184 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. SO, 1886. 



FLORIDA LAND, LIFE AND SPORT. 



PONCE DE LEON'S voyage to Florida in search of 

 the ^'Fountain of Youth" is noteworthy as tlae first 

 of many journeys made to that balmy clime in the en- 

 deavor to realize the improbable and impossible. To the 

 resident Floridian it is astonishing that the advertise- 

 ments published by many unprincipled land companies 

 should be read otherwise than with incredulity and in- 

 dignation. Distorted facts, barefaced misstatements and 

 dehberate falsehoods are common. Sorry am I to say 

 they find many believers. Even for a fair-minded man 

 it is difficult to give a comprehensive and just statement 

 of the facts. You say there is not the fortune in an 

 orange grove so generally claimed. At once an instance 

 will be quoted, correctly, whose prominence is its excep- 

 tion. A pamphlet tells you of some one who made $300 

 from an acre of vegetables, possibly quite true, but a 

 thiag he is never likely to do agam. And where one 

 makes a success by hard work, good judgment and pro- 

 pitious weather, a score fail. 



I have lived in Florida nearly seven years. I know 

 something about it, but not as rnuch as the average six 

 weeks tourist. What little I do know, however, may be 

 of use to my friends of the Forest and Stream; and re- 

 membering how eagerly I sought information before I 

 came here, I will mention a few things one ought to 

 know ere he comes to Floi-ida either to visit or live. 



The atmosphere of Florida is not always the "breath of 

 flowers." It wasn't on the 13th of January last. On that 

 morning the thermometer registered 17° Fahi-enheit, and 

 things looked "puny." On Jan. 9 the thermometer 

 marked 26'; on Jan. 10, 18=; on Jan. 11, 33°; on the 13th 

 17% and on the 13th 24°. All the above records were 

 taken about 7 A. M. each day, and from a registering 

 thermometer. The newspapers North stated, "All orange 

 trees killed and Florida nearly ruined." The Florida 

 paiDers talked back, "No damage worth mentioning." 

 Now in June, when the enthe damage is visible, we hear 

 nothing of it. 



The injury is heavy. In the village where I am there 

 are about seven hundred and fifty "old" trees. By "old" 

 trees are meant those that came up from the roots of the 

 trees frezen to the gi'ound by the great frost of 1835. 



This village is a very old one and situated near Jack- 

 sonville, being probably the most northerly of any large 

 orange growing settlement. The "old" trees mentioned 

 are all dead. Besides the fifty year old ti'ees there is a 

 class of from fifteen to twenty year old trees. Wlien these 

 last were healthy and had received fertilization sufficient 

 to give vigorous life, they survived the cold with more or 

 less damage. All trees lost their leaves. 



The loss^to this viUage is probably gi-eater than to any 

 other in the State. Being so old a settlement it has more 

 "old" trees than most others. The new settlements of 

 course have none. These old trees might be fairly esti- 

 mated to average fifteen hunched oranges each, annually. 

 In Northern Florida there Avill not be a one-eighth crop 

 next season. 



On the 20th of Ja.nuary I visited De Land, nearly 300 

 miles south of Mandarin. I was told the thermometer 

 f eU to 16 , but I dotibt it. TJie leaves were mostly on the 

 trees, green and unhurt, while at Mandarin everything 

 was brown and withered and tlie groves looked as though 

 a fire had passed through them. In seven years we have 

 had three freezes severe enotigh to ruin the tmgathered 

 crop. This is nearly every alternate year. 



The f m'ther north you can grow oranges the better their 

 flavor is. Tlie transportation is better. Healthfulness is 

 greater. Other crops, strawberries and early vegetables 

 are more easily Bhipjped. The mails are more frequent 

 and regular. 



Orange growing is not as profltahle as supposed. If 

 you make your own grove, and by forcing make it bear 

 at eight to ten years, it is an expensive piece of property. 

