Saair Oruartmcnt. 
_ S? r ;_ 
AEOUT FLORIDA: 
Its Topography* Snil, fjlimntc, Productions, 
Ailvuiiinuvs. See. 
SECOND ARTICLE. 
Palatka, Fla., June IS, 1871. 
the wheat and the cereals, and each, for our¬ 
selves, such other productions ns we need 
as far as we can. Reciprocity and fraternity 
should go hand in hand. 
In a more definite statement of the pro¬ 
ductions of Florida I begin with lumber. 
“Yes, several small ones along this road, 
and several along (lie railroad from Talla¬ 
hassee to Jacksonville.” 
“What do you think is the total produc¬ 
tion in Florida V” 
“About 1,500 barrels spirits turpentine 
In this our State, although seemingly poor, and about 5,000 barrels of resin, which might 
is really rich. We have an inexhaustible be increased an hundred fold.” 
amount of pitch pine and live oak, cypress, 
Palatka, Fla., June IS, 1871. magnolia and “goodly cedars," &e., in all 
PiTY’tis that we cannot always improve parts of the peninsula. The numerous large 
the mishaps of life, so as to derive a personal 
benefit to one’s self or impart to others some 
special favor, A man may make a mis-step, 
slide down the stairway from top to bottom, 
steam mills at Jacksonville, and at other 
places on the St. Johns and in other locali- 
“ How many men do you employ in your 
works ?” 
“ Usually fifteen, sometimes more. We 
make our resin barrels, but buy all the old 
kerosene barrels we can get for our tur¬ 
tles, are preparing daily many millions of pontine.” 
feet, which are shipped to the Northern 
break or sprain his limbs, so that his activi- cities, to Cuba, and the West Indies, to South 
ties are held in abeyance for a longer or 
shorter period. Full of pain, he tries to 
pick himself up, or gets help from others, 
very thankful that the matter is no worse— 
that he has not broken his legs or his neck. 
Now this is just m v case. After some hours 
of pain, and a lengthy suspension of usual 
tail being demanded, the question occurs, 
What shall I do to fill up the time? lean 
America, and to various European ports. 
Here is a vast source of wealth, readily made 
available by easy shipments to the numer¬ 
ous markets, always demanding supplies. 
This is not all. In these immense pine 
forests there is another source of wealth in 
the turpentine and resin which they con¬ 
tain. I was much interested in visiting, 
some months since, the large turpentine 
philosophize, and I can write, again, for tiie plantation and distillery of Simon J. Tkm- 
Ruual New-Yorker, and if I can in a rue, Esq., at Train Ridge, upon the Florida 
slight degree interest your readers, some lit¬ 
tle good may he educed from my mishap. 
My first number, which was published In 
your issue of June 3, related chiefly to the 
geography and topography of Florida. The 
character of its soil, mode of cultivation, 
numerous productions, etc., etc., now ask 
our attention. 
The light gray sand appears almost every¬ 
where in the State, especially in East Flori¬ 
da, along the coast, along the St. Johns and 
intermediate,—less so in Middle and West 
Railroad, a few miles north of Gainesville. 
From this plantation during last year were 
shipped and sent to market five hundred 
barrels of spirits of turpentine and one thou- 
I loping these details may interest your 
'readers, 1 remain, 
Yours truly, Myron Strong. 
Ihtrg of a fUmtltsi 
DAILY RURAL LIFE. 
From Hie Diary of n Glen Civilian near Now 
York Cilv. 
l*rlon iin Lnticolliei. Drury* 
July 10.—In passing from my house to 
my office this evening I discovered a female 
Prionus latieollis walking briskly around the 
(•use of a large chestnut tree. I sat down 
Florida, where there is a greater diversity miles wide, along the line, they give a free 
sand laurels of resin g.vmg a product of and watched Her for a few moments and 
about * 2 , 000 -an evidence of what may he soon (]lHC0vel . ed „ mUlie UMl s depositing eggs, 
gamed from thcconntless plncrtf the State. not on Uie bark of the lnse blU in soil 
l he Florida Railroad Company, owning the near ite base. When she found a suitable 
road from Cedar Keys to Fernandina, adonis 
unusual facilities for engaging in this lmsi- v j 
ness. Having seen ted a grant of land from 
the Government, of alternate sections, six ,.$# 
and fertility. In the neighborhood of Tal¬ 
lahassee, and in various parts of West Flori¬ 
da, more or less clay is visible upon the sur¬ 
face, forming also the subsoil. On the hill 
sides, little stone and sand rock crop out, 
Huge boulders ulso, and rocks of an igneous 
formation tire abundant in Middle Florida,— 
often found in ledges, forming caverns from 
whence issue fountains of water. Such [ 
noticed near Ocala; likewise beds of marl, 
lime phosphate, etc., furnishing invaluable 
sources of fertility. 
