AND AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES. 



41 



PRODUCTIONS OF FLORIDA. 



Having thus presented a general survey of the climate, soil, and 

 topography of the State, in which I have made free use of the material 

 furnished through official publications and well-authenticated sources, 

 I next proceed to consider the productions and agricultural capabilities 

 of Florida. In this I shall avail myself of the practical experience of 

 those who have labored to .develope these resources. 



So much has been said of the vast scope of vegetable growth in Flor- 

 ida that it is a cause of surprise to all strangers and suspicion to many, 

 as though there might be well-grounded suspicion of exaggeration or 

 overstatement. On this account it is deemed best to refer to some of 

 the older standard writers on this subject. 



In the " Observations' 7 of Charles Vignolles, published in New York 

 in 1823, on page 90, we find the following: 



The following list of productions capable of being raised in Florida has been made 

 out with some pains, and it is believed all these stated are profitable and practicable 

 articles: 



Oranges, various kinds, 



Lemon s* 



Lime, 



Citron, 



Shaddock, 



Mango, 



Pawpaw, 



Cocoa t 



Dates, 



Sweet Almond, 



Bitter Almond, 



Pistachio, 



Acuaqua, 



Gum gleni, 



Fustic, 



Balsam, 



Hemp, 



Camphor, 



Frankincense, 



Leeche plant of China, 



The olive, 



The vine, all varieties, 



Currants, Zaute, 



Pineapple, 



Figs, 



Plantain, 



Banana, 



Yam, 



Bread-fruit, 



Arrowroot, 



Galluuts, 



Doliahos, or soy-lean, 



Jalap, 



Tree rhubarb, 



Ginger, 



Gum guiacuin, 



Braziletto, 



Senna, 



Turkey madder 



Balm of Gilead, 



Cloves, 



Liquid-amber, 



Aloe, 



Cinnamon, 



Pimento, 



Sago palm, 



Red pepper, 



Saponica, 



Jesuit's bark, 



Besine, 



Palma Christi, castor-bean, 



Tea, 



Sugar, 



Tobacco, 



Rice," 



Cotton, 



Silk, 



Cork-oak, 



Chestnut, 



Sassafras, 



Sarsaparilla, 



True opium poppy, 



Tumeric, 



Xutinejrs. 



Such a list seems wonderful enough as attributed to a single State, 

 but this list, made fifty years ago, is far from comprising all the products 

 which may be profitably cultivated, or are within the capacity of this 

 soil and climate. 



Besides the staples common to more northern latitudes, cotton, wheat, 

 rye, oats, peanuts, cow-pease, Irish and sweet potatoes, melons, and all 

 the variety of garden vegetables, and the strawberry, blackberry, huckle- 

 berry, plum, pomegranate, and quince, we may add coffee, cassava, in- 



