I96 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
the bodies of water as possible, experience having shown the modi¬ 
fying influence of even small water areas where the minimum 
temperature lies normally so near the limit of safety. 
While the bodies of water are not such as to make the region 
attractive as winter resorts, increasing numbers of winter tourists 
are coming to the region, the eastern boundary of the area touching 
what is known as the lake region of the State. 
AGRICULTURE, 
The extension of settlement within the area surveyed took place 
slowly, and its population was until recently confined to a few com¬ 
munities. The early agricultural operations were not extensive and 
farming was mainly of a self-sustaining type, markets being remote. 
Corn, rice, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane were grown for home 
consumption. Soon, however, the growing of sea-island cotton 
was begun. This could be marketed by water and was the main 
source of income. Though the growing of sea-island cotton as¬ 
sumed considerable importance in central Florida, it only reached 
into a small part of this area on the hammock lands in the central 
part of Marion County. After a time, it is reported, the “cater¬ 
pillar” became a great pest, and the growing of cotton was partly 
abandoned, but in recent years, owing to the lack of labor for more 
intensive fanning, the growing of this staple has been extended. 
Particularly profitable was the crop following the Civil War, when 
cotton prices were very high. 
Stock raising was also taken up in the early days. Practically 
all the country was an open range, and stock could graze over large 
areas. The prairie “ponds” afforded good pasturage at certain 
seasons, and there was also pasturage on the higher lands. In the 
swamps and low hammocks there was good grazing for cattle and 
plenty of mast for the hogs, so that both thrived. Cattle raising 
finally attained much importance, becoming the sole occupation of 
many, and it’has remained a leading industry to the present time. 
The cattle, however, were not of the best, as they received no care, 
and during the winter season many starved for lack of sufficient 
food. Even with the great losses entailed, good profits were ob¬ 
tained, because of the fine range, the stock raisers being under no 
expense beyond looking after and marketing their stock. 
I11 1859 an orange grove was started at Micanopy, in the county 
north of Marion, by budding the sweet orange on the sour wild- 
