246 HOME LIFE IN FLORIDA. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE DAIRY QUESTION — THE COMING STYLE. 



One of the most important questions that Florida has to 

 face in the near future is how to improve her cattle. 



The time when this was a matter of little importance 

 has gone by, and the new and more intelligent class of set- 

 tlers who are steadily flowing into the State, coming from 

 older lands where they have been used to better things in 

 the dairy line than they have found awaiting them in their 

 new homes, wdll never be satisfied until they have tested 

 what can be done in the way of improvement. 



We hear some of the old time fogies say, "Nothing." 



We beg leave to differ and say. Every thing. 



There is no reason in the world why Florida should not 

 in due time stand forth as fine a cattle-raising State as one 

 need desire. 



But to accomplish this end there is much to be done; 

 and time, care, patience, and systematic perseverance are 

 requisite to succeed. 



It is the common oj^tinion in the North, among those 

 who are not well informed, that grass can not be raised in 

 Florida ; and even in this very State itself we sometimes 

 hear the same assertion. 



But never was a greater mistake made. 



Because all kinds of grass w^ill not grow equally well on 

 all soils, and endure the vicissitudes of all climates, there 

 is no reason to assert that no kinds of grasses can be found 

 that will flourish on Florida soil and beneath the Florida 

 sun. On the contrary, already the merits of many grasses 

 have been tested, and with perfect satisfaction, not only in 



