages. I have demonstrated this by lifteen years trial 
 without the sliohtest bad results. 
 
 After feeding- for four or six weeks, I omit the corn or corn-meal, (as that article 
 about that time is "icttini;- scarce with the most of us,) I then add to the seed all sur- 
 plus veuetal)lesof all kinds, sweet and Irish potatoes, sour syrup, and in fact, every- 
 thinj;- alio^- will eat. cooked. About the middle of September I turn all my ho^s on 
 tields of sweet-potatoes and pindars, or ground peas, letting them have free access to 
 both at the same time, with plenty of water. By the middle of JSTovember they are 
 ready to be put up in pens to be fed on corn for twelve or fifteen days to harden the 
 lard. By the above plan I have raised as tine hogs as I ever saw anywhere. 
 
 Cotton- seed is worth ten cents per bushel ; it will cost to produce sweet-potatoes 
 about ten cents per bushel, ground-peas about twenty cents per bushel, and corn 
 about tw'enty cents per bushel. This will make your pork cost you not over three 
 and one-half or ft)ur cents per pound. 
 
 VII. VEGETABLE CULTURE. 
 
 It is an admitted fact that our soil is of the best quality to be found in the entire 
 State. These high, rolling uplands, elevated from one to three hundred feet above 
 the sea level, originally covered by the best class of hammock forest growth, have in 
 their magnificent sub-soil of heavy clay, (with a surface of rich mold in their virgin 
 state, and under cultivation such admixture of sand as to warm and lighten the sur- 
 face,) a foundation for agricultural jirosperity such as is known to no other portion of 
 the State. The climate of Middle Florida, if it differs at all from that of other sec- 
 tions where the successful production of vegetable crops is an ascertained fact, is 
 really far more favorable than that of those portions of the State which are less ele- 
 vated. Every one knows that frost affects vegetation earliest and latest on the low 
 lands, and that the tops of the hills and high, rolling uplands are longer and later ex- 
 empt from the severe efifect-s of frost than the valleys and low, flat lands intervening. 
 It is a well-established fact that the natural vegetation — the leaves of forest trees and 
 native grasses — start into life in the Spring of the year from ten days to two weeks 
 earlier in this region tlian on the lower levels of East Florida. This fact has been 
 noted for many years by old residents ; and the argument from it, verified by actual 
 experience, is that tlie A''egetable crops likely to be injured by late frosts are safer here 
 than ill the region named. Hence there would seem little doubt, that with proper and 
 intelligent cultivation, the vegetable crops of Middle Florida could be so timed as to 
 really anticipate those of other and less favored sections by some ten or twelve days, 
 thus assurhig to them the very earliest shipments and highest market prices. 
 
 The results of experimental crops of early vegetables, raised expressly for ship- 
 ment to northern markets within the past few years, amply demonstrate the cer- 
 tainty of large profits in this industry, notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions 
 under which these experiments were prosecuted. With better methods and a more 
 intelligent class of labor, j\Iiddle Florida could lead all other sections of the State in 
 this industry, save the extremity of the peninsula. 
 
 Irish Potatoes — One who has engaged largely in growing this crop, according 
 to the most approved metliods, says : 
 
 There are many reasons why Leon (county is well suited for raising potatoes for 
 the early northern and western markets. The soil is well adapted to this crop, par- 
 ticularly the lightest red lands, which, after once being brouglit to a proper state of 
 fertility, are easily kept in that condition. 
 
 As to time, we can usually place all our crop in market before Charleston and Sa- 
 vannah begin to ship, so that we have nothing to contend with except Bermuda. The 
 writer has shipped potatoes every season since 1S75, and has, with one I'xception. fin- 
 ished shipping every year before any were sent from Charleston or Savannah, and 
 even that year prices were remunerative. Potatoes raised here, when i)roperly ma- 
 
10 J.EOX VOL XT Y. FLORIDA. 
 
 tuiud and liaudlod with care, bring prices almost e(iual to tliose from Bermuda, which 
 always lead the market. 
 
 The usual time tor planting is from the middle of January to the middle of Feb- 
 ruary, and ordinarily the crop can be shiiiped by May 10th, leaving the ground on 
 which it was grown in tine condition, and with abundance of tinic to make a crop of 
 some other kind. The writer in one instance has made a bale of cotton to the acre 
 after taking off the potatoes ; at another time forty-tive bushels of corn ; and at still 
 another more than four hundred bushels of sweet potatoes. 
 
 The ann)unt of crop varies of course with the season, and the quantity and quality 
 of manures used. Generally from twenty to fifty barrels per acre are raised, and more 
 than one hundred have been made. 
 
 This has been an exceedingly unfavorable year for potatoes, but notwithstauding 
 this a member of the " Leon County Farmers" Clul)"' reported to the Club at a recent 
 meeting that he had shipped one hundred and forty-eight barrels from seven acres 
 (about half a crop) ; luul sold them in New York and Baltimore at from $4 to 88 per 
 barrel, the lot netting §700.4o, being an average of 84.72 per barrel. Besides those 
 shipped, about seventy-live barrels were reserved for family u.se, stock feed, &c., 
 which will more tluin balance labor account, and after paying for seed, fertilizers, 
 cooperage and hauling to the dei)ot, he had cleared over 8'')U0. 
 
 Our facilities for shipping are good, and the prospect is that another season tliey 
 will be even better. 
 
 Beans and P?:as — The following statements embrace the results of experi- 
 ments made by another writer in growing and shipping vegetables during the present 
 
 season : 
 
 Dwarf varieties of peas that grow about two feet in height should be planted ; 
 they require no sticks or artificial support. The seed is planted in December or Jan- 
 uary. The crop is usually ready to ship about the middle of March or early in April, 
 and will command handsome prices ; at that time, this season, they were worth from 
 $5 to 8() per busiicl crate. 
 
 Of snap-beans the dwarf, round varieties should be planted ; they sell better than 
 the tiat kinds. In cultivating we prepare and plant the grcmnd about the first or mid- 
 dle of February ; they will commence to bear about the first of April, and will bear 
 shipping until the latter part of 3[ay ; they should be gathered while tender and will 
 snap short. 
 
 An acre of snap-beans well manured and cultivated will yield about two hundred 
 crates during the shipping season ; and in the month of April of this year they were 
 wortii from 84 to 8o per crate. 
 
 No crop can be made that will yield a handsomer return for the investment than 
 snap-beans, when planted in proper time an<l properly cultivated. They are not as 
 susceptible to cold as miglit be supi>osed. Beans this year stood several severe cold 
 .snap.s, when in fact Irish potatoes were badly injured. The beans turned red but 
 soon grew out again. 
 
 During the latter part of February of this year, the writer planted one-([uarter of 
 an acre in dwarf wax beans (black seed) ; tlie ground was moderately fertile and not 
 manured. The unusually <-oid Spring retarded their growth and caused tliem to die 
 out, leaving the stand b'ailly Inoken. and thus thntwing them fully a month later in 
 shijjping tlun they should oilierwise have been. Even with these disadvantages there 
 were siupped tliirty-thret' bushel-crates from this small crop, and with a good stand 
 wouUl have shipped not less than fifty. It was about the U»th of .May wiien the first 
 shipment was gathered, ten crate.s, which sohl in New York, bringing 8'-2<') as net pro- 
 ceeds, or 82.()() per crate, clear of shipping and selling expenses. The cost of plant- 
 ing, cultivating ami gathering did not exceed 85. 
 
 ]\f,.;,,oNs — The writer of tiie following has had a practical exiK-rience in the cul- 
 ture of melons, and sjK-aks "by the civrd :" 
 
 Tlie melon as an article of comnu'rce has not heretofore occupied a conspicuous 
 place among the j)roducts of l.eon county, but from the earliest settlement of rhe 
 country our"markets have lu'cn supplied for liome consumption with the most deli- 
 cious n'lolons at moderate yet renuuierative prices, by the small fanners, who vie with 
 each otliiT in their efforts to get the fir-st antl best melons into market. Of later 
 years, when our iilanters have felt the necessity of diversifying their crops, their at- 
 
LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. It 
 
 U'utioii lias been directed more to the watenuelon crop, which is rapidly o-vowino- into 
 favor as a payini;- crop here as well as in otlier sections of the State. 
 
 The cantaloupe, or nutmeg- melon. <,n-ows linely liere, is of most excellent flavor, 
 and may be shipped to near markets with profit ; but is too delicate to bear the rou"h 
 treatment to which our vegetables and fruits are subjected in shipment. 
 
 The watermelon grows here to great perfection. There are many varieties grown 
 for home consumption, all having their peculiar merits, but it is generally coiiceded 
 that there is no variety better suited for maiket than the "Georgia Gipsy '' or " Rat- 
 tlesnake" melon, wiiich takes its name from the color and shape of the stripe it bears. 
 This melon has a decided red meat, moderately thin rind, grows to a good size, is uni- 
 form in shape and color, ships well, and is a favorite with dealers. 
 
 Tlie melon should be planted here as early jn the month of March as the season 
 will admit of. and to guard against casualties and secure an early stand, it is well to 
 make a second planting in the same hills just before the first planting comes up. Cul- 
 tivate with the hoe and turn-plow. Two hoeings and one or two plowings is all the 
 work required. 
 