Throughout, Florida the flat pine woods 
commonly prevail, called third-rate lands, 
interspersed with large tracts of upland, 
more or less rolling, covered also with pim;, 
title to twenty acres along the track, or 
eighty acres a mile back, to each settler, 
with the privilege also of boxing as many 
trees as they wish on adjoining lands, their 
object being the settlement of immigrants 
and an increase of freight, 
“ Will you please explain your mode of 
operation?” said I, addressing Mr. Temple. 
“Certainly, sir. You see, far away into 
the forest, as far as the eye can roach, up 
and down the track, and back from the still, 
the numerous tall pines with boxes cut into 
them, about, eighteen inches from the 
ground. Some of the trees have one, some 
two or three boxes each, according to size. 
I have 120,000 boxes, or ten crops (divisions), 
oak and some hickory—called second-rate of 12,000 boxes each. I suppose I have about 
lands. At intervals there are also found 
large bodies of rich high and low hammock 
land of the j first quality, covered with a 
(louse growth of heavy timber—many varie¬ 
ties of oak, magnolia, ash, sweet bay, soft 
00,000 trees boxed. In commencing a new 
plantation, we begin to box the trees in 
Prionis UiUcollis. 
place she inserted her ovipositor into the 
earth about half an inch from the stem, 
thrusting it. into the soil its full length and 
at an angle that wouidmury.the egg very 
near, if not quite againsT, Tim soft, hark below 
November or December, and finish before tiro surface. Of course in such u position 
the first of March. One hand will cut 12,000 
boxes, which we call a ‘crop,’ what one 
maple, linden, hickory, and some others man can handle. A good smart hand will 
common to the North. 1 never shall forget cut five hundred boxes a week. These, you 
the unfavorable impression which the first will notice, are cut level at the bottom, with 
view of the light, sandy soil of Florida, made a slant into the tree three inches deep, hold- 
upoll my mind when 1 first landed at Jack¬ 
sonville, Fla., Jan. 7, 1809. Can it he pos¬ 
sible, thought 1 , that anything good can 
grow here ! Is it possible ? Most Northern¬ 
ers condemn it at sight as worthless. Many 
ing about a pint each. Trees thus boxed 
will last about leu years, but must he scari¬ 
fied a little once a week. This is (lone with 
a tool like that used by a cooper on his 
the larva would find no difficulty In reaching 
the tree. After depositing an egg this beetle 
would walk olT rapidly, but keeping close to 
the tree, until another place was found which 
suited her, then she would deposit another 
egg, laying one every two or three minutes. 
Harris slates that Iho larva, which is as 
large as a man’s finger, of this gigantic bee¬ 
tle lives in I.lje stems and roots of the Lom¬ 
bardy poplar; but they do notconfinethem- 
while wading through the deep, tine sand, cut into Ihe tree a little, Jii 3 t above the box, 
execrate Florida as a poor, miserable conn- so that the crude turpentine will run into 
try. But look, said I,on more carefUl, sober, the box without waste. Wc gather this 
second thought, Amo is it that such huge oucq a month. The first dripping is the 
heading, only much longer. With this wo solves to this tree or even to other species of 
cut into the tree a little, Just above the box, the same genus, for they have been found in 
second thought, Amo is it that sueli huge 
lives oak, water oaks, magnolias and tall 
Pines are produced? Whence comes the 
fertility to propagate such a growth, and 
so that the crude turpentine will run into many kinds of forest and other trees, and 
the box without waste. We gather this Mr. Riley says that they have been found 
once a month. The first dripping is the ill the roots of grape vines. 1 send you a 
best, as it gives the purest virgin resin. The sketch of the female beetle which I found 
pines are produced? Whence comes the crude continues to run till the winter months, 
fertility to propagate such a growth, and Wc, here, get eight drippings during the 
such vegetables and fruit as we see in the season. In Carolina they get but six, as 
market? Let us not be hasty in our con¬ 
demnation. 
