30 FLORIDA: ITS CLIMATE, SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, 



and lime are natural and very prolific and profitable crops. The peach 

 and the fig thrive everywhere; the guava and the banana do well with- 

 out protection; and the pine-apple is cultivated, although it does not 

 flourish as in South Florida. Irish and sweet potatoes, melons, and all 

 kinds of garden vegetables are cultivated with great success, and can 

 be brought to maturity at almost any season, at the option of the culti- 

 vator. 



ALACHUA COUNTY. 



Bounded north by Suwannee, Columbia, and Bradford Counties, from 

 which it is separated by the Santa Fe Eiver; east by Clay and Putnam; 

 south by Marion and Levy; and west by La Fay ette County, from which 

 it is separated by the Suwannee Eiver. It has an area of over 1,300 

 square miles, and embraces almost every variety of lands found in 

 the State, from the richest hammock, high rolling pine, hickory, and 

 oak, to the more level, heavy timbered pine lands. Its elevation above 

 the sea is from 50 to 250 feet; it has numerous lakes and streams, 

 which afford good water-power and abound in excellent fish. Lake 

 Santa Fe", in the northeast portion of the county, is believed to be the 

 highest body of water in the eastern portion of the State, being on the 

 ridge from which waters flow to the Atlantic Ocean on the east and to 

 the Gulf of Mexico on the west. 



The Atlantic, Gulf and West India Transit Eailroad runs directly 

 through the county, from the northeast to the southwest, entering the 

 county near Santa F6 Lake. The Peninsular Eailroad intersects it at 

 Waldo, a growing and thriving town in the northeastern portion of this 

 county, and runs nearly due south to Orange Lake, some twenty miles, 

 and is being extended to Ocala and thence to Tampa Bay, on the Gulf. 

 A canal is nearly completed from Waldo, connecting with railroad, and 

 also connecting Lakes Alto, Santa Fe, and smaller lakes, opening up a 

 large area of excellent lands to easy access. 



Gainesville, the county seat, is one of the most progressive towns 

 in the State, both in population and business. The population of the 

 county is increasing from year to year, ^nd the agricultural and horti- 

 cultural resources are developing more and more each season. 



The fruit and vegetable industry, only as yet in its infancy, has al- 

 ready assumed large proportions ; 450,000 packages alone were shipped 

 over the railroad the past season. The staple crops are, long-staple 

 and upland cotton, sugar cane, rice, corn, root crops, vegetables of all 

 kinds, oranges and other semi-tropical fruits. This county was early 

 selected by the pioneer settlers as one of the best in the State, and time 

 has proved the wisdom of their choice.. From the northwest to the 

 southeast a peculiar limestone formation is found, the crust in many 

 places having, from some cause, sunk down; these depressions are gen- 

 erally more or less full of water, and connected by subterranean waters; 

 these sinks are oval and conical downwards, and from 10 to 40 feet 

 deep. 



