of Rural Art and Taste. 



121 



and contents to the line transporting them, 

 they are necessarily compelled to examine 

 them before returning them, it is less trouble 

 to lock a case than it is to make and drive a 

 plug, or even to nail the lids, and when locked 

 will protect the contents of the case. I. 



G-rape Culture in Florida. 



AL FRESCO.' 



ANOTHER section of the state deserving 

 the attention of the grape grower, is 

 Marion, one of the central counties. It ex- 

 tends from latitude twenty-nine degrees to 

 twenty-nine degrees thirty minutes, with an 

 area of about 1,760 square miles. The sur- 

 face is generally level ; but in some localities 

 it is undulating and hilly. Numerous lakes, 

 ponds, streams and springs exist ; and excel- 

 lent water can be obtained in all parts by 

 wells, at a trifling expense. I carefully ex- 

 amined the country to the south of Ocala, 

 and the region between Ocala and Orange 

 Lake, the whole being hilly or rolling. A 

 large proportion of the soil in this section was 

 found to consist of a dark sandy loam, with a 

 sandy loam subsoil, in many places containing 

 large quantities of limestone and silicious 

 rock, studded with shells — in our opinion un- 

 equalled for vine culture. To the south of 

 Ocala, and between Ocala and the lake, large 

 tracts of excellent cleared land (at one time 

 used for cotton growing) is open to purchasers 

 at about $10 per acre. Around Orange Lake 

 some of the largest wild orange groves, to be 

 found in the state, exist. One we examined, 

 contained about 500 acres. Near the margin 

 of the lake, lemons, one year from the bud, 

 we found totally uninjured by frost ; and 

 bananas and pine apples had escaped with but 

 slight injury. Cane, cotton, tobacco and po- 

 tatoes may be referred to as the staple pro- 

 ducts ; but oats, rye and the fig, peach, al- 

 mond, and other fruits can be successfully and 

 profitably grown. 



Grood health, as a rule, prevails throughout 

 the county, except in the immediate neighbor- 

 hood of lakes and water courses, where inter- 

 mittent and remittent fevers of a mild type 



occur during the autumnal months. Two 

 routes present themselves to those who wish 

 to visit Marion county — one by the St. John's 

 river, from Jacksonville to Palatka ; and 

 thence, by the Ochlawaha steamers to Silver 

 Spring ; and from Silver Spring, by stage, to 

 Ocala. Another is by Florida railroad, from 

 Fernandini to Gainesville; and thence, by 

 hack, via Micanopy to Ocala. The visitor 

 will find the residents intelligent and hospita- 

 ble in the extreme. Mr. E. J. Harris, the 

 accommodating, hospitable and gentlemanly 

 host of the Ocala house will gladly furnish 

 any information the prospecter may desire. I 

 may casually remark, that the tourist or inva- 

 lid will find a superior winter climate in 

 Marion county, with good accommodations and 

 excellent board at the Ocala house for $10 

 per week or $28 per month. 



For general good health and superiority of 

 land, we are satisfied that Hernando county 

 presents many advantages. The county is 

 situated on the Gulf coast, and lies between 

 latitude twenty-eight degrees fifteen minutes 

 and twenty-nine degrees thirty minutes ; and 

 area about 1,500 square miles. As an evidence 

 of the quality of some of the land, I may remark 

 that some of the small fields cleared by the 

 pioneers some thirty years ago, have been in 

 cultivation since, without manure, and are still 

 productive. In the center of the county lies 

 a remarkable body of land, being high and 

 rolling, reminding the traveler of the best 

 cotton lands of Georgia. The county is ad- 

 mirably adapted to orange culture ; and for 

 sugar is not excelled by any portion of Lou- 

 isiana. In many localities the pine apple and 

 banana can be successfully cultivated. As 

 an evidence of the mildness of the climate 

 we may remark that the lemon is the most 

 tender of the citrus tribe ; and as we were 

 leaving Brooksville, in February last. Dr. 

 Mayo handed us some lemons grown in the 

 place, which for size, color, thinness of skin 

 and aroma were remarkable. We were as- 

 sured by A. F. Frierson that he annually 

 made from 150 to 200 gallons of wine from 

 eleven Scuppernong vines. As an evidence 

 of the quality and productiveness of the land 