Color is not a proof of richness, although 
we are apt to think so. Some here, even, 
tliinlc that black men are better for ollice 
Ilian white? Fertility of soil is not derived 
hom color. Mixed with this light gray 
their season is shorter than ours. We take 
off the old ‘ scrape' during the winter.” 
“ How do you gather your drippings ? ” I 
inquired. 
“ Wo use a flat, spoon-like shovel, some¬ 
what like that used in turning griddle cakes. 
With this wc dip out the crude Into buckets, 
depositing eggs around the chestnut tree. 
The male is somewhat less in size, but lias 
longer antennae. 
Cocoons of Polyphemus AIolli. 
July 11 .—The larva of every species of 
moth lias its own peculiar mode of spinning 
its cocoon. Were it otherwise, the silk pro¬ 
ducing species would give the manipulators 
great trouble, and the cost of working the co¬ 
coons be greatly increased. There is, how¬ 
ever, an occasional deviation, the insect ap¬ 
pearing to adapt itself to circumstances, as 
shown in the following instance:—Last win- 
sum! almost as fine us ashes, are elements of dexterously, without waste, and carry it to ever, an occasional deviation, the insect ap- 
jertihiy sufficient for the numerous produc- barrels placed at. convenient distances, pearing to adapt itself to circumstances, as 
turns grown m the Slate, especially such as which when full are hauled to the still. Here shown in the following instance;—Last win- 
are adapted to our latitude. This is true you see some full. In the top head of the ter 1 gathered several' cocoons of the Allacw 
even of ihe flat pine woods, more eminently barrel we cut out ft triangular piece, giving polyphemus, one of the largest and most 
,,f Lbe belter portion*, where the fertility a good sized Role into which the thick crude beautiful of our native moths. These cocoons 
enhanced by the presence of clay, mud is poured easily. When full the triangular are about au inch and three-quarters in 
11111 ' . piece is lacked in, so that the barrel can be length, of au oval shape and about cue inch 
11 must lie admitted that some of the best handled without loss. We gather the drip- in diameter. The caterpillar usually selects 
kiiiJs in New York, and some also of the pings from each ‘ crop ’ of 12,000 boxes sue- the end of ft branch ou which to spin its co- 
'-sti..in States, are belter than our pine cossively.” coon, drawing two Of three leaves together 
,"7 l,We ’ ,lle inferiority of which is, how- “Are you not sometimes troubled to keep as au outer covering, and within these spins 
!f ei ’’ 0n tbo whole, fully made up by the track of your several divisions?” its strong well of silk, forming a very thick 
ivorabio influence of our climate upon our “ O no,” he replied ; “ we understand our and tough cocoon. If the leaves happen to 
productions, and when our system of cul- marks; there is no underbrush in ihe way, have very short stems, the caterpillar will he 
nre becomes more assimilated to that of and we see plainly in all directions.” very likely to attach the cocoon to the end 
ie Worth, and various manures as much “How many barrels of the ‘crude’ do j of the branch, and thereby prevent its drop. 
