1835.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



515 



1 do, thatneitheroursoil, climate, nor local situation 

 are suited to raising large herds of cattle with a 

 view to direct profit, 1 would, with a view to ob- 

 taining such supplies of manure as are indispen- 

 sable lor good husbandry, keep as large a stock of 

 cattle as could be well kept through the winter on 

 the long forage and offal of the plantation, and be 

 maintained in summer on standing pastures; and 

 I should deem it no sacrifice, if it were necessary, 

 to circumscribe, in a moderate degree, the limits of 

 my arable fields for this object, in the attainment 

 of which I should gain another of no trivial im- 

 portance — that of improving the sustenance, and 

 adding to the comfort of my laborers and their 

 families. 



SOILS AND AGRICULTURAL ADVANTAGES OF 

 THE FLORIDAS. No. 4. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



Plantation Wascissa, 10th Nov., 1835. 



The sectional advancement of the middle districts, 

 in wealth and pupulation, above the other districts 

 of Florida, arising from her agricultural success, 

 especially invites an examination of her soils and 

 local advantages. 



In my previous letters, I have spoken highly of 

 the rich and alluvial lands to be found in the east; 

 and lest, in now extolling the soils of the middle 

 district, any discrepancy should appear to others in 

 this equal commendation of lands, distinct in char- 

 acter and capabilities, I will at once expose my 

 opinion of the characteristic advantages of each, 

 as calculated to avail the emigrant in his selection 

 of location. 



There are choice lands composed of the best 

 soils to be had throughout both these adjacent sec- 

 tions; and when I admit the greater richness and 

 durability of the arable swamps of the east, over 

 any soil to be found in the middle district, I claim 

 at the same time for the latter, the greater advan- 

 tage of a versatility of soil and climate, suitable 

 for rotatory crops, which is not obtainable in the 

 former. 



To the capitalist, desirous alone of a profitable 

 estate, and indifferent to the reputation and comforts 

 of a farmer, who has the pecuniary ability of estab- 

 lishing suitable buildings and machinery, with the 

 additional means of employing high salaried agents 

 during his requisite annual sojourn of summer at the 

 northf I unhesitatingly recommend the alluvial 

 sugar lands of the peninsula. There can be no 

 estate so profitable as a well regulated sugar plan- 

 tation, and few lands are more adapted for its suc- 

 cess than the above; but that is their limit- The 

 eastern sugar planter must "stick to his Zosi.-" 

 neither his soil nor climate admit rotation or va- 

 riety of crop. He can have neither farm-yard lux- 

 uries, nor "many fields of variegated green," and 

 is entirely without that diversity of occupation, 

 which renders farming so fascinating. The autumn 

 is his only harvest time — the sole exciting period 

 of his labor — the summer, to escape ennui and bil- 

 iary attacks, is passed in travel ! Thus, whilst I 

 appreciate the superiority of the soil, as suitable 

 for the most productive oi' plants, I candidly allow 

 that their settlement and successful cultivation, in 

 prudence, can only be established by the capitalist. 



On the other hand, to the practical farmer, lim- 

 ited in capital, but rich in industry, desirous of 

 having neither idle time nor idle expenses, and 

 equally ambitious of securing within himself the 

 provender of his household, as well as remunera- 

 ting crops — I urgently advise the undulating 

 woodlands and fertile soils of the middle district. 

 His crops may not be as valuable as those of the 

 eastern planter — his soils less durable, and hia 

 fortune may accrue more slowly. But under a 

 safe climate, with his domestic comforts around 

 him, and in the continued vocation of his farm — 

 increased by every variety of crop, in endless ro- 

 tation; he has no cause of envious solicitude: for 

 though gathering riches slowly, he is annually 

 reaping the larger harvest of comfort and content- 

 ment. Thus, I neutralize the advantages of these 

 distinct sections of Florida: the east is the district 

 for wealthy plantations — the middle, for frugal 

 farms. I now proceed to the examination of the 

 lands of the latter. 



It would be tedious to detail each and every va- 

 riety of soil to be found throughout the several ex- 

 tensive countries, comprising the middle district; 

 for every object of these letters, their character- 

 istics are sufficiently similar, to be considered in 

 description, essentially the same; and though I 

 admit that in some countries a larger proportion 

 of good lands are to be had than in others, I yet 

 hold it indisputable, that the good lands of all, are 

 composed of the same earth, possessed of the 

 same capabilities, and known, provincially, under 

 the same name. 



The face of this section of Florida, is correctly 

 expressed in the term "rolling" — being for the 

 most part undulating hills and planes; and in its 

 primitive appearance, before the axe of civiliza- 

 tion mutilated its forests, must have been extreme- 

 ly picturesque and scenic. It still fascinates in 

 woodland variety; though, for culture, the land 

 in some places, is abrupt in declivities, and barren 

 in its growth. 



The genera of the soil are lime and clay, and are 

 varied in productiveness in the different coun 

 tries, by the admixture of more or less sand. The 

 great fault indeed of the land throughout the ter- 

 ritory, is the predominance of sand. As the gene- 

 ral character of the best soils in this district, it may 

 be thus described: — 1st — putrescent vegetable mat- 

 ter (formed by the annual deposite of forest 

 leaves and decaying trees,) mixed in variable 

 quantity with argillaceous earth, from four to ten 

 inches. 2d — a secondary soil of yellow sandy clay 

 combined with magnesian earth, lime, or sulplutte 

 of potash; varying in depth from one jto three feet. 

 3d — alluvial clay, in all its varieties of red, yellow 

 and white — tenacious and plastic; oftentimes based 

 on limestone, anil sand and shells; extends from 

 three to fifteen feet and more; growth of the above 

 heterogeneous, but chiefly white oak, dog wood, 

 poplar, tulip, with wild grape, and other under- 

 growth. 



Such is the general formation of our fertile 

 lands; and I may now state the variety of soils 

 (here common) under their provincial nomencla- 

 ture, in the order in which they are for durability 

 estimated. 1st — dogwood hammock. 2d — low 

 or cane hammock. 3d — oak and hickory upland. 

 4th — pine and hickory. 5th — gray or mulatto 

 hammock. 6th — h'a k-jack and pine. The term 

 "hammock" so frequently here in use, does not 