 The profit of this crop depends much on the cost of getting it to market. With 
 five hundred hills to the acre, two vines to the hill, and two marketable melons to 
 the vine, you would have two thousand melons to the acre. Suppose you can get 
 for them fifteen dollars per hundred in Louisville, ]S'ashville, Cincinnati, New York, 
 <»r any other of our cities, this will give you tliree hundred dollars jier acre. Allow 
 two hundred dollars for transportation and you still have one hundred dollars per 
 acre. Take from this rent of land, S3 per acre ; three pounds of seed, §3 ; plowing, 
 three days, 63.75; hoeing, tv/o days, $1.50; preparing and distributing compost, 
 815 ; gathering and shipping, 810 ; making the entire cost of melons loaded on the 
 car. $35.25. which subtracted from $100 leaves a net profit of 864.75 per acre. These 
 estimates do not appear to be large, but if we reduce the net profit one-half it would 
 eertainlj'^ pay well for the amount invested. 
 
 VIII. DAIRY FARMING. 
 
 From two very full and excellent articles on this subject are condensed the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 "What advantages are offered by Leon county to the dairyman ? They are many 
 iind great, I reply, whether to the pos.sessor of many acres or few. The first may, if 
 he chooses, devote a hundred acres or so to his herd ; and they, finding their own sus- 
 tenance and shelter, will thrive and increase rapidly on the natural pasturage, with 
 scarcely an expense to the owner, except to keep track of them. The second, on the 
 other hand, who may be obliged to count carefully the number of acres to be allotted 
 to each head of stock, may yet at comparative little cost make his cattle a source of 
 steady proht. To do this it is necessary first to consider the matter of pasturage. 
 
 On reasonably good ground, if jdowed once a year, crab-grass will grow abund- 
 antly, and is very sweet and succulent and highly relished by stock. By dividing the 
 pasture into two parts, so that the herd may be turned into each alternately for a 
 week or more at a time, an acre to an aci-e and a half to each head of stock, large and 
 small, lias been found to carry them through the Summer very comfortably. If, 
 however, profit is desired through the yield of milk and butter, the pasture must be 
 supplemented by soiling crops. Of these a large assortment is at the service of the 
 enterprising dairyman. Something green can be kept growing during every month 
 of the year. 
 
 Fodder-corn sowed in drills yields the earliest crop for Summer use. This is fol- 
 lowed by cat-tail, or pearl millet, which, thougli not so nutritious astlie corn, yet pro- 
 duces sucli an immense amount of forage, no keeper of stock can alforil to do without 
 it. At the same time come the various kinds of sorghum, a much richer and more 
 palatable food. I am testing this year a new variety of this, called the Rural Branch- 
 ing Sorghum, introduced by the llural New Yorker, which promises to be of immense 
 value as a forage croii for mik-h cows. It is sweet, nutritious, highly relislied by all 
 kinds of stock, like all the sorgliums, but differing from the other kinds in tiirowing 
 up a large number of shoots from the same seed, which may be repeatedly cut tlirough 
 the season, like the cat-tail millet. Thus far I have found it a very vigorous grower, 
 and apparently well able to fulfill tlie large promises made of it.s virtues. A little 
 later come cow-pea vines, producing an enormous amount of feed at small cost of 
 cultivation, and carrying the cows well through the Fall. 
 
18 LEON COUNTY. FLORIDA. 
 
 For Winter feodiuj,^ uothiiii;' oiin surpass the sweet potato. A heaping peck given 
 to a cow each clay, in addition to her otlier rations, produces a surprisuig ett'ect, both 
 in the quantity and (juahty of milk and butter. The vines also furnish a good amount 
 of fair feed. In addition to the potatoes shoidd be raised a large patch of riita bai^a 
 turnips to be mixed with the potatoes, and also lo furnish green food in the tops. 
 Pumpkins also should be raised in large (juantities for the Winter, and cow-pea vines 
 cure(l in the sun. A little later in the Fall may be sown a held of mixed oats and rye 
 to furnish green grazing. This, beginning in January, will continue almost to the time 
 of cutting fodder-corn again in the Spring. 
 
 By husbanding the manure and good cultivation, a few acres may be made to 
 yield a .surprising amount of the crops above mentioned. Five or six acres has been 
 found to produce enovigh for ten or twelve cows, and cut down the amount of pur- 
 chased feed, .such as corn-meal, wheat-bran, cotton-seed nieal, itc, to very moderate 
 projxirtions. If the stock are turned out to range throu,L;h the corn and cotton lields 
 from Decemljer 1st to March 1st, the dry and young stock will require but very little 
 feeding through the Winter. 
 
 Tlie matter of feed settled, the question next arises, during what months can but- 
 ter be successfully made '? I reply, through every month of the year. There is this 
 peculiarity in butter made here : In hot weather, when Northern butter is reduced to 
 oil, tlie home-made article, if properly managed, retains its shape without the aid of 
 ice. I make good, sweet butter constantly, Summer and Winter, without using ice. 
 and with nothing colder than good well water. Very likely the modern devices of 
 •' Cooley Creamers ■■ and "Hardin Proces.ses," with ice. might be an advantage, but 
 good butter can be made without them. 
 
 In regard to improved breeds of cattle, we have several of the linest. There are 
 the Devon, Durham, Ayrshire and Jersey or Alderney. These are seldom found pure, 
 but are more or less mixed with each other. Some breeders have lately procured thor- 
 oughbred bulls, and .stock of pure blood may soon be more common. Several of these 
 mixed breeds, however, produce most excellent milkers. 
 
 Those in which the Alderney or Jersey ])redominates yield the richest milk and 
 yellowest butter, while the Devon and Ayrshire excel in large yields. 
 
 One of my best cows is mixed Jer.sey and Ayisliire. She ccnnbines the rich, yel- 
 low milk of tlie lirst. with the large size and full yield of the latter. For butter-making 
 a strong infusion of Die Jersey is desirable, while if a yield of milk is wanted the Devon, 
 perhaps, would be preierred. 
 
 My experience as to the healthfulness of cattle in this county shows them subject 
 to very few complaints. Occasionally one is attacked with indigestion and bloating, 
 or the scours, wliich generally yields readily to simple remedies, such as a purge i>f 
 linseed oil, or weak lye from wood ashes, or salt, and followed by a few doses of con- 
 dition powflcrs. 
 
 Very little shelter is required in this climate. If the cattle can seek their own in 
 a large range, they will get along very comfm-tably without any artilicial aid. But if 
 kept \\\> tliey will apprei'iate and jniy for some ailditional shelter. Ail tiiey reipiire, 
 however, is a sin\p]e shed to keep otf the cold rains of Fall and Winter ; and if tlierc 
 is no piect' of woo<ls or buildings as a wind-break on the northwest side of their lot. 
 they need a tight fence where tliey may lind refuge from the cold winds. 
 
 Can dairy-farming be made profitable in Leon county? 
 
 I'ndoubtcilly it can. i)rovided he who undertakes it jjrocures the best stock for 
 the purpose — Jerseys and their grades — and u.st-s the best methods of raising hi> 
 cream. 
 
 None but tliose wlio have tried it have any idea what goo<l pasturage even our 
 poorest pme lands will allbrd. simply by excluding stock from them until the grasses 
 which naturally grow on tiicm liuve time to become well set. Good jKisturage may 
 alMi be liad by resting land wliicli li;is been in cviltivation ; and better still, by plowing 
 under in May tlie crop <d' weeds which will before that time sjuing up on such laml. 
 and ailiiwing the grasses — crab, crows-foot, «S:c. — to lake tlieir jilace. I have a jkin- 
 ture of some tliirty-live acres, two-thirds of wliicli has been under cultivation until 
 the present year ; the remaindi-r is woodland, fioni which stock has been kept for 
 some years, whieli lias a(Vorde<i grazing for lifteen to eighteen head of cattle, keejjing 
 them in tine condition, notwithstanding the severe drouth of the i)ast Spring an<l ot 
 this Summer. Even our old sedge-lields will, if burneil oil" in February, allbrd tolcr- 
 
LEON COUNTY, FLOliWA. 19 
 
 aT)le grazing-. Our cultivated lands, if used as pastures for a number of years, become 
 set in a variety of grasses which alt'ord excellent grazing. 
 
 For Winter grazing and for soiling no country can grow a greater variety or more 
 hixuriant crops. Rye, oats, barley, orchard grass, mangels, turnips, carrots and cab- 
 bage growing all through our Winters. I have orchard grass sown last Fall now grow- 
 ing most luxuriantly, having stood the long-protracted dry weather of the last Spring 
 and of this Summer. 
 
 For Fall pasturage notliing can surpass our beggar-weed, ncjt even clover, either 
 in the inci-eased flow of milk or the quantity and quality of butter from it. Springing 
 up in our corn-fields about the time of our last plowing, it will, by the time we can 
 gather our corn, say the last of August or lirst of September, allbrd for stock of all 
 kinds — cows, horses and hogs — food of the richest sort, on which they will fatten as if 
 fed on grain, until it is killed by frost, which rarely occurs before November, and often 
 not until late in December. It gives us all we could ask for stock of all kinds for three 
 months without sowing, cultivation or gathering. 
 
 For soiling there is nothing grown which we cannot grow here. Nothing can sur- 
 pass for this purpose our Southern variety of Indian corn, three crops of which 
 may be grown on the same land in one year, besides a crop of peas and oats. Half an 
 acre well manured, thoroughly Viroken, and well pulverized, sown in corn, will be am- 
 ply sufficient, with the Fall crop of peas and Winter oats, to feed a good cow through 
 the year. After September begins it will not do to sow corn — the worms destroy it^ — 
 but in our Southern bean or "cow-pea" we have one of the best of soiling crops. 
 Sown either broadcast or in drills, it does ecjually well, makes a rapid growth, and 
 affords a tempting and nutritious food for cattle. It grows until checked Ity frost, and 
 I know of no plant, save Indian corn, that produces more weight to a given quantity of 
 land. Properly cured, no hay equals it for cattle. Our "cat-tail" or "Pearl" mil- 
 let is still another valuable soiling plant, requiring to be sown only once for the year, 
 afiording a vast amount of food from a small area of land. It can be cut in our long 
 season from three to four times, and cattle, although not at first particularly fond of it, 
 soon become so, and the butter made from it rivals in richness of color that made from 
 rye. Mr. R. F. Bradford, of this county, last Summer fed four line cows on three- 
 fourths of an acre of millet, without pasturage or other feed. 
 