[ b e , llic ' l ‘ e ’ wo shall undoubtedly have you distill at one time?” ping to the ground when the leaves fall in 
now a ". Ce l< ’ Cr ° W overy ° 11, Wecan crow “ Well, sir, you see my copper still there, autumn. All the cocoons gathered were of 
.as to many things. Look at our cot- on the north side of the track. It holds fifty this form except one, and this has been a 
onr sugar cane, our large crops of sweet barrels, which we put in and run off in six puzzle to me ever since, hut the problem was 
Y * '*'***’ " 1 eroat va, 'iely of things which bourn, giving us ten barrels turpentine, Miir- solved to-day, as a true A. polyphemus moth 
Win, 1 111101 at a11 !lt Ibc North, t.v barrels resin, and ten barrels water. Each emerged therefrom. The cocoon was found 
in tliee >1C 1 • ‘ 10 " ateibalance 011 r lack of my divisions of 12,000 boxes gives me 250 upon an old, dead huckleberry bhsh the 
which Wh ‘ Ch y0L ‘ abouud > aml of bun ' els cni,!(i Ibc season, or 2,500 bar- caterpillar having used grass instead of leaves 
should >nU arc But why rels from the whple plantation, Besides this, to inclose its cocoon. But even this was not 
have 8eCU ° n i ? mi ° ver auotlu:r ? We 1 bny ftbout 400 ban ' ellj crude, at about $3 so singular a freak as the position of the co- 
tages ou. ‘^vantages and disadvan- per barrel, brought tome, boxed, by the poor coon, it being wrong end up, the moth issu- 
our 0 - 00,1 re , a,1<l our poor lam,H « Avbiles aml Bienegroes who have small plan- ing from the lower instead of Iho upper end 
all North 0P f n Bd ° l,r P00r Crop8, Let " 8 ,ftlion8 ' Thus the poorest, without any Spotted peiidnom. 
OM comm!! , a ; ^ a,Kl WC8, ‘’ lt,eau8 but tbeil ' lab <>r, cam from $75 to $100 July 12.-If one was to make a note of 
other’s ? roUi «™ 0 °d rejoice in each per month, and at the same time cultivate a the appearance of every species of insect 
and lime. 
It must lie admitted that some of the best 
binds in New York, and some also of the 
estera States, are belter than our pine 
Rials here, the inferiority of which is, how¬ 
ever, on the whole, fully made up by the 
favorable influence of out* climate upon our 
productions, and when our system of cul¬ 
ture becomes more assimilated to ihut of 
the North, and various manures as much 
one Vo * aUli So " ,b ’ ■ Kast a Od West, as means hut their labor, earn from $75 to $100 
other’s "'" 1011 brol,berilood rejoice in each per month, and at the same time cultivate a 
the hi i p, 0 s P c, ’By- While wc may furnish few acres for vegetables." 
the Be r llr , ! UHl lbe cotton, the oranges and “Are there other turpentine plantations in 
semi-tropical fruits, you may furnish this part of the State?” 
July 12.—If one was to make a note of 
the appearance of every species of insect 
during the season t.here would ho hut little 
time for anything else. I have made hut 
little effort to secure a few specimens of each 
as they appeared during the present season ; 
yet, upon looking over my cabinet, I find 
nearly or quite five hundred species secured 
within the past four months, and those nre 
all beetles, the hundreds of moths, butter¬ 
flies aml true bugs omitted. Some are found 
early in the spring, others do not appear mi¬ 
ld late in summer. To-day J caught my 
first specimen of this season, of that large 
aml handsome beetle known as the spotted 
Pelidnota (Vdidmtapunctata). This bce- 
tie is usually found feed- 
_ & *^riug upon the leaves of 
grape vines, aml when 
abundant doesconsider- 
able damage. It is of 
r |L\! fjjjHjO' an oval shape and about, 
a " inch long, 'rim wing 
if Jr Covers are dull yellow 
** Uh brown, with three 
Pelidnota punctata, distinct black spots up¬ 
on each. The thorax is bronze color, with 
a small dot on each. The larva lives in old, 
dead, half rotten wood, aml resembles some¬ 
what the common white grub which is well 
known as often injuring grass in meadows 
and pastures by eating its roots. Strawberry 
plantations are often destroyed by this pest, 
liitimn (1 11 ltd 1(1 it Ilf. 
July 18,—How varied are the habits of 
the different, species of lilies ! The old com¬ 
mon white lily (L. eandidum) has already 
bloomed this season, and the stems and 
leaves have died, and the bulbs are now at, 
rest; consequently, it is the proper time to 
take them up and transplant. If it is not 
done soon, it, will be too late for this season, 
because in llie course of three or lour weeks 
the bulbs will again put forth lea ves which 
remain fresh and green during the winter, 
A. few other species like the Lilium umbella - 
turns have also bloomed, but the flower 
sterna retain their freshness, and will for 
weeks to come, while several species of the 
Japan lilies have not, as yet, shown flowers, 
and still all were planted at the same time 
last fall, and in the same bed ; but they are 
different species, coming from various parts 
of the world, and change of climate does 
not change their natural habits. One spe¬ 
cies may require transplant ing in lnidsnm- 
summer, like the L . eandidum; another in 
the autumn, While still another class is sel¬ 
dom successfully removed except in spring; 
and all these variations in habit must lm 
known to secure perfect success. Florists, 
and other dealers in hullm, nre compelled l.o 
bestow more care aml skill in preserving 
them to an unreasonable time for planting, 
in consequence of tho ignorance of their 
customers, than they do in cultivation and 
propagation of the same. 
