AND AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES. 45 



States territory, there have been several large sugar plantations profit- 

 ably carried on. 



Latterly, cane has only been planted for domestic use and neighbor- 

 hood sale. But, even rudely raised and rudely manufactured, Florida 

 sugar and sirup rival, in color, grain, and quality, the best Louisiana. 



Fair land will produce from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of sugar; rich land, 

 thoroughly fertilized, will produce from 2,000 to 4,000 pounds. Recent 

 improvements in sugar machinery have obviated the necessity of ex- 

 pensive works formerly required, rendering it possible for the small as 

 well as large planter to manufacture cheaply; its cultivation is as easy 

 as corn, and its immunity from all hurt by ordinary enemies to other 

 vegetation renders it a safe crop. 



The superiority of Florida over any other section of the United States 

 in adaptability to the growth of cane is mainly based upon her milder 

 climate, the greater length of the seasons, and the correspondingly 

 longer growth and larger size of the cane. In Louisiana from three to 

 five feet may be taken as the average size of cane when harvested, 

 while in Florida from five to seven may be taken as the average size of 

 the cane over the whole State, extending from north to south nearly 400 

 miles, and, w r ith fair culture, eight, ten, and twelve feet are quite com- 

 mon lengths. As early as 1823, Vignolles wrote: 



Respecting sugar, the recent successful trials that have been made upon it have de- 

 termined the curious fact that it will grow in almost any of the soils in Florida south 

 of the mouth of the Saint John's River; the great length of summer, or period of ab- 

 solute elevation of the thermometer above the freezing point, allows the cane to ripen 

 much higher than in Louisiana. 



Williams, writing in 1837, says: 



This (sugar) ought to be the staple of the country. Experiments in every part of 

 the territory prove tliat ail our good lands will produce sugar cane as well as any other 

 crop. * * * A general impression has prevailed that sugar could not be made to 

 advantage unless a great capital is invested; but experience abundantly proves that 

 a small capital may be as profitably employed in the culture of cane as in any other 

 product. 



In an article on sugar cane in the new American Encyclopedia the 

 climatic disadvantages attending the cultivation of the sugar cane in 

 Louisiana are stated as follows: 



Yet, the climate of Louisiana itself is rather north of that best suited to the plant, 

 the cane being frequently killed by the frost after starting in the spring, and at ma- 

 turity in the latter part of October and in November, the effect of which is to materi- 

 ally diminish its production of sugar. In 1857, injurious frosts thus occurred in April 

 as late as the 22d, and on the 19th and 20th of November. In November, 1859, the 

 cold was very severe on the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th, in all parts of Louisiana, the 

 thermometer on the 14th standing at 25 F. at New Orleans, and thick ice being 

 formed in the most southern parishes. The effect of this was that the cane was every- 

 where frozen, and land which had previously given above two hogsheads to the acre 

 yielded barely half a hogshead, and this of inferior quality. The climate is also sub- 

 ject to long- continued drought, which seriously injures the growing crops. 



But in Florida frosts are of infrequent occurrence, and in South Florida 

 are unknown. Of the few frosts that do occur, instances as early as 