 For Winter feed nothing can afford a richer How of milk than our sweet potatoes, 
 and no crop can be grown more cheai)ly ; from three to four hundred bushels can be 
 grown per acre, and that after a crop of Irish potatoes has been gathered from the 
 land. Last year I dug and housed frmii one acre three hundred and ninety-two bush- 
 els, not including cut and small potatoes, from which I had in the Spring marketed 
 thirty barrels of Irisli i)Otatoes. German millet as well as Hungarian grass grows lu.x- 
 uriantly, and the Johnson or Means grass jironiises to add to the list of our valualile 
 grasses for soiling, pasturage and for hay. Ootton-seed, the richest of all food I'or 
 stock, is cheap and abundant ; and we find a moderate quantity, soaked and fed to 
 milch-cows daily, adds to the liow of milk, and keeps them in flesh. 
 
 Turnips of all kinds, including Swedes, as also mangels, can be grown and fed to 
 cows from the field without the labor and expense of storing, as the northern dairy- 
 man is compelled to do. Only a tew perscms have tried dairying as a business in our 
 county ; but there are to be found here all the rcipiisites to success, and there is every 
 reason to believe it can be made a successful and piolitablc business. ]\Ir. R. F. Ibacl- 
 ford has from four cows, two of them heift-rs with their first calves. s(jld butter to 
 the amount of 6150.00, during the past nine months, besides having an abundance of 
 milk and butter for his family. His cows are .lersey and their grades, and yield from 
 two to four gallons of milk each per day. The price he has realized from ins butter, 
 five to ten cents per pound above the market i)rice, speaks well for the (piality. There 
 are in our county many localities abounding in line springs, which could be utilized 
 for dairying, and in our towns and near our railroads ice can always be had at rea- 
 sonable rates. 
 
 IX. POULTRY. 
 
 The following was contributed by a lady who has had an extensive and successful 
 exijerience in poultry-farming : — 
 
 Among the many industries i)ertaining to farm life in Leon county, there is not 
 6ne which yields a larger return for the amount invested than poultry-raising. At 
 the outset the writer will state that the facts here set forth are drawn Irom an actual 
 experience. 
 
20 LEON COUNTY, FLOUWA. 
 
 To be successful with poultry, (which we ixnderstand to mean to raise the largest 
 quantity at the smallest expense, and have the most abundant supply of eggs,) we 
 would advise as to the breeds, the common kinds, crossed with game. We succeeded 
 best with these, raising sometimes in a single season more than three huiulred 
 chickens, and having an abundant supply of eggs. We, and some of our friends, 
 liave exiierimented with some of the large, fancy breeds, to our sorrow. They pre- 
 sent a line appearance in the poultry yard, lay large eggs and raise — well, little else 
 than o-reat expectations ! They are not constant layers, consume enormous quan- 
 tities of food, which must be provided for them, as they are the most indolent 
 creatures and do not attempt to scratch and provide for themselves, as the common 
 fowls do. Then, they are not hardy, and if they do not fall victims to the first dis- 
 ease that sweeps over the fowl-yard, they soon become so puny and gouty that we 
 truly wish tliey had. Provide a large well-ventilated i)oultry-house thoroughly white- 
 washed inside and out : use sassafras posts and poles for roosts placed independently 
 in the centre of the building, and renew once a year. Use tifteen-iuch square boxes 
 for nests, arranged on shelves, and when the hens are set sprinkle dry sulphur or 
 snuff in and around the nests. As soon as the hatching is done, remove hen and 
 chickens to a small coop wliere the hen will be confined, but the chicks can run at 
 laro'e. Take the box where the hatching was done from the house, empty and scald 
 thoi'oughly, and expose to the sun and showers for several weeks, at the end of which 
 time tire cleansing is complete and the box can be again used for a nest. These pre- 
 cautions are absolutely essential here, to guard against chicken-lice and "mites," 
 those terrible little torments that in our climate so beset the careless or inexpe- 
 rienced. We will here state, for the information of tlie curious, that we were 
 never troubled with either of these vermin after the first two years, during which time 
 we bought and paid for our experience. 
 
 For feeding chickens, allow one quart of sound shelled corn to every fifteen 
 grown fowls, or twice the quantity of oats ; turkeys require about treble the amount. 
 Tn Summer we prefer the oats to insure a constant supply of eggs. Feed once a day. 
 late in tlie afternoon, as in the early morning they can, and do, provide themselves a 
 bountiful repast of bugs and worms, if not fed. Confine the hens with young chickens 
 a week or two in early Spring and late Winter, and two or three days only during 
 warm wesither. 
 
 Feed the young chickens with soft dough made of corn-meal, and always provide 
 plenty of j)ure. fresh water for all poultry in shallow iron vesaelts, with i)lenty of red 
 ])ei)per in AVinter and early Spring. The work of setting hens can be carried on here 
 throughout the year, but in the late Fall and Winter .select for it such hens as you 
 know'to be gentle, careful mother.s. and extra care and feeding are necessary to insure 
 rapid growth. The mid-Summer and Fall chickens nuike the most constant layers, 
 while The early Spring chickens attain the largest growth. 
 
 In raising geese, ducks, itc, the same rules may be observed. 
 
 To secure large Hocks of turkeys, set a turkey and a chicken hen at the same time 
 on turkey eggs, and when the hatching is done, give all the little ones to the turkey. 
 Confine lier^in a large coop where the little ones can run in and out for a period of six 
 weeks. Feed bountifully three times a day with wctl-rookrd corn-bread and fresh 
 twigs of Jerusalem Oak. which they devour greedily anil prefer to either onions or 
 swc'et fennel. Use red i)ep])er freiiuently. either in their bread or water. It is neces- 
 sary to keep young turkeys out of heavy dews and showers, so they reiiuire more care 
 ami watching than chickens. In all t)ur experience in poultry-raising here, we have 
 never .seen a'case of " gapes," a disease so fatal to young i)oultry elsewhere. 
 
 Apart from petty thieves, the only obstacles we encountereil were the two dis- 
 eases known in conunon i)arlance as "hang-head" and "cholera." If sonu> good 
 '-•enius. desirous of iinmortnlizinghim.self, and conferring a lasting benefit on poultry- 
 i()vin<'- "humanity, will tnrn his attention to these two diseases and invent an infallible 
 cure for both, ;i gratefnl i)ublic will i>ray that his table be ever bli'ssed with a boun- 
 tiful supply of fat fowls, besides which we will have him canoni/ed as the saint of 
 the poultry yard. 
 
 X. FKUIT-CULTUKE. 
 
 One of the most successfnl fruit-growers in this section of the State furnishes 
 tlie following exhaustive article : 
 
 Leon county, from its diversity of fertile soil, undulating siutace of hill and(lale. 
 inter.spersed with dear-water lakes, and with a climate neither too hot nor cold, is ad- 
 
LEOX COL^KTY, FLORIDA. 21 
 
 mirably adapted to the growth of a variety of fruits, not only embracing those of a 
 semi-tropical nature, but those that are grown in the middle and nortliern States. 
 Having a fondness for horticultural pursuits, we will relate our expericncee in them, 
 with the limited time we have had to devote while not engaged in other business, (em- 
 bracing a period of over sixteen years.) 
 
 Pears — Pears w'e find to succeed well. Our exx^crience has almost entirely been 
 confined to the dwarfs. We are planting out standards, and are pleased witli their 
 growth. But one variety, the Bartlett, has borne yet, and that this year. Trees six 
 years old. In the dwarfs we have made a success of the varieties planted. The 
 Duchess d'Angouleme, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Stevens' Genesee, Belle Lucrative, 
 Bai'tlett, White Doyenne, Clap's Favorite, and Dearborn's Seedling, have been fruiting 
 for some years ; other varieties are just coming into bearing, while others have been 
 planted lately and are doing well ; among them tlie LeConte, on its own roots, grafted 
 on the common pear, and also on the quince. This pear bids fair to be one, if not the 
 most prolitable of our fruits, on account of its early bearing, vigorous growth and pro- 
 lific yield, together with the fine size and appearance of its fruit. As a special article 
 will be written on this pear, we will not dwell longer on its merits. Last year we had 
 to build frames around our Louise trees to tie the branches to, to assist them in sup- 
 porting their fruit. The Belle Lucrative, several seasons, have borne us two crops a 
 year. After the growth of the first crop to about the size of hickory-nuts, the trees 
 bloom again and put on a second croj), which matures in from three weeks to a month 
 after the first. If these two crops are allowed to mature the following season, the trees 
 will produce but few pears, requiring a rest of one season to recuperate after perform- 
 ing extra duty. We find that thinning the fruit out each year, leaving the most vig- 
 orous and perfect, will give us an avei-age annual crop, but if permitted to mature all 
 the fruit they put on, they, like the apple, will have an on and off year. We prefer an 
 annual yield of fine fruit in quality to a biennial yield in quantity. The home demand 
 takes all we have had to dispose of at from forty cents to a dollar per dozen. We are 
 confident that a good shipping business can be done with this fruit, especially with 
 those varieties that come early. The pear ripens in its perfection in the house, not 
 on the trees, and should be pulled as soon as the stem parts readily from the branch ; 
 it is then firm and hard, and will bear transportation well, ripening on its way to 
 market. 
 