 If you let it make itself it will not bear so soon by some 

 years, but it is just as good, if not a better grove. Five 

 years ago oranges sold for $15 per thousand. Now they 

 sell for |8 and $9. The care orange trees require is con- 

 tinual and experienced. A recent disease known as 

 ' 'root rot" has proved very destractive. The crown roots 

 are attacked and the tree girdled. 



Vegetables are not the bonanza imagined. There has 

 been much money made on tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., 

 but we hear- of the successes, never of the f aihu-es. Straw- 

 berries appear to survive as the fittest. The cost of 

 raising is not great and they can be laid down in New 

 York or Boston for about 16 cents per quart. When 

 herries sell below 85 cents per quart the shipping 

 stops. There were about forty thousand quarts shipped 

 from here this season. I have known strawbeiTies ripe 

 on the 5th of January. Last season the first shipment was 

 made on the 34th of March. With strawberries frost 

 merely cuts off the bloom and decays them. It usually 

 kills tomatoes. As in everything else experience is needed, 

 hut every one is obliging and readily aids a newcomer in 

 the kindest way. So much for fruit and vegetable grow- 

 mg. Now I want to say something concerning game. 



It is possible to discharge a gun and not kill something 

 although I was told differently before I came here. 

 Furthermore, it wiU soon be difficult to find anytlring to 

 discharge a gun at. The lack of a game law is a disgrace to 

 the State government. The deer are becoming very 

 scarce. Ten years ago you were nearly certain of at 

 least seeing deer on a trip into the woods. Now one 

 considers himself very fortunate if he catches a glimpse 

 of buckskin in a thre'e days camp. Men who hunt on 

 spare days thought nothing of killing a deer every trip. 

 The same men don't kill two a year now. Not only do 

 they shoot right through the breeding season but they kill 

 fawns and does heavy with young. I have seen these things 

 and know what I say. I have seen a fawn that dressed 

 only Sllbs entire, I'have seen a wild turkey offered for 

 sale that only weighed 41bs, I have seen many tm-keys 

 killed in April and May and I know men who would 

 shoot a hen turkey on her nest. To prevent such things 

 as these, laws that can and will be enforced, are necessary. 

 With small birds it is the same. The negro traps and kills 

 for the pot, Robins, thrushes, jays, fhckers and even 

 cardinals and mockers are game to him. The way quail 

 are trapped is simple and effective. The old time "figure 

 four" ti-ap on a large scale usually takes in the enth-e 

 covey. I have also heard of a bunch of quaH being 

 watched until they settled for the night and then the 

 watcher approached and deftly threw a cast net over the 

 entire lot, Wliat makes a sportsman most angry is to 

 see the half grown boys, each with a gun, prowhng about 



and shooting everything visible. They tie the birds by 

 tlieu- necks to a sti-ing and are not always careful to put 

 an end to the sufferings of the wounded. A gasping and 

 fluttering bhd causes no feeling to a negro, while a 

 humane man is mdignant at such cnielty. 



But there are pleasanter things in Florida than frosts 

 and bird catchers. Florida has many facilities for htuit- 

 ing and camping that are wanting at the North, When 

 you go on a camp you are generally sure to camp in a 

 wild and unfrequented section. You are seldom near a 

 house and seldom meet strangers. I think that a chief 

 dehght Ls to realize you are in a wild country and are 

 leaving civilization behind. A stranger in a camp is un- 

 welcome, There are exceptions, but that is the rule. 

 You and your party go to be alone and instinctively- 

 resent the intrusion of the chance individual who comes 

 to camp to see what he can, and comment audibly or 

 otherwise. One beauty of Florida camping is. you" can. 

 go so much by boat. And when one goes by boat many 

 luxm-ies are taken that are never tli ought of on a tramp. 

 Besides, you have the pleasure of managing tlie boat. 

 Wood in Florida is rmsurpassed, Lightwood is found 

 everywhere. Fat pine knots, resinous sphnters for kind- 

 lings, and after supper a big pine stump for an all niglit's 

 fire that no rain can "out," Speaking of rain, "that 

 reminds me." I went on a camp up Juiington Creek in 

 February, '85. The captam had not been on a camp since 

 he arrived in this counlTy, and selecting a promising day 

 we went in a small "cat," with a Rushton 15ft. in tow. 

