1901 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



797 



pected to do while visitinjj;: them, he is apt 

 to i^et a severe attack of homesickness, and 

 conclude wisely, under the circumstances, 

 "there is noplace like home." I felt es- 

 pecially sick of beautiful homes where no- 

 bod}^ lived. Finalh' I spied a man carry- 

 ing' a lantern. I do not know but I said 

 out loud, "Thank God, there is somebody 

 in this place who has life enoug-h to be up 

 before daylig-ht and to be getting- ready for 

 his work." This man took me to his home, 

 g-ave me a warm place by the fire, and a 

 warm breakfast. He informed me he was 

 in the employ of Dr. Walker, and the latter 

 is ag-ent for and has charge of the large es- 

 tate of Mrs. Huntington, who gave the town 

 its name. Mr. Walker seems to be the busy 

 man, or the business man of the town. He 

 has charge of the sawmill, the store, of a 

 small mill for making syrup from sugar 

 ■cane, and he is not only doing every thing 

 he can to open up the difTerent industries 

 of the place, but he is the prime mover in 

 the church, Sunday-school, and all other 

 Christian work. After I was introduced to 

 him and was invited over to his beautiful 

 home, I forgot most of my troubles, and 

 partly forgot my chills. 



Huntington, like the rest of Florida, is 

 full of these strange and wonderful strong 

 contrasts. It is my misfortune or g-ood for- 

 tune, I hardly know which, to own 160 acres 

 of land within a mile or two of the town of 

 Huntington. In hunting up somebody to 

 take me over there I ran into tw^o or three 

 beautiful orange-groves, pretty well laden 

 with fruit, that promised a good crop for 

 the coming season. I saw some kumquat- 

 trees loaded down w^ith little oranges that 

 almost made one think of a gooseberry-bush 

 but on a larger scale. The kumquat-trees 

 and the orange-trees also, were protected 

 by means of wooden boxes and canvas tents; 

 but, if I am correctly informed, the money 

 expended in canvas tents and wooden boxes 

 and things of a like nature during the past 

 winter were mostly a needless protection ; 

 for trees unprotected, at least as far north 

 as Huntington, did just about as well as 

 (and in some cases better than) those that 

 have protection. Many of the people have 

 taken heart as their trees begin to assume 

 their proportions and set fruit as they did 

 before the great freeze. I was much better 

 pleased with the looks of my Florida ranch 

 than I expected to be. The worst trouble is 

 that it is about two miles from the station. 

 Now, two miles in Ohio is near by; but 

 when you come to pull a wagon through the 

 Florida sand, it seems a long way oft'. 

 There are beautiful lakes that run into my 

 land, with water as clear as crystal, and 

 grassy shores as green and inviting as any- 

 where in the world; yes, and some of the 

 land along the lake would grow good crops 

 of almost every thing that belongs to thiit 

 region, including oranges and pineapples. 

 Of course, the latter would have to have 

 protection. At one time there were quite 

 expensive buildings on the place; but now 

 •every thing is tumbled down and gone to 



ruin. Here and there a plantation is under 

 cultivation, and gives rich promise; but de- 

 serted houses and run-down farms are the 

 rule. 



Dr. Walker has not only a beautiful home, 

 but a wonderful family. One of the girls 

 tends the village store and postoftice. One 

 of the boys has charge of the sawmill; a 

 third one a sugar-cane mill, and soon with 

 the various enterprises all over the place. 



After leaving Palatka I made a brief stop 

 at Lake City, where the experiment station 

 is situated. A great deal of important 

 work is being done here, and I was pleased 

 to notice the improvement in many things, 

 especially in their methods of thoroughly 

 testing grasses, grains, fruits, and every 

 thing else that promises to succeed in sunny 

 Florida; but while the courteous attendant 

 was showing me over the grounds I was 

 taken with another of my chills, and so se- 

 verely, that I went back to my hotel, and 

 from there took the train for home. 



Now, please do not get the impression 

 froin what I have written from my own ex- 

 perience that Florida is an unhealthy place. 

 I met people everywhere who can live there, 

 and be comfortable and happy, who can 

 not stand the frosts and snows of the North; 

 but I am inclined to think it is not the best 

 place for one who is subject to malarial at- 

 tacks. 



I was obliged, although reluctantly, to 

 break my appointment with our good friend 

 J. M. Jenkins, of Wetumpka, Ala. I re- 

 gretted this the more as he had proinised to 

 take me over to visit Booker T. Washing- 

 ton's industrial school for colored people. 



Some of you may inquire if I found relief 

 on getting back to Ohio. I reply that the 

 frosty nights and the surroundings of home 

 seemed to have for a time a beneficial eft'ect; 

 but just now, as I dictate this, September 

 17, I have my fur cap pulled down over my 

 ears, and have on my winter flannels and 

 a big overcoat, for I have just been having 

 another spell of the chills. Mrs. Root and 

 I are planning, however, to start day after 

 to-morrow for a month's outing in the Trav- 

 erse region of Michigan. This locality has 

 seemed especially favorable for people trou- 

 bled as I am. 



As an apology for saying so much about 

 myself and my infirmities, perhaps I should 

 mention there are hundreds of alliicted peo- 

 ple reading these travels; and I am con- 

 stantly receiving inquiries as to which place 

 I would advise for this, that, and the other 

 malady. Dear friends, I am asking God 

 da}' by day to guide and direct me in my 

 efforts to help iny fellow-men in their pur- 

 suit of health. If my money and my expe- 

 rience can be of benefit to you, they are 

 freely given. 



Convention Notice. 



The annual nuelingof tht- Northern Illinois Bee- 

 keepers' Association will be h Id in the courthouse 

 iu Rockford, 111., on Tuesday and Wc-dnesiav, Oct. 15 

 and 16, l!»Ol. B. KE.NNhDV, Sec. 



Rockford, 111., Rural Route, 5. 