 Gkapes — With this delicious fruit we have experimented with some eighty vari- 
 eties, with moj-e or less success. At present we grow but few varieties for profit : 
 Delaware and Concord for the table, and Ives and Scuppernong for wine. We are ex- 
 I)erimenting with some of the fine varieties by grafting on cut wild vines ; this may 
 give them vigor and stability, (jualities in which some of the choice varieties are defi- 
 cient. The above named four are liardy and vigorous. There are but few grapes that 
 will equal the Delaware in flavor, anil we consider it stands with the grape, as the 
 Seckel to the pear, at the head of the list. As this grape grows in comparatively 
 few places to perfection, we are fortunate to have a climate and soil adapted to it ; 
 and as it brings a high price in the market, we sliould avail ourselves of its cxten>ive 
 production. We can begin to put the Concord, Ives and Delaware on the market 
 from the last week in June to the first in July. Concord and Ives net ten cents per 
 pound ; Delaware from twenty to twenty-live cents. The Ives Seedling wine is worth 
 in our market .'i;2 jier gallon ; Scuppernong sells at f?l per gallon by the barrel. We 
 find that training tlie vines to stakes is better than the trellis, the leaves protecting 
 the grapes better fronr the sun and rain, "^riie Vitia I'inafcrra or European grape 
 will not succeed iiere ; the leaves are too delicate and will nt)t stand showers of rain 
 followed by the hot sun. Two thousand gallons of wine have been made from an 
 acre of Scuppernong grapes, when in full bearing. 
 
 Peaches — The tree in this climate begins to bear at two years old, the growth 
 is vigorous, and wiien an orchard can be planted near the residence, and the fowls and 
 hogs are allowed to run in it, to consume the curculio-stung fruit, and projjcr attention 
 is given to prevent the attacks of the borer, the orchard will give as good paying re- 
 turns as an orange grove. The early bearing of the trees and tlie higli price the 
 fruit commands, when placed early in the northern markets, will pay handsomely for 
 the trouble bestowed on it. The early varieties, as the Amsden, Honey, Alexander, 
 and Peen-to or Flat Peach of China, sliould be planted for shi})ping. Later varieties 
 will always command good prices in our home markets. We have raised peaches, of 
 a variety originated by J. P. Berckmans, of Augusta, Georgia, called the Great East- 
 ern, that have averaged three-fourths of a pound to the peach. This season peaches 
 
22 LEOX COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 have bioui^ht in Xew York 82 per dozen, raised in Florida. "We have seen some mag^- 
 iiilicent specimens of tlie fruit j^rown from our native seedUnjis. On one plantation, 
 settled in 1839, there was an Indian old field, on which peadi trees were <frowin<j of a 
 large size : these trees continued to bear and grow without any cultivation or atten- 
 tion until 1H.")5. when tliey gradually died out, embracing a period of twenty-six years 
 within our knowledge, and were jirobably over twenty years old when the plantation 
 was settled, showing the longevity of the tree in tliis climate. From our experience, 
 we would advise in setting out an orchard, to procure the trees from our home nurse- 
 i-ies, or not farther North than our sister States of Georgia and Alabama. The 
 northern grown trees are some month or six weeks later in blooming than ours, and 
 take sevei'al years to get acclimated. As a general rule, the nearer home we can pro- 
 cure our trees, of most varieties, the better success we meet with. 
 
 Fios — The fig is a vigorous grower, early bearer, and most prolific in its yield 
 of fruit. We have a number of varieties. The Celeste or Sugar fig matures first, 
 in June, followed by otheis, which extend the season into October. This fruit is a 
 palatable and wholesome diet, eaten from the tree or with cream and sugar. They 
 make a fine preserve, marmalade and pickle, and would no doubt pay handsomely 
 shipped North in those forms. The main profit from this fruit will be in drying it in 
 a suitable dryer, wlien we see no reason why it slunild not take the place of the com- 
 mercial article in our markets. Florida could supply the Union with all it woultl con- 
 sume. The tree is propagated from the cutting. Cuttings jjut in the ground during 
 the months of September and October will make rooted plants by Spring, when they 
 should be transplanted, and will yield fruit in the Sunnner. This tree requires no 
 pruning, and but very little cultivation after tlie first three years. Trees said to be 
 forty years old and upwards are growing around Tallahassee, and bid fair from their 
 appearance to complete their one liundred years. 
 
 AriM,Ks — The apple has had comparatively so little attention or trial in this 
 county that we cannot yet vouch for its success. We were told tliat they would not 
 succeed, by the old settlers, as we were told concerning the grai)e. Having found out 
 from in((uiries that the grapes planted in former times were of the European varieties 
 which will not succeed : and having proved by yearly crops of grapes that the varie- 
 ties originating in the United States will, we have come to the conclusion that we will 
 find varieties of the ai)ple that will suit our climate. To contirm us in our opinion, 
 we have Shockley apples that are now bearing the second year ; trees vigorous and 
 hardy, making fine growth, and fruit smooth and healthy. The age of the trees is six 
 years. Some of my neighljors have trees that have been bearing for several years 
 fine apples. They have lost the names. As there is a "boom '" on fruit culture that 
 has taken possession of our people, among the variety of experiments we think we 
 will in a few years have a list of apples that we can rely on to do well with us. 
 
 Jatan Pkhsimmons — The .Tapan persimmon is being given a trial. We find the 
 tree to grow well, and have met with success in grafting it on our native variety. 
 Should the graft continue to do well, we will soon have our native trees crowned with 
 lieads of tlie Japan, and an abundance of this fruit in a few years. 
 
 Jai'.xn Pmms — The Loquat or Japan plum succeeds with us. It is an evergreen 
 and highly ornamental tree. The fruit is sub-acid, grows in clusters and of a creamy 
 white color. It is jiarticularly to l)e desired, as it ripens in February, and commands 
 from our Winter visitors from 75 cents to $1 per (juart. It is projjagated from the 
 secfl. 
 
 PoMKfiitANATKs — The jKnuegrauates, both .sweet and aci<l, are cultivated to a 
 small extent. The acid variety, mixed with sugar and water as the Ienu)n, makes a 
 very pleasant and grateful drink during the Avarm weather. The tree is very orna- 
 nu-ntal and ]»i-odu(livc. easily grown, and we believe there would be a demand for the 
 fruit were it shipj)ed North and West as soon as it became generally known. 
 
 Pi.tMs — This county is well dotted over with wild plum orcliards ; they yield so 
 abundantly that the curculio fnnn lack of ability to destroy, is forced to turn over to 
 us a large pri>i)(>rtion of the fruit. The Wild Goose, Newman. l)e Caradenc and 
 other cultivated varieties succeed. 
 
 OuANOKs — We have a grove around our dwelling that is over thirty years ohl. 
 These trees when about five years old were killed to the ground by a remarkably se- 
 vere Winter. They put uj) from the roots again and made fine trees. Some seven or 
 eight years ago, owing to a freeze, the teniler branches were killed and we lost the 
 <roi> for that year. The year after they bore again and continued to bear full crops. 
 
LEON COUNTY, FLOBIDA. 23 
 
 wlien last Winter, on the 30th of December, a hard freeze and sleet killed the trees 
 witli a part of the crop on them, from two to six feet from the j^round. They liave 
 now pnt out vigorous shoots, which at the i^resent time (June) are from live to six 
 leet lon;4'. and will form new heads to the trees, and we look for a crop again in 1883. 
 From the above statement the orange cannot be relied upon as an annual crop. Nev- 
 ertheless, as our fruit is of a very superior quality, and as we may have frt)m ten to 
 fifteen years of good crops before we miss a year or two by the effects of an early 
 cold snap, the orange is a very desirable tree to plant. Many of our trees produced 
 from 2,000 to 2.500 oranges to the tree, and oranges were so plentiful in Tallahassee 
 last December that they sold on the street out of the wagons at 75 cents per hundred. 
 These same oranges brought from 8(5 to 88 per barrel when sold in New York. Our 
 citizens have not been discouraged by the extraordinary cold of last Winter, and a 
 number of line groves have been put out since the freeze. If we can get from ten to 
 twelve crops in lifteen years, and from experience we can calculate on that nunil)er. 
 we should be satisfied, particularly as we have a soil and climate in whicli all the otlier 
 fruits can be raised, and are not confined to one variety as a source of income. We 
 possess another advantage over more southern latitudes in our State in the fertility of 
 our soil. Our two-year-old trees from the seed are as large in size as a four-year-old 
 raised on the pine, sandy soils, and the item of cost of fertilizers in South Florida, to. 
 keep the trees growing and in a healthy condition, makes a good offset against our 
 occasional loss of a crop. Ovir trees have had but one manuring in lifteen years, then 
 with ashes : the fertility of the soil has been sufHcient to keep them in vigorous growth 
 and full l)earing. As land is cheap and fertile, labor abundant, and other crops can be 
 planted in an orange grove, while the trees are growing to a bearing age, we advise 
 by all means to plant a grove. 
 
 Bananas — The banana, owing to its susceptibility to be cut down by a slight 
 freeze, is an uncertain crop. We have seen them planted in favorable, protected loca- 
 tions where they have done well. 
 
 Blackbebkiks — The blackberry springs up in every field that is allowed to lay 
 out ; they yield enormously, and are called by the negroes the Coraniissary Department, 
 where free rations are procured l)y the old and young. They make a fine wme and 
 cordial, healthful and medicinal during the summer, and the dried fruit is of a com- 
 mercial value. 
 
 Almonds and other Nuts — The almond grows here as well as the peach. We 
 have three varieties, the Hardshell. Princess and Sultana. The two latter are the va- 
 rieties that produce the bulk of the almonds of commerce. We planted the trees 
 tliree years ago ; the Hardshell has been the only kind that has fruited yet. The trees 
 are vigorous, but it is too early yet for us to predict of their profitable culture. The 
 pecau, English walnut, Spanish chestnut and other nut-bearing trees, are a success 
 with us. 
 
