18 FLORIDA: ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, 



in the Northern and Middle States than can ordinarily be found in the 

 other divisions. Here, instead of depending mainly upon the avails of 

 a single crop, as is usual with cotton, rice, and sugar planters, there is 

 more of what is understood by the term of farming, and each cultivator 

 aims at raising his own supplies as far as practicable; and cotton, corn, 

 cane, wheat, rye, oats, hay, potatoes, and tobacco are often, and indeed 

 commonly, made by each individual farmer. 



The staple crops may be said to be corn, cotton, tobacco, rice, cane, 

 Irish and sweet potatoes, and oats. The principal fruits are peaches, 

 figs, grapes, oranges, though many others are raised. The apple and 

 pear do not generally flourish, except along the Saint Mary's River 

 (which is one of the best fruit regions in the whole South) and in the 

 strong clay soils of Jackson, Gadsdeu, and Leon Counties. The peach 

 and fig thrive everywhere and mature several weeks earlier than in the 

 States lying north. The orange is grown throughout this division, the 

 crop increasing in security as you go south; but very fine oranges 

 are raised in tbe northern counties, although, when young, they should 

 have some protection. No better oranges are raised in Florida than those 

 produced in Liberty, Calhoun, Wakulla, and Washington Counties, and 

 the world can show no better oranges than the best raised in this State. 



This whole division is remarkably well watered. In addition to the 

 numerous rivers the Perdido, Black Water, Escambia, Ecoufiua, Apa- 

 lachicola, Chipola, Ocklockonee, Ancilla, Suwannee, Saint John's, Saint 

 Mary's, and Nassau and the multitude of smaller streams, nearly the 

 whole region is abundantly supplied with springs, while good water is 

 easily obtained in wells of little expense. 



The timber of the region is abundant. The supplies of pine and 

 cypress are apparently inexhaustible ; while hickory, oak, ash, cedar, 

 magnolia, and red bay are found everywhere. Game and fish are found 

 everywhere in good supply. On the coasts, oysters and turtle abound. 

 They are both abundant and good on the east coast ; but the oysters of 

 Saint Andrew's Bay, on the west, are not surpassed for size and flavor, 

 and are exceedingly abundant. 



, So much will suffice for a general description of Northern Florida as 

 a whole, and for more particular information reference is made to the 

 local descriptions of each county in this subdivision, arranged in alpha- 

 betical order. 



BRADFORD COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Baker County, east by Clay, south by Alachua, and 

 west by Columbia County. Area, about 600 square miles. The surface 

 mostly level, but sufficiently high and undulating for cultivation. The 

 soil varies from light to strong pine land, and is covered, where not im- 

 proved, with a heavy growth of pine timber. This timber and naval 

 stores are largely exported. The Atlantic, Gulf and West India Tran- 

 sit Railroad, which runs from Fernandina, on the Atlantic, to Cedar 

 Keys, on the Gulf of Mexico, runs southwest across the eastern border 



