AND AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES. U5- 



MARION COUNTY. 



Comprising an area of 1,000 square miles, and having nearly 50,OOO 

 acres under cultivation, this county contains some of the richest and 

 most elevated land in in the State. The high hammock lands are exten- 

 sive and very productive, but much better adapted to the raising of 

 vegetables than to the development of healthy men, and much care 

 must be taken in locating dwellings, or, as in the West, fever and ague 

 will take off' all the profits for the benefit of the doctor. Although there 

 are some flourishing groves in sheltered places near Ocala, oranges there- 

 are liable to suffer from frosts, and the extreme eastern and southern 

 portions of the county are better suited to the culture of the Citrus family 

 of fruits. Farm productions are raised in this county to the value 

 of $300,000 yearly, including principally corn, potatoes, rice, molasses y 

 and poultry. Lands near transportation are held at high figures, and 

 there is but little government land to be obtained. 



Two railroads run through this county, and the means of transporta- 

 tion will soon be exceptionally good via these roads and the Oeklawaha 

 River, which is navigated by two lines of steamers from Silver Springs 

 to and over the Saint John's. There are some beautiful lakes in this 

 county, the eastern shores of which are well adapted to orange culture,, 

 being thus protected from the cold north west winds. Considerable game 

 is found in the heavy-timbered tracts, and food-fish abound in the 

 lakes and rivers. The Florida Southern Railroad, owned by Boston 

 capitalists, is developing an extensive and profitable lumber trade along 

 its line, and many of the settlers build houses, barns, and fences with 

 the beautiful yellow pine, green from the saw-mill. Industrious settlers 

 who can afford to wait until the acidity of the soil is removed by culti- 

 vation will succeed here, provided they can secure good land at reason- 

 able prices, No injurious acids are found in the hard- wood lands, but 

 unless great care is taken the farmer will suffer from chills during the 

 first year's cultivation. 



BREVARD COUNTY. 



Containing an area of 4,000 square miles, this county has but 2,000 

 acres under cultivation. Much of this county is composed of " flat 

 lands," often overflowed and not easily drained, with a stiff-clay subsoil, 

 through which the tap-root of the orange tree cannot penetrate to water; 

 consequently the Citrus family of fruits will not thrive in the greater 

 part of this region. Along the banks of the Indian River, however, 

 excellent oranges and semi-tropical fruits are raised ; but the land in 

 this county adapted to such culture is limited in extent, and is held at 

 high prices. Oysters, fish, and game abound in some localities, and 

 much good grazing land is found ; but malaria must be carefully guarded 

 against, and there is but comparatively little land in the county adapted 

 to the wants of people from the North for a permanent residence. Yearly 



