I 



GEOGRAPHY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA 93 



Ihe figures for dairy cows per average farm in 1910 seem rather 

 excessive in comparison with other times and adjacent regions, and 

 may indicate an error of some kind, or some exceptional condition 

 not explained by the census, such as a temporary accumulation of 

 CQws on one or two large farms. 



The leading crops in 1909, in order of value, as estimated from 

 the U. S. census of 1910, were "vegetables" (about 72% of the 

 total), corn, oranges, grape-fruit, peanuts, hay, oats, sweet potatoes, 

 and sugar-cane (the value for the last representing the syrup made 

 from it). In 1913-14, according to the state agricultural depart- 

 ment, the order was cucumbers, tomatoes, oranges, cabbages, corn, 

 (string) beans, hay, peanuts, sweet potatoes, watermelons, sugar- 

 cane (syrup), velvet beans, and lettuce.. But of course if the lime- 

 sink portion of the county in the northeast corner, could be sepa- 

 rated this sequence might be changed a little. (There are no data 

 for 19 1 7- 1 8, because the agricultural enumerator for Sumter 

 County failed to make a report that year.) 



3. THE MIDDLE FLORIDA FLATWOODS 



This region extends from north of our limits through Levy 

 County to the Withlacoochee River a few miles west of Dunnellon, 

 where it seems to terminate abruptly. The greater part of it is m 

 Middle Florida (west of the Suwannee River), and it was described 

 in the 6th Annual Report, pages 310-313. "About 300 square miles 

 of it lies within the area of the present report, and a small part 

 of it is covered by the soil survey of the "Ocala area." 



It is a level region, perhaps nowhere more than 75 feet above 

 sea-le\el, with many shallow ponds and bays, and some sluggish 

 coffee-colored creeks. The ground-water is nearly everywhere close 

 to the surface, and there are no known outcrops of limestone, so that 

 the soil is rather sour. Most of the soil in this region within 

 the limits of the "Ocala area" has been classed as "Leon fine sand.'' 



The vegetation is mostly of the palmetto flatwoods type, inter- 

 spersed with numerous cypress ponds, bays, and non-alluvial 

 swamps. The commonest plants recognizable in February, March 

 and April seem to be as follows : 