 Strawberries — Another writer says of the strawberry : 
 
 One of our most successful strawberry growers, a lady, plants the Nunan 
 or Charleston variety. They are planted during the latter part of tlie rainy 
 season, after the hot weather is past. The soil is a sandy loam. The plants are 
 set about eighteen by eighteen iuclies apart, using a compost of cow-lot maiuire, ashes 
 and chip manure, broadcasted on them just before the blossoming season. Tlie ground 
 is prepared as for ordinary garden vegetables, and kept level, or nearly so. 
 
 The after cultivation consists of mowing olf the weeds, and pulling up their roots, 
 thereby loosening the soil just before fertilizing for the next year's crop, not distiub- 
 ing the roots of the plant by cultivation of any kind, at any season t)f the year. No 
 mulching or watering, as they are planted so <',losely that tlieir foliage sliades and 
 • mulches sutficiently. The proceeds from one-eighth of an acre, thus cultivated, were 
 four hundred (piarts this year, and our season was tiie shortest, on account of drouth 
 and a backward Spring, known for some years. Tliis crop was sold from .seventy-five 
 cents per cpiart, down to fifteen cents. At an average of twenty cents jier quart, this 
 would be 8040 per acre. 
 
 Another cultivator raised from one-eighth of an acre of LongwortlTs Prolific three 
 hundred and twenty quarts on sandy soil, using a compost of stable manure and cot- 
 ton-seed ju.st before the fruiting .season as a top-dressing. From 1,000 Wilson's Albany 
 plants the writer gathered ninety (piarts of first-class fruit. There was no fertilizer of 
 any kind used. 'l"he average price was eighteen cents per (piart in the home market. 
 
2i LEOX COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 The cost of plants, planting-, onltivating, fertilizei-s, picking and marketing would 
 not exceed twenty per cent, of the gross proceeds. 
 
 Two of tliese parties liave sent berries to tlieir friends at the North, a distance of 
 one tlionsand miles or more, without the modern improvements of refrigerators, etc. : 
 and tlie lierries arrived at their destination in good order, thus proving that with our 
 present facilities we can .ship them to northern markets. 
 
 A neighbor of mine says that his plants, Xunan, produced this year one quart to 
 the single plant, of the finest fruit, and that it will surely pay, if we engage in it ex- 
 tensively enough to make it an object for the railroad company to give us the moilern 
 improvements, and dispatch en route. There has been raised in the neighboring 
 county of Gadsden, eight thousand quarts per acre. 
 
 Proceeds of one shipment of berries from Jacksonville, 1,002 quarts, shipped to 
 New York, and sold for 82,(?;30, or 83.50 per quart. C,"o.st of packing and shipi)ing. 
 8283, leaving a net profit of 82,346. Who will .say there is not money in the straw- 
 berry business ? 
 
 The time required to reach Xew York is about seventy hours ; and by the use of 
 refrigerator-boxes, we can put the fruit on the market in good order, at an expense 
 of from ten to twelve and a half cents per quart. 
 
 The LeCoxte Peak — The followin;i- was contributed by one of the mo.st exten- 
 sive and successful growers of this new fruit in Thomas county, Georgia, which ad- 
 joins Leon on the north. There are thousands of trees growing in Leon, but they are 
 not yet in bearing : 
 
 This truly wonderful pear was introduced into Liberty county, Georgia, in the 
 year 1853 V»y Major John LeC'onte, the gentleman from whom it takes its name. The 
 original LeConte pear tree was obtained from William Prince's nursery. Flushing. 
 New York, in 1840, wliich was hybridized there accidentally, and sold to Major Le- 
 Conte as a Chinese Sand pear tree, the parent trees beini;- the Chinese Sand pear ami 
 a cultivated variety, and was .sent to his niece. Miss Harden. She planted it in her 
 garden. It was supposed to be the Chinese Sand pear, but as this pear is known ti> 
 be an inferior fruit, it was discovered, after the tree came into bearing, to be entii"ely 
 diflerent, the fruit being delicious and also entirely different in appearance. At a 
 meeting of the Pomological Society of Tliomas county, this pear and the Sand pear were 
 investigated, and the two bemg so entirely diU'erent, it was decided it should be called 
 after .Major LeConte. hence its name. The parent tree is now nearly thirty years oM. 
 and it is still vigorous, and has always been healthy, bearing yearly a bountiful supply of 
 delicious fruit. The writer of this article heard Dr. J. P. Stevens .say that he knew 
 this tree to bear twenty-nine l)ushels of fine, well develo])ed pears in one season, and 
 it can be substantiated that a tree here in Thomas county bore at the age of eight 
 years twenty-live bushels of fine pears in one year. 
 
 This tree is successfully propagated from the cutting or slip, and being a very 
 .strong grower, comes early into bearing;. 
 
 We believe that it will not do well grafted or budded upon other stock.s. because 
 we have tried with poor success, having found no tree with a root sulliciently strong 
 to stand its iininen.se growth. They come into bearing when well treated at five to 
 six years, and begin to pay when six years old, 
 
 Mr. L. L. Varnedoe. living near Thoinasville. sold from eight eight-year-old trees 
 and five five-year-old trees 8410 worth of fruit in one season. He shii)pedthe pears to 
 IJoston and New York, and the above amount was not. A great many of these trees 
 have been i)r()pagated around Thomasville, (reorgia, and wliile many have been .sold 
 to nearly every State in the I'nion. the people there have looked well to their interest 
 by setting out many beaut ilul oichards of tliem, enhancing the value of their farms 
 wo might say thou.saiids of dollars. 
 
 The LeConte grows on any kind of land, and like everything else, pays best when 
 well cared for. It will llourish on a good quality of .sandy or clay laud. 
 
 XI. THE FLOWERS OF LEON COUNTY. 
 
 The following contribution to our pami)hlct is made by a lady, who.se love of 
 llowors and success in cultivation makes her especially fitted for the task. It will in- 
 teiest the lady readers of the i>amphlet. and prove to them that in coming to Leon 
 
LEON COUNTY] FLORIDA. 25 
 
 county they will tiiid all their ideas of Florida as •' The Land of Flowers " more than 
 
 realized : 
 
 ■■ The Harvests, God's bounty : the Flower;'. His smile," 
 
 How suggestive to a contemplative mind is this beautiful sentiment of a German 
 poet I "The flowers. His smile I" Not the work of His hands, wrought by effort, 
 as we are accustomed to regard all visible objects of Creation, but simply called 
 forth from the bosom of the dark, cold earth, fitting symbols of peace and blessing. 
 
 Among all civilized nations of every age, flowers have ever been highly prized. 
 Of such importance were they deemed in classic Greece, that Flora, the Goddess of 
 Flowers, was one of the principal deities. In ancient Egypt, that cradle of much 
 learning as well as of great supersition, flowers were objects of worship. "Who has 
 not heard of the Lotus-flower, the far-famed " Lily of the Nile '? " Is it that some 
 trace of the ancient sacredness still lingers around it, that modern Christians know it 
 as the Easter lily? Even among our antipodes, the "celestials" of China, those 
 queer adherents to ancient customs, the highest praise that can be bestowed on their 
 beloved country, is to call it the " Flowery Kingdom." 
 
 In our own language we find many beautiful sentiments suggested by, or re- 
 ferring to flowers. Our " prince of poets " makes unstinted use of tliem to beautify 
 his creations. Who caja recall the heroine of his master-piece, the fair Ophelia, with 
 her mind " like sweet bells jangled out of tune,'' without recalling too her "Rose- 
 mary, that's for Remembrance, and Pansy, that's for Thought." Flowers have ever 
 been regarded the sweetest emblems of innocence and peace. We gather the pure 
 white blossoms to crown the blushing young bride ; we bring the fairest and most fra- 
 grant to strew over the silent, pallid forms of our loved as they lie before us, wrapped 
 in the mystery of that dreamless slumber which men call Death. 
 
 In our southern country. Nature has scattered with lavish hand, flowers of every 
 kind. In the early Spring-time, a walk in the woods of Leon would drive a Vick, or 
 a Henderson, or other i^rofessional florist, wild with envy. High above our heads, the 
 Magnolia lifts its splendid proportions, adorned with .silvery bark and dark, rich, 
 green leaves, brightened by its magnificent blooms, waxen white, nearly a foot in di- 
 ameter, and emitting a spicy fragrance delicious and invigorating. Near it we find 
 the Bay, a splendid specimen belonging to the same order, but its flowers ai'e only a 
 diminutive reflection of the beauty and glory of the Magnolia. Scattered here and 
 there we find .-t Snowdrop-tree M'ith its graceful, drooping, pure-white l)Iossoms ; the 
 fragrant Clove-tree; the Sparkle-berry, with its wealth of beautiful blooms; the ipiaint 
 Gray-beard ; the Dogwood, coarse but showy, with its white flowers and scarlet ber- 
 ries ; the wild Honeysuckles ; the Pink-bud ; the tall Poplars, with their silvery-green 
 leaves and large, salmon-colored flowers, and that sweetest of all woodland blossoms, 
 the wild Crab-apple. 
 
 And the vines ! Only in this "Land of Flowers " could vines so climb and bloom. 
 The golden bells of the Yellow Jessamine ; the crimson clusters of the Woodbine ; 
 the snow-white tresses of an unnamed vine ; the flaming trumpets of the Virginia 
 Trumpet creeper, with many others, mingle and blend in a harmony of disorder, 
 which only the hand of Nature could have designed. 
 