Killaliliny Blackberry* 
July 14. — A basketful of this splendid 
berry gathered to-day reminds me of my 
disappointment with this variety when I 
first purchased the plants and the agreeable 
change which has taken place since, J paid 
$1.50 each lor my first, plants of the Kitta- 
tinny, and, as a natural consequence, gave 
them extra, care. They made a most vigor¬ 
ous growth the first season, and I expected 
a corresponding show of fruit the second, 
but very little was produced. The next 
season the show of berries was a little better, 
but not up to my expectation, and l began 
to think this variety rather unproductive, 
but the third year the plants seemed to get 
tamed down a little, and instead of nil the 
Blrenglh being expended in producing new 
canes, it look another channel, and gave me 
the most abundant crop of fruit 1 ever saw 
upon any blackberry bushes, Binco that 
time my plaids have never failed to produce 
abundantly, which is proof to me that the 
plants of this variety at least require to he. 
well established, and in not too rich soil, 
before they will show their productiveness. 
HI nek ICot in (<i-ni>t<N. 
July 15.—This disease has appeared upon 
several varieties this season. Arnold’s and 
Rogers’ Hybrids are aftected to a greater ex¬ 
tent than other sorts, hut the disease will 
probably spread later in the season, and those 
now exempt he attacked. I have never 
known this “ black rot” to appear so early, 
for the grapes are scarcely more than half 
grown, while they usually escape until near¬ 
ly or quite full size. Neither have I heard of 
any theory advanced as to the cause of this 
disease that was really satisfactory, and the 
cures are equally so, although sulphur will 
check it for awhile at least, if it does not 
effect a complete cure. Nearly twenty years 
ago 1 commenced using sulphur for this* dis¬ 
ease, and at first I thought it a sure cure as 
well os a preventive, but an occasional 
failure convinced me that it was not always 
to be relied on in severe cases, especially 
after the disease war. well advanced. The 
cause is also shrouded in mystery, for T have 
seen grapes as badly affected upon high dry 
soils as in low or wet. For the past few weeks 
we have had considerable vain and cloudy 
weather, aml il. might tie inferred that this lin'd 
something to do in bringing on this disease, 
and perhaps it lifts; hul. l have also known the 
same thing to occur in very dry seasons. If 
I was to advance any theory, it would be 
that any extremes in temperature, or in the 
liygrometrleal stale of tho atmosphere, will 
cause or aid in the advance of this disease. 
Some varieties will withstand extremes bet¬ 
ter than others, hence their liability or ex¬ 
emption therefrom. I 
nirnstrial (topics. 
VACATION LETTERS. 
A Working Editor out of Ilurn.- mm. 
I am inclined to be luxurious, but my 
sympathy for those who swelter at No. 5 
Beekman, and my remembrance of last 
summer’s office heats, prompt me to send 
country solace in the way of copy. 
AVIuit mu I Doiuu < 
Making hay while the sun shines. Liter¬ 
ally, too. i left the seat of that mower a 
half hour ago, with which l have cut the 
laugh'd over ripe clover in that orchard. 
And it is not easy to do il, 1 assure you. 
Tim old trees spread their brandies close to 
the ground. Underneath those branches it 
is a pleasant thing to lie upon the new-mown 
grass and let l lie grasshoppers jump in one’s 
lace and eat holes in one’s low pantaloons. 
But, il. is not so pleasant to hold in an active, 
hard-hilled I,earn that moves will) powerful 
momentum, keep the shoe of the cutter-bar 
the proper distance from the I roe, and save 
the top uf one’s body from being brushed 
off like “ shoo fly.” 
Wliy will People (3row Grasci in on 
Orchard 4 
And if they do grow it, why will they 
persist in mowing, tedding, raking, loading 
and carrying it out of the orchard? It is 
astonishing h> me. What if Ihe orchard is 
Close about tho house? What if it cannot, 
ho plowed easier limn it can he mowed ? 