 I usually go prepared for rain, but never having been 

 caught I grew careless, and went this time witliout any 

 shelter whatever. We made camp and had supper when, 

 as we were laymg in a stock of wood for the night, it 

 began to sprinkle. We put up some poles and spread the 

 captain's sleeijing bag and my blanket over them. They 

 kept off the sprinkle, but directly it came down heavily 

 and began to blow. In ten minutes the blankets were 

 soaked and the water came tlu-ough in streams. It was 

 wetter under the covering than outside. For a time we 

 contrived, by kneeling close together, to keep dry all but 

 our legs that extended beliind us. We made a little fire 

 close outside the shelter and put the coffee pot on, and 

 for some time we drank coffee and smoked to keep awake. 

 But at last small streams began to trickle down our backs. 

 We shifted position. There were other streams. We 

 moved again. Worse than ever. We gave it up and 

 stalked out in the storm. We cut wood and made a large 

 fire. The captain couldn't sleep. He stood back to the 

 fhe till he was soaked through in front. Then he reversed 

 and faced the fire till he was soaked thi-ough behind. 

 His comments were varied and free. I did not remark on 

 the weather so mucjji as I did on my stupicUty in not 

 bringing some shelter. I obtained some sleep of an un- 

 ceitain kind, which, indefinite as it was, the captain be- 

 grudged me. It rained all night, but cleared in the 

 morning, I am not likely to get left like that again. 

 But, after all, what would outmg be worth if all were 

 fair and no mishaps gave zest to the trip, affording many 

 a merry laugh afterward. 



The manner of hunting deer here is by driving. It is 

 probably the only way likely to be successful to any ex- 

 tent. During the day the deer remain almost entirely in 

 the swamps, where it is impossible to approach them. At 

 night they come out on the ridges to feed. 



I went on a hunt on New Year's day last. Bill and I 

 took a horse and cart and drove fifteen miles out east. On 

 the road we were joined by Sam and iris dogs. We had 

 an early start and arrived "at our camping spot at noon. 

 The early start was not effected without an effort. Bill 

 and I slept in the same apartment and I set the alarm for 

 4 o'clock. When it went off I mustered energy enough 

 to tell Bill it was time to get up. Only a grunt in reply. 

 I laid .still awhile and then a rooster crowed. "Come, 

 Bill, we must get up, didn't you hear that rooster crow?" 

 "That's a 13 o'clock chicken," murmured Bill. 



I swung out on the floor and pounced on him. A yell 

 of terror as I dragged him out followed by a shiver and 

 "Jucksnation ain't it cold." After reaching our destina- 

 tion we made camp and then put the dogs out. We 

 jumped one buck that afternoon. He was so distant we 

 had no chance for a shot. We did not start another, and 

 returned to camp early as Bill wanted to try and "roost" 

 some turkeys. I hadn't much faith in Bill's roost, but 

 agreed to go along. Wlien we arrived at the swamp, we 

 separated to post ourselves about 100yds. apart. The 

 swamp was skirted by a brier patch that would have wor- 

 ried a cat to crawl tliough. I am larger than a cat and 

 it worried me in proportion. But "I had it to do," as Bill 

 said, and I contrived to get through with most of my 

 clothing, I cautiously made my way to a fallen log in 

 range of several big cypresses, and there I seated myself 

 up to my knees in water. I stayed till dark but no tur- 

 keys. Squirrels ran close to me and birds perched near 

 by. Once a swish of wings made me cautiously glance 

 ujpward, but it was a great blue heron flying over. Fin- 

 ally I hooted to Bill and on his reply proceeded to tackle 

 the brier patch again, Sam had a good fire and supper 

 ready, and after hanging om- wet clothes where they 

 would dry, we fell to and devoured everything within 

 reach. After supper Bill and Sam proposed going "jack- 

 ing." I said I'd keep camp and look after the dogs. Sam 

 asked me to listen, and if a gun was fired and he whooped 

 to turn the dogs loose. If he whooped and no gun was 

 fired I would know they had missed camp, and I was to 

 answer and give them the dhection. 