 In low, damp places, or in the water, what beauty of leaf and flower we find: 
 First and fairest, the beautiful white Water-lily, with its dark -green leaves, floats in 
 <iuaint grace on the surface of the water. Near the margin we find the dark-blue 
 Cluster-lily, with heart-shaped leaves, like tho.se of the Lily of the Nile ; and near, 
 still anotlier kind, a delieate white lily. Near a little stream which lias its source in 
 Lake Overstreet, is found a rare and beatil'ul specimen of the lily. It leaves are wide 
 and long, and in the month of July, it sends up a stalk about twenty inches in height, 
 and on the top of this, appears a cluster of bhxnns, sometimes seven in number, the 
 most daintily formed and fragrant of all the lilies. 
 
 Around us on every side we behold myriads of flowers of every shape and color, 
 many of them unknown and unnamed, yet so beautiful and fragrant that they would 
 be objects of interest in any garden. A devout worshipper at the shrine of Flora 
 would linger in a rapture of admiration among the flowers of the fields and forests of 
 Leon. 
 
 And the gardens I Where shall we begin to limn with our unskilled pen the glo- 
 rious beauty of our flower gardens".' A tcmrist in Spain wrote boastfully of the Ja- 
 ponicas found there, which attained the height of trees. In Tallahas.sce a Japonica 
 tree is no rare sight, and there is one here that was removed from Virginia, that has 
 reached the venerable age of seventy-five years, and tlie height of twelve feet. And 
 
26 LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 for perfection of bloom, our Japonicas are not excelled anywhere. We know one 
 tree, a fine specimen of the double-white. Avhich at the time of the freeze last Winter, 
 had on it about live luindi-ed blooms. There are many and beautiful varieties of the 
 Japonica foun<l here. The white, the crimson, the scarlet, the striped, and one, a 
 double, rose-color, which enjoys the enviable distinction of a delicious fragrance. 
 
 Where beyond the limits of Eden were ever such Roses j^rown as tiourisli here '? 
 (4rowing out of doors all the year round, the}' thrive and bloom, and bloom, and 
 bloom, with a maj^nilicence of size, a perfection of color and a deliciousness of odor 
 that makes us wonder it it was not here, in tlie early days of Sijanish adventure, that 
 they tirst received the soubriquet of "'Queen of Flowers." 
 
 There is a rose-bush in a garden in Tallahassee which is twelve feet in lieight. 
 and the diameter of the trunk, at the height of four feet, measures twelve inches. 
 
 Then the domesticated Lilies ! These fair and fragrant flowers, always regarded 
 as symbols of purity, employed by the Savior himself as an illustration of perfection. 
 '• They toil not neither do they spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like 
 one of these." All the known varieties are found here in great perfection ; one single 
 stalk of the white, with crimson stripes, sometimes bearing a cluster of ten large 
 flowers. 
 
 The Jessamine is found here, in eight distinct varieties, gqnerally growing in per- 
 fect safety out of doors through the whole year. Geraniums, Pinks, N'erbenas, flow- 
 ering vines of all kinds and varieties, the many annuals and perennials — nearly every 
 liower in a florist's catalogue can be safely and satisfactorily grown here ; and any one 
 familiar with our gardens would be amused to read the desciiptions of the size and 
 height of plants, as given by reliable horticulturists. Mr. Vick describes the Mlr<(h- 
 llin Jdlapti or " Four O'clock," as " sometimes attaining the height of two and a half 
 feet I'' We know one, a specimen of the magenta-colored, which attained the height 
 of seven feet, with a corresponding breadth. 
 
 Among the many plants which adorn our gardens, the most remarkable, perhaps, 
 is the Century-plant, with its long, coarse, pale-green, sword-shaped leaves and its pe- 
 culiai'ity of blooming, not once every hundred years as tradition teaches, but once 
 only, and that alter the age of about twenty-live years. From the centre of the clus- 
 ter of leaves, a strong stalk shoots up, sometimes thirty feet in the course of six 
 weeks, little limbs jiroject Irom the sides, liearing clusters of (pieer, coarse-looking, 
 yellow flowers, the whole plant presenting a striking resenib]ance*to an immense 
 candelabrum. But the rapid growth of tlie mammoth stalk and the multitude of 
 Howers soon exhausts the vitality of the plant, and having bloomed once it invariably 
 dies. 
 
 Among the shrubs most (common we may mention the Oleander, both white and 
 pink, Syringas. Di-utzias, Spireas, Daphnes, and last, but not least, the Wood's Hy- 
 drangea, with its si)lendid tresses of white flower.s, more than a foot in length. 
 
 The "("actus finds here a genial home; the most remarkable specimen, the Xigiit- 
 blooming C'erens, being no novelty witli us. 
 
 Ai)art from tlie nilining intluence of flowers, and the grace and beauty they add to 
 our hoiiu^s, and their many attractions from an iusthetic i)oint of view, they possess 
 other claims to our s])ecial care, wliich in this prosaic age are worthy oi careful con- 
 sideration ; they have a genuine market value, and liiul ready .sale in our sea-board 
 cities during the Winter montlis. Therefore, those among us who cannot climb to 
 the serene heights where a love of the Beautiful is a i)art of Religion, may still- jdy 
 with i)atient care the rake and hoe, those homely im))lemeiits so i-onducive to the 
 beauty of these dainty darlings, encouraged in our toil l>y the lioi>e of the golden har- 
 vests we will reap therefrom in the " good time coming." 
 
 XII. TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 
 
 Tiie cheai)(!st route for reaching Leon county from the West is by way of l^ouis- 
 viJle, Nashville, Montgomery, Eufaula, and tlie ('hattalioochee river. A saving of 
 about !?10 on eacli fare is made by the selection of this route ; but it has some disad- 
 vantag(!s, for the .several lines of steanuus on the river, instead of arranging their 
 schedules so as to make a daily boat, as they might easily do, are engaged in constant 
 warfare over the carriage of freights, and thus the pa.ssenger interest is neglected. 
 From Eufaula to Tiiomasville, Ga., or to Live Oak, Fla.. and thence by the J.. P. & 
 .M. road is the next <iuickest route ; and from tlie East the several railroad lines con- 
 
LEON COUNTT, FLORIDA. 2t 
 
 verge at Savannah or l\Iacon, and thence to Live Oak, where the raih-oad system of 
 Georgia connects with the Florida roads. Tlie coast routes from the Atlantic sea- 
 l)oai"d are very reliable and cheap, landing passengers either at Savannah, Fernandina 
 or Jacksonville, whence the distance to Middle Florida is covered by rail. 
 
 A tri-weekly stage line is well established between Thomasville, Ga., and Talla- 
 hassee ; the distance being only thirty-six miles. 
 
 The modern tourist, with his or her ponderous "Saratoga," has become so 
 spoiled by drawing-room cars and through connections as to look with disdain on 
 "stage lines."" But let us assure those of them wli ) still have some of the fresh- 
 ness of nature left in tliem that the drive from Thomasville, Ga., across the hill-tops, 
 overlooking the valleys of the lake region, at a rattling pace on a hard, smooth road, in 
 commodious and comfortable carriages, through the exceptionally beautiful country of 
 North Leon is a delightful episode that no real tourist would miss for ten times the 
 fare involved. We consider this by all odds the pleasantest approach to Tallahassee. 
 Late breakfast at the ]\Iitchell House in Thomasville, a crack of the whip, a toot of the 
 coach-horn, a running panorama of hill and dale, forest and held, lake, stream, planta- 
 tion homes, freedmen's cabins, meadows, cattle, another flourish of the driver's horn, 
 when the delighted passenger alights at the old City Hotel, with no cinders in his eyes, 
 but a keen appetite for his hrst dinner in the Flowery Land. 
 
 ADVICE TO TOURISTS AND IM.MIGKANTS. 
 
 If you are coming from New Orleans or connecting points by rail, take the New 
 Orleans and Mobile Railroad to Mobile ; thence viu Mobile it Montgomery Railroad to 
 !^[onta•omery ; thence via Montgomery & Eufaula Railroad to Eufaula ; thence via 
 People's Line or Central Line boats, semi-weekly, Sundays and Thursdays, to Chat- 
 tahoochee ; thence tia Jacksonville, Pensacola & Mobile Railroad to Tallahassee, or 
 by above route to Eufaula ; thence cia Smithville to Thomasville, and by stage thence 
 to Tallahassee, or by rail from Thomasville to Live Oak, and thence via J., P. & M. R. 
 R. to Tallahassee. If from Memphis or connecting points by rail direct, take the 
 Memphis it Charleston Railroad to Chattanooga, thence cia Atlanta, ISIacon, Albany 
 and Thomasville, or Macon and Jesup to Live Oak, thence ri<t J., P. & M. R. R. If 
 from St. Louis or connecting points, take the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to Nash- 
 ville, thence to Chattanooga, and thence as above. If from Louisville or Cincinnati 
 or connecting points, take the Louisville & Nashville Railroad to Chattanooga, or via 
 Cincinnati Southern to Chattanooga, and thence as above. If from Chicago and the 
 far Northwest, take the "Kankakee Line " to Cincinnati, rhcnce to Chattanooga, and 
 thence as above. 
 
 Before starting, inquire for full information as to rates, time-tables, »&c., at the 
 nearest "coui)on office " of any of the above-named lines ; and for through tickets to 
 Tallahassee, or if these are not on sale to the nearest of above-named points. 
 
 The best water route from the East is by Malloiy's Line of Steamships from New 
 York to Fernandina, thence rin Transit Railroad rind J., P. & M. R. \\, 
 
 XIII. EXEMPTION LAWS. INTEREST, ETC. 
 
 The State laws exempt to every head of a family a homestead of one hundred and 
 sixty acres in the country, or half an acre in town, togetlier with $1,000 worth of such 
 personal property as the owner may select. Tlie legal rate of interest is eiglit per 
 cent., but contracts may be made for any rate. Taxes are rather high, but under tiie 
 present administration have been, and are likely to be further, reduced. The treasury 
 is solvent, paying cash on all warrants drawn against it. and the bonded debts of the 
 State are gradually being reduced, and interest is paid thereon promptly. 
 