There is something better to do. What? 
Why, keep tho orchard a lawn. 
“ What, and mow it once a week ?” asked 
old Farmer SENSIBLE of me to-day, when I 
suggested the idea to him. “ What imprac¬ 
ticable nonsense you editors get in your 
noddles!” 
1 appreciated the compliment; but I lmd 
just heard his good wife wishing they had 
a nice fat lamb to slaughter for dinner, as 
they used to have. For her part, she had 
got tired of chicken, and pork and potatoes, 
and corned licet and cabbage; and a nice 
piece of roast lamb and mint sauce would 
taste so good. But the fanner had gone 
into the dairy business and kept no sheep. 
Bo I said the. host lawn mowers in the world 
are n. small flock of Mouth-Downs. Keep 
them in the orchard. They will do no harm 
and mill'll good. They can he cheaply hur¬ 
dled, a nd they will leave On the ground most 
that they get from it. Look at Ihe lawns 
fed by the Shropshire* (I believe) in Central 
Park. Nouiowiiigwil.il lawn mowers excels 
the beautiful Irimness and softness of those 
sheep-fed lawns. 
Now ii so happened that I actually im¬ 
pressed Farmer Sensible with the leasi hi li¬ 
ly and probable profit of this idea, for since 
I have been writing this he has been semi- 
speeulating with, and semi-inquiring of, me 
as to the 
Pi’osuccilve Pfl.o «| Wool. 
I answer “that depends” Upon what? 
he asks. “ Upon the prospective supply and 
demand. And 1 confess l have not kept 
close watch enough of the subject to give 
good answer. Thai is left to the Editor of 
the Sheep Husbandry Department. But 
with Ihe present, tariff on wools and woolens, 
the reduced flocks and 1 lie advancing prices 
of Woolen goods, it seems to me present prices 
will he sustained. But then it, always pays 
to keep ft small flock of sheep on a lmost any 
farm. There are so many ways of utilizing 
them; and they are always an excellent do¬ 
mestic resource. Bui, I would keep no small 
flock except of pure breeds- no mongrels. 
Let the pets of the orchard lw first-class, pure 
blood, and they will always sell nli a profit 
over cost of production." Just, as 1 had fin¬ 
ished the foregoing, Mary Jane asked me if 
I didn’t, want to go with her and help her 
pick some 
Pens for Dinner. 
Of course! And away we went to (he 
field, a half mile from the house, through 
timothy as high as a man’s head, brushing 
the rust from oats that ought not to be rusty, 
and the bloom from wheat just in blossom. 
“Why in creation were Ihe peas sown 
away down here, Mary Jane?” 
“O, so as to be convenient to us women 
folks, I ’spose,” she answered sarcastically. 
“ Il is so nice to travel half a mile, you know, 
under a broiling sun and pick pens, and then 
go another half mile aud shell them mid get. 
dinner on time! I do wish men had sense! 
1 do wish farmers had a Ii 1.1 lit regard for Ihe 
comfort and convenience of iheir wives and 
daughters I L do wish they knew how and 
desired to help them to economize both time 
and labor, all of which could he done, and 
would be done if a little love aml thought¬ 
fulness entered into their lives. O, 1 gel so 
sick and tired sometimes! 1 see so little ap¬ 
preciation for thn much that is expected and 
exacted, that I sometimes wish I had never 
been born.” 
Aml Mary Jane tore of!' her hot calico 
sun-bonnet, threw it. into a fence corner, and 
went to stripping off the pods of black-eyed 
Marrowfats with a nervous desperation. I 
tell you, Conductor of the Rural New- 
Yorker, 1 sympathized with the girl. It 
didn’t heal her heart, a bit to hear that Bob¬ 
olink sing till it seemed his throat would 
burst, as he sat there on a mulberry bush. 
I had a long talk with tier about what she 
thought ought to he done, which 1 may re¬ 
port. when I am in the mood ; but now Farm¬ 
er Sensible asks if 1 waut a sulky ride, 
which means that he don’t want to enlarge 
thn bald spot on the top of his head by rub¬ 
bing it against those apple branches; and 
that the hay is ready to lie raked. 