After they had gone I lighted my pipe and settled back 

 against a big pine. The dogs cmded themselves up near 

 me and lay blinking at the fire, I don't think I ever en- 

 joyed an evening more. Beyond the fii-ehght it was 

 pitch dark. We had brought no axe and merely piled 

 large logs and knots for a fire. In every dhection pro- 

 jected flaming arms and as some brand bmiied through 

 and fell with a crash the dogs would lazily lift their head 

 and blink sleepily, then with a glance at me curl them- 

 selves up for another na,p. I knocked my pipe out and 

 refilled it and knocked it out again; and stirred the fu-e 

 and re-arranged the wet garments drying. No shot from 

 the hunters, no whoop. I was very drowsy and at last 

 fell asleep and, with' the dogs, dreamed of the sport on 

 the morrow. 



"Hi, there, you want to burn up," I jumped and found 

 Bni and Sam returned and the fii-e so close as nearly to 

 bum my blanket. They had turned ai'ound in their tramp 

 and whooped to me, but of course got no answer and 

 after considerable work succeeded in getting their bear- 

 ings for camp. They saw no deer sign. 



We put the dogs out early in the morning, but for some 



time had no success. After a while it came on to rain 

 and I, who had been ranging about 300yds. to tlie right, 

 came over to the others and we consulted as to the propri- 

 ety of leaving for home. Wliile still undecided the dogs 

 opened and presently an old buck came down the open, 

 clearing the palmettoes in great style. We aU treed and 

 eagerly watched the approach. He diverged so as to pass 

 at about the place I had just left. The ground was so 

 open there was no way for us to intercept him without 

 exposing oiu'selvcs. When he came opposite I gave him 

 two shots from my Winchester, but did not touch him 

 and he headed for a- big swamp where the dogs lost him. 

 Bill's look of desjiair was ludicrous, "Jucksnation, there 

 goes our last chance." And so it was. 



Alligators were formerly plentiful about here, but are 

 now very scarce. I measured one, shot about two years 

 ago, that measmed lift. 9in, The stories of 16 and 18ft, 

 'gators are all fables. The largest I ever saw (bemg alive 

 I could not measure) I estimated at 13ft, Quail liere are 

 very numerous and tame. You can start a covey ahnost 

 any time, but if you drop one, j'our chance of bagging it 

 in the palmetto is poor miless you have a good retriever. 



There are many swamps in this countrj'-, and to them 

 you should go for an experience curious to a Northener. 

 Many of them are almost impassable, but familiarity and 

 experience are great aids, I thoroughly enjoy exploring 

 a swamp, and my lady relatives and friends suggest I'm 

 crazy. "What you can possibly find to adinii e or interest 

 you in a swamp is beyond me," said one. No doubt she's 

 right. What would give me the keenest delight would 

 pass unnoticed by them, and the satisfaction of exploring 

 an almost impenetrable morass is comprehensible only to 

 a born sportsman and lover of nature. 