28 LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 The rate of State taxation for 1881, is ei.i^lit mills ; of comity taxation, four mills. 
 with every prospect that the increasing annual additions to the taxable property val- 
 ues in the State will, hi a very i^evf years, so greatly reduce taxation as to make the 
 individual burden of the average citizen very light, if not merely nominal. 
 
 XIV. HUNTING AND FISHING. 
 
 The reader will recognize in the following, the work of an ardent sportsman, 
 whose testimony is well worthy of consideration by all who seek in Florida the pleas- 
 ures he describes : 
 
 Leon county affords a most excellent lield for sportsmen. Our large plantations 
 t)ffer splendid cover anil abundant food for that gamest of all game birds, the Ameri- 
 can Quail, wliich are to be found more abundantly here, perhaps, than anywhere in 
 the South. The cold of Winter is never serious enough to affect them, and except the 
 depredations of hawks they have no drawbacks to their increase. The country is high and 
 rolling ; cover genei-ally heavy ; no timber or thicket to interfere with marking the 
 pitch of scattered birds, and an average shot can count on a stout bag in half a daj's 
 tramp. 
 
 Among our country gentlemen Ave have some excellent shots, and much time is 
 devoted to this sport from the middle of October to hrst of March. We think a bag 
 of forty quail to each gun a fair day's work, over an average dog. ^lany second-rate 
 dogs are to be had here, but first-class workers are scarce ; and visitors will do well to 
 bring their own dogs along. 
 
 Pointers are preferable to setters, as the Winter days are often warm for their 
 thick hair, and the sand-spurs in some covers put a woolly dog "oil his nut" in a 
 sliort run. 
 
 Ja(;k-snipe are quite abundant in some localities, but are not as plentiful as where 
 more mud and better boring is to be found. 
 
 Duck shooting in some of its phases is to be had here in perfection. It is doubt- 
 ful whether any section offers superior facilities for Wood-duck shooting. This com- 
 mences about the middle of September, at which time the young ducks are full-liedged. 
 About two hours before sun-down, from all parts of the country along tlie rivers, 
 lagoons, swamps and jwnds, in the thick woods, where the ducks repair during the 
 day to feed, the flight begins toward the lakes where they go to roost. This duck Hies 
 fast, and generally in jiairs or triplets, so that a good stand secured near a roosting 
 placc, makes about three hours of lively work. Somewhat laterthe Winterducks — 
 Mallard, Teal, Spoonbill, Gray Shovelers, Blue-bills and IJlack-duck — come hi great 
 nund)ers and cover the numerous lakes, ponds and feeding-places, and stay with us 
 until February. 
 
 But tlie perfectiim of sport is found in shooting the Scaup or Blue-bills — called 
 generally Bull-necks or Black-heads. In our mind this Duck requires more skill to 
 he brought to bag than anything that flies. Alexander in his work on game-birds gets 
 off some tall cak'nlating on the rapidity of flight, and ditticultyof killing a Teal which 
 is going down wind. ]}ut a Black-head can give any Teal that ever Hew the right of 
 way, stop at all way stations and then come in ahead t)f time ; and the man that gets 
 the "time allowance" business down hue enough to '•flag"" these fellows on the 
 down-grade, knows what he's about. They are shot entirely from stands. They 
 stool admirably, but that is rarely necessary to secure good shooting. Last Winter 
 1 saw the best shot in this county get rid of one hundred shells betbre nine o'clock 
 A. M., at the morning flight on Lake lamonia. Well I I won't tell about the bag ; it 
 was heavy, l»ut it won]*! not have used a man up to have carried it. 
 
 Deer are no longer nnmenms in the county. In some localities a good drive or 
 two remain, where some sjjort can be had, b\it excellent luuiting — both still, driving 
 and with lire-i)an — can !)(• had near tlie coast, say ten to twenty miles away ; and some 
 of our citizens are in the habit of going there constantly for venison. 
 
 Willi Turkeys are somewhat more numerous, but to take them successfully is an 
 art that the moilern sportsman with his bieech-ioader, ifcc, seldom masters. 
 
 Black Hear and Panther are to be found along the Oeklocknee and St. Marks riv- 
 ers, and are abundant in the swamps along the coast. 
 
 Squirrels, liabbits, Keed-birds, Doves, and such plunder as are not legitimately 
 game, are altundaiit. 
 
 'i'lie laws entitle land-owners to post their premises against hunters, and this is 
 
LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 29 
 
 frequently done ; bnt it is more to protect loose stock from a prowling- musket in the 
 hands of an idle negro than any other purpose ; and we have yet to learn of a farmer's 
 forbiddiixg a gentleman to shoot over his cover, when permission was politely asked. 
 The roads are hard and excellent for driving, and generally one can drive a buggy for 
 miles through tlie open plantations, where there are few fences or ditches to impede 
 his progress ; which is a wonderful convenience in transporting lunch, ammunition, 
 tired dogs, and "medicine," which it is always well to have along in case of snake 
 bites. 
 
 Our lakes and rivers abound in fine Fish, prominent among which are Lake Bass 
 (called Trout here), that sometimes weigh twelve pounds. Jack, Pike, Bream, many 
 varieties of Perch, Catfish and Blackfish, besides both hard and soft-shell Turtle, the 
 former called "Cootah ;" and for cultivated tastes we have the Alligator. 
 
 At St. Marks, twenty-one miles ofi" by rail, all the varieties of salt-water Fish are 
 abundant and cheap, as are Oysters and Crabs. Our markets are well- supplied with 
 them at all seasons. 
 
 The Oysters taken at Apalachicola and Rio CJarrabelle on James Island, are pro- 
 nounced by some of the best judges to be superior in size and liavor to any on the At- 
 lanlic coast, excepting, possibly, the small, deeji-water Port Royal Oyster ; while 
 those brought from the nearer Gulf coast are, although smaller, of most excellent 
 quality. 
 
 XV. LABOR. 
 
 Our main resource for labor is the colored race ; and up to this time we have had 
 an ample supply to meet the agricultural demand. A large portion of these people, 
 since the ],ate war, have cultivated the lands under the tenant system, and by waste- 
 ful and injudicious farming, when left to themselves, have found their opei-ations thus 
 conducted unremunerative ; and large numbers of them are now "leaving the farms and 
 seeking a new field of labor upon the various railroads now being constructed through- 
 out the country. This will leave a large body of valuable land vacant, and present to 
 the enterprising immigrant a most inviting field for his energy and capital. The prices 
 of labor vary, as elsewhere, with the capacity of the laborer. Ordinary colored field- 
 hands get from fifty to sixty cents per day, while an industrious and intelligent white 
 man, working the same time, would be worth, and easily command, nui(;h higher 
 wages. 
 
 XVI. LxiNDS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE. 
 
 The area of Leon county embraces about 400,800 acres. About 180,000 acres of 
 this territory consists of pine lands, lying in the southern portion of the county, ex- 
 tending northward to a line running east and west across the county through the sec- 
 ond tier of sections in the townships south of the base line. 
 
 The soil of these pine lands is light and sandy, underlaid, at an average depth of 
 six inches, with clay sub-soil of great thickness. Both sub-soil and top-soil contain 
 great quantities of lime and marine deposits that give to them a degree of fertility and 
 lasting qualities that make them invaluable for farming purposes. They are covered 
 with a heavy growth of yellow pine that affords an excellent sujiply of saw-logs, and 
 being traversed by the Tallahas.see and St. Marks Railroad, they invite investments in 
 saw-mills. The pine lands of Leon county are all high and dry. No draining is nec- 
 essary to bring them into use. Small but deep, pure water lakes are numerous in the 
 section, and many bold creeks afford good water powers. This region is considered 
 especially healthy, and the appearance of the farms indicate thrift and prosperity. 
 
 The balance of the county, embracing about 280, 800 acres, and occupying the area 
 north of an east and west line indicated above and extending to the Georgia line, is of 
 an entirely dilferent character, being of volcanic origin and of nuich greater age than 
 the pine .section. This is pur excellence the agricultural section of the county. 
 
 The soil is a deep, red clay, rich in mineral .salts, and is exceedingly fertile, and 
 possessed of astonishingly ^j(s<i/((/ properties. It is very high, gently undulating, thor- 
 
30 LEON VOUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 oviglily drained, entirely destitute of swamp or marsh lands, dotted with lakes of 
 great depth and considerable dimensions, whose hanks rise from thirty to one hun- 
 dred and fifty feet above their surface. Excellent springs of pure and cool water 
 abound. The timber, wheie left standing, consists of Red, White, Post .and Live 
 Oaks, Hickory, Ash, Wild Cherry, Dogwood, Sweet-gum, Maple. Poplar, ^lagnolia. 
 Red-bay, and many other less iuii>ortant hard woods. Much the larger portion of 
 these rich lands are cleared, and have been under cultivation for many years ; some 
 since 1825, though the greatest inroads were made on the forests along about 1834 to 
 1844, by an influx of large planters with their force of slaves from Virginia, North 
 and South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. 
 
 This .section, combinuig as it does the qualities of productiveness with perfect 
 healthfulness and picturesque beauty, especially recommended itself to the early set- 
 tfers of the country, and has been for forty years the source of wealth and comfort 
 for which Leon has been so long noted. 
 