One April morning I started to visit a very large swamp 

 near by, known as the "Bay." I particularly desired a 

 gTeat blue heron, and I knew a few frequented this par- 

 ticular swamp. I had been there before and knew the 

 lay of the land jDretty thoroughly. After getting about 

 two hundred yards in I selected a likely concealment on 

 a bit of dry ground about six feet square and made my- 

 self comfortable. Pretty soon a heron pitched on a tree 

 about one hundred and fifty yards distant and began 

 preening himself, I j)atiently awaited his pleasure in 

 hopes he might soon select a percli within shot, but he 

 seemed quite contented and continued his toilet, only oc- 

 casionally stretching his long neck at some suspicious 

 sound or to recognize a passing friend. I waited half an 

 horn- and then decided something must be done. Now 

 the ground, or rather water between him and me, was a 

 discoiu'aging sight to view. Water, in depth from one to 

 five feet, and dense brush and vines, much of it being 

 dead and dry and lying close to tlie water. I decided to 

 stalk him, and I knew the cracking of a dry stick would 

 probably start him, so T reasow'd, as it Avould be impos- 

 sible to go either tlirough or around the midergrowth I 

 must go under. I put shells, pipe, tobacco and matches 

 in a safe and dry place, and taking only the two loads in 

 my gim I shd softly into the water and sank imtil only 

 niy head and right arm were out. I took nearly three- 

 quarters of an hour in making one hundred yards. At 

 times I would be nearly upriglit in the water, tlien lying 

 at full length in a shallow place, all the while immersed 

 to my chin. Many times I ]3aused to cautiously cut or 

 break a vine or branch that I coidd not pass otherwise, 

 and several times I rested my gmi in the liushes, for it 

 was very thing holdmg it clear of the water in so awk- 

 ward a position. Two" or three times I caught sight of 

 the heron, usuaUy quiet. But once the distant report of 

 a gun made him wary and suspicious. Wlien about fifty 

 yards fi om him I came to open water. No undergrowth 

 and consequently no concealment. I was close enough 

 for a shot but his body was almost Iddden Viy a branch 

 and a bunch of S]3anish moss, I deliberated and resolved 

 to risk it, I missed him clean and he sailed away, I 

 stood upright about waist deep) and was watcliing him in 

 liopes he might turn when a shadow passed me and 

 another heron that my shot had startled flew over. I got 

 sight on him about seventy yards away and let him have 

 it and dropped him stone dead. It took me nearly half 

 an hour to find hun in that jmigle. 



Regai-ding tlie purchasing of property in land, in 

 Florida, a word might be said, "Sandbank" towns are all 

 the rage. Several persons buy a tract of land at from 

 •$1.25 to $5.00 per acre, and at once a prospectus is drawn 

 up. A map is made and on it is shown the location of 

 the ^)roj90secZ- improvements. Broad streets and avenues 

 give it a go-ahead appearance. There is a site for a 

 church, a site for a school-house, a site for a town-hall, 

 and a site for a dog-pound. It looks very nice on paper, 

 but very different in a pine barren. The site for the 

 church would dismay any denomination but the Baptiists; 

 for the same reason the site for the dog-poimd is admir- 

 able, as to impound the dogs and di-own them would be 

 only one operation. Many persons btiy property in 

 Flcft-ida without seeing it, and are sadly disappointed 

 afterward. I have neither time nor space to go into this 

 matter fully; but be sure of one thing : Take nothing on 

 hearsay or from an advertisement; go yourself and also 

 get the judgment of some disinterested resident, because 

 often lands that appear at times desirable are at other 

 periods of the year overflown. Notsvithstanding the set- 

 backs Florida has had, and the false booming given her 

 by unscrupulous speculators, she is a grand State and has 

 a great future before her. Calumet. 

 Cincinnati, 0., ,July 31. 



IN SEPTEMBER MAILS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I am glad your contributor of "Uncle Lislia" note is again to be 

 lieard from in your columns. We Im ne ver forgotten tlie former 

 serie.s and from present appeai ^iin e- shall not soon forget "Sam 

 Lovel's Camps." The dialect of t he monutaineera is remarkably- 

 well reproduced, and if a judgment based on several years' obser- 

 vation of the Canadian Frencli-Englisli combination of tongues i8 

 vvortli anytbiag, I may venture to say that I have never seen it 

 surpassed. By the way, cannot you publish again the bear story 

 by the same writer which graced your columns several years ago? 

 My copy of the Forest and Stream containing it had so large a 

 circulation that I never could get it back, and I want the story. 

 The picture of Vermont hfe, the scenery, the dialect and the 

 characters were so vi , id and perfect that your old s^lbscribe^8 

 would be pleased and j our new ones deUghted to have them pro- 

 duced again, C C. H, 



Pboctobsville, Vt,, Sept, 9. 



[Our opinion is that if "Uncle Idsha's Spring Gun" is to be re- 

 printed, it should be in book form, with the other sketches.] 