 All the cereals are grown with reasonable success and profit. Cotton, Tobacco 
 and Sugar have long been leading crops. Vegetables and fruits of all kinds, 
 except the tender, semi-tropical varieties, are produced cheaply and abundantly. 
 Grasses for both hay and permanent pasturage grow to great perfection. The water 
 is pure and good ; the road-ways hard and smooth ; the seasons regular and propi- 
 tious, and the climate as near an '" even thing " as it can be anywhere. 
 
 Of the two characters of land described above, the surveys show thei-e are still 
 vacant in the county and subject to entry as U. S. and State lands, about 60,000 acres; 
 but all public lands left in Leon county are comparatively valueless for farming pur- 
 poses, and consist in most instances of the borders of lakes, really under water, but 
 improperly represented on the maps, by careless surveying, as arable land. Some of 
 the tracts oi public land are in the pine region and are valuable for timber. 
 
 The desirable lauds of Leon being generally in the hands of private owners, who. 
 in most instances, hold them by inheritance from their grand-fathers who originally 
 entered them, could not have been purchased in ante-bellum times except at enor- 
 mous prices. 
 
 The very unreliable character of labor, as supplied by the freedmen. has of late 
 years made the conduct of planting interests, on the extensive scale once so general, 
 unprolitable, and the ownership of large tracts undesirable ; and these excellent farm 
 lands, already cleared and reatly for the seed and i)low, are coming into market in 
 large and small tracts, at prices and on terms peculiarly attractivcto immigrants; and 
 when this fact becomes known, together with the real character of these lands, as ini- 
 fectly described above, we conlidently predict a "boom" for old Leon that will 
 •• make the natives stare."' Then it will be that the orange-grower of the East and 
 Soutli will turn over tons, his nearest neighbors, a good slice of the profits of his 
 ■•grove"' for nu-at, bread, bay, feed, butter and work-stock, that his sandy soil and 
 tropii-al sun precludes liis making prolitably for liimself. 
 
 I'lUCKS OK LAND 
 
 Dilfer accoiding to locality, (piantity and amount taken. The rich, red lands of the 
 northern portion of tliec(»iuity can he purchased at from $2.50 to .*10,00 per acre, ac- 
 conliiig to improvements and size of tract. Nearer the depots, prices range from 
 ijCi.dO to !<20.()(), and, in immediate vicinity of town.s, fn»m i?20.()0 to $50.00 per acre. 
 Terms generally involve partial credits with legal interest, eight per cent. 
 
 In till' i)ine section prices are lower, ranging from 50 cents to .$10, owing to im- 
 piovcmcnls and proximity to depots. I^and agencies are not nnmerous or active, but 
 
LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 31 
 
 parties can easily reacli owners of lands for sale throngh the State Burean of Imniigi-a- 
 tion, or the otHcers of tlie Leon County Farmers' Club. 
 
 XVII. CONCLUSION. 
 
 The foregoing pages compiise a fair and honest exhibit of some of the principal ad- 
 vantages offered by Leon county to the intending settler in Florida. It is the first 
 thoroughly organized effort to attract immigration to the county, and has received, 
 after mature deliberation, the universal approval of all classes of our citizens, who, 
 seeing the advantages which have accrued to other sections of the South and the State 
 from the influx of a new population, chiefly from the Northern and Northwestern 
 States, have recognized the necessity of its encouragement, and determined to open 
 wide the doors of their beloved, rich and beautiful country, and invite those of their 
 fellow-co'untrymen from all parts of the Union who are contemplating a change of 
 residence to our delightful and health-giving climate, to make new homes amongst 
 us. 
 
 Middle Florida has taken a new lease of life ; and instead of its former tendency 
 to indifference of the glorious consequences of progress and advancement, evidences 
 abound on every side of improvement, energy and activity in the important work of 
 rehabilitation. 
 
 This tendency is not only manifested in Leon county, where new residences, new 
 fences, improved farm machinery and implements, better methods of cultivation 
 and domestic economy prevail, but is signally disi^layed in Tallahassee, the county 
 seat, where many improvements are in progress ; among them a large and handsome 
 new hotel, now nearly completed, and a new court-house, to cost some $15,000, which 
 is to be placed under contract for construction immediately. 
 
 The preparation of this pamphlet has been accomplished by the many members 
 of the Leon County Farmers' Club. None of these gentlemen are land agents or 
 speculators, yet any and all of them will cheerfully answer inquiries addressed to tliem 
 upon any subjects connected with matters discussed tlierein. The followhig named 
 persons are good authorities upon the subjects named. They may be addressed at 
 Tallahassee : 
 
 Landii, qualiti/, chnraeter, prices, d-c. — R. C. Long and C. C. Pearce. 
 
 Stock-ruism(] — Dr. Wm. H. Bradford and Col. John Bradford. 
 
 Sheep-i'fmiiig — G. G. Gibbs and D. W. Gwynn. 
 
 DfUry-fanninfj — J. P. Apthorp and R. F. Bradford. 
 
 Trurl-farnuiifj— Co]. John Bradford, Dr. William If. Bradford, W. II. Haskell 
 and H. M. Noble. 
 
 Fruil-f/roiri/tg — W. II. Haskell, John A. Craig, B. S. Herring and John R. Brad- 
 ford. 
 
 Farmiiiij — ]?. A. Whitfield, G. G. Gibbs, Thos. J. Roberts and Capt. P. IIous- 
 toun. 
 
32 LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA. 
 
 THE 
 
 JACKSONVILLE, PEXSACOLA AND MOBILE JLVILliOAl). 
 
 General Manager C. II. Allen, 
 
 Superiidendeni Joiix F. Laikd, 
 
 General Passenger Agent W. O. Ames. 
 
 General Offices Talt.ajiassee, Fla. 
 
 This road extends from Lake City to Chattahoochee, a distance of one liundred 
 and fifty miles, running through the counties of Cohimbia, Suwannee. Madison, Jef- 
 ferson, Leon and Gadsden, the Richest Agricultural Region of Florida. 
 
 CONNECTIONS : 
 
 At Lake City, with the Florida Central Railroad, for all points in East and South 
 Florida ; at Live Oak, with the Savanpah, Florida and Western Railway, and the 
 Georgia Railroad System for all points North, East and West ; at Drifton, by its 
 branch, for Monti<;ello ; at Tallahassee, by its branch, for St. M:>:ks, and Stage Line 
 for Thomasville, Georgia ; at Chattahoochee, with the Lines of Steamers on the 
 Apalachicola and Chattahoochee rivers, for Apalachicola, and with Eufaula, Alabama, 
 and Cokimbus. Georgia, lor all points West and Northwest. 
 
 TO 
 
 Leon County, Florida 
 
 All Points Tribittary to the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, .Arkansas, 
 and Reel Rivers, and the Great IVestern 1 'alleys, 
 
 New Orleans and St. Marks. 
 
 The a 1 Steamship AMITE, 
 
 Leaves New Orleans on tlic First and Fiftecntli of each nioiitli for IVnsacola, 
 Apalachicola and St. Marks, coniucting with the Lines of Steamers on the .\pa- 
 Ia(^liicola river, and with the J. V. & M. R. IL at St. Marks, for all points in ^liddle. 
 i",ast and South Florida. 
 
 FIRST vAinx. m:\v orlfans to TALLAHASSFK, ■p.-,jin. 
 
 Special rates «aii be in;ide by Tminigrants by ai»plying to 
 
 R. 15. POST Jt SON. Agents. 
 HI and !>.{ Magazijic Street. Neir Orleans. 
 
LeRoy D. Ball. 
 
 R. C. Long. 
 
 BALL & LONG, 
 Real Estate Dealers, 
 
 TALLAHASSEE, FLA., 
 
 HAVE, AFTER ^ TWO YEARS WORK, COMPLETED A FULL 
 
 Abstract of Title to Evefj Acre of Land in Leon County, 
 
 AND ARE XOW PREPARED TO DO 
 
 L, 
 
 r 
 
 \ 
 
 JJLl 
 
 111 
 
 F! 
 
 miu u 
 
 nnmrrn 
 
 llj. 
 
 Lands Bought and Sold on Commission. 
 
 ABSTRACTS OF TITLE FURNISHED. 
 
 TAXES PAID. 
 LAND SOLD FOB TAXES REDEEMED. 
 
 Maps of Connty, or Plats of Particular Tracts, Fur- 
 nished upon Application. 
 
 RELIABLE INFORMATION 
 
 will be given upon all matters inquired of by non- 
 residents or parties prospecting, and corres- 
 pondence upon such subjects solicited. 
 
B. C. LEWIS & SONS, 
 
 CONDUCT A GENERAL BANKING BUSINESS ; 
 
 Receive Deposits subject to Check without Notice, the 
 same as an Incorporated Bank; 
 
 Is XI I e Certificates of Deposit, Payable at Fixed Dates, 
 
 Bearing htterest ; 
 
 mimmuMmmnm, 
 
 AND ISSUE DRAFTS (>X 
 
 Ni:W YORK AND SAA ANNAH; 
 
 K.\K( LJK OkI.JKUS KOI! TlIK Pl'E'GH^'BE ANI> SaI.K OF 
 
 STOCKS, BONDS AND MISCELLANEOUS SEC0RITIE8, 
 
 IX Tins Oil OTHER MARKETS, AT TUB USUAL COMMISSION. 
 
 ALL CLASSES OF FLORIDA SECURITIES 
 
 Bought and Sold at Current Prices. Free of Commission. 
 
 Money Loaned on Satisfactory Security, 
 
 Liberal Advances made on Cotton or other Produce in 
 Warehouse, or Consigned to Approved Factors in 
 
 NEV/ YORK OR SAVANNAH. 
 
 GEORGE LEWIS, / 
 EDWARD LEWIS. * 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 014 497 126 7 
 
 
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