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not transcend the limits of truth when him to make judicious appointments; we claim for her natural advantages, and as no salaries are provided, it is not resources, and capabilities for improve- presumable that persons could be found ment, unsurpassed by those of any other to perform the duties prescribed without state of the Union. She is the fifth in compensation; consequently, no appointterritorial area-the third in health- ments have been made; but an agricul with some 1,200 miles Atlantic and gulf tural society has been organized in the sea-board-a fruitful soil-a genial cli- county of Leon, with the view of conmate, extending within the tropic of stituting a central society for the state, Cancer, and a range of agricultural pro- with auxiliary societies in the different ducts of unsurpassed variety and value. counties, which would lead to the accom She has noble rivers - spacious har- plishment of the objects contemplated bors-inexhaustible supplies of timber. by the act, with the assistance of a sciAround her floats, in endless succes- entific state geologist, to furnish the sion, a large portion of the commer- 'information relating to the soil, produccial marine of the civilized world, and tions, and climate,' of the various porshe lies in the direct line of travel tions of the state. The appointment of and transportation between the great such an officer would probably be marts of the northeast and southwest- attended with the most beneficial effects the Atlantic, the Gulf, and the Pacific in the development of the agricultural coasts. resources of Florida."

FINANCES OF FLORIDA, 1851-52.

fiscal year ending 31st October, 1851,
amount to, viz..

$84,147 25

From ordinary sources:

$5,164 54

"With all these advantages, her progress, if it deserves the name, has no The receipts at the Treasury during the parallel within the limits of the Union in feebleness and insignificance. Colonized 300 years ago, she is still weak in numbers-with very little greater comparative public or private wealth than less favored sections, and the broad Fines. bosom of millions of her acres, susceptible of profitable tillage, is yet undisturbed by the hand of agricultural labor.

License tax.
Auction 66

Revenue of 1846.

66

of 1847.

66

of 1848.

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of 1849.

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of 1850.

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of 1851.

To which add amount received in re

818 51 1,900 09

255 43 135 77 1,167 40 727 69 40,857 44 6,114 23

$57,141 10

274 03

demption of land Amount rec'd in loan from School Fund 25,000 00

66

in reimbursement of a
temporary advance from the Contin-
gent Fund to Quarter Master General,
with interest.....
Amount received for room rent...

period amount to.......

1,727 12 5.00

$84,147 25

$67,187 73

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"The last General Assembly passed 'An Act to organize and establish a board of agriculture for the state of Florida,' which provides that it shall 'be composed of three persons resident at Tallahassee, and one corresponding member from each county in the state to be appointed by the governor;' and declares, that it shall be the duty of such corresponding members to collect The WARRANTS issued during the same and report to the head of the bureau at Tallahassee, by mail or otherwise, all information relating to the soil, production, and climate,' &c.; and, further, 'that it shall be the duty of the chiefs of this department to transcribe and arrange all such information in a book to be kept by them for that purpose, and in some convenient form-at all business hours to keep the same open for public inspection and benefit, and also to distribute all seeds or plants they may receive for that purpose.' All these provisions, it is respectfully submitted, are either impracticable or inexpedient. The governor could hardly be expected to possess such intimate knowledge of From auction tax. all the counties in the state as to enable

Contingent expenses..
Jurors and witnesses

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The RECEIPTS for the year ending 31st
October, 1852, amount to..

66 fines...

66 license tax....

18,804 11

11,877 93

5,772 90

1,900 63

1,910 85

500 00

250 00

1,000 00

414 68

159 18

486 12

478 42

731 84

$67,187 73

$60,619 63

$1,292 65

2,300 27 4,391 24

Swamp and Table Lands-Gulf Slope-Variety of Soil. 331

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14 21 stock water is rather scarce in this

150 00 306 80 1,120 19 40,474 08 5,525 44

44 75

5,000 00

$60,619 63

region.

The gulf slope is intersected by numerous short rivers, formed by single springs bursting up all along the coast from five to fifteen, or twenty miles from the gulf. The Atlantic slope is divided by the St. John's river, a magnificent stream, averaging more than two miles in width, rising in the Okachobee lake at the head of the Everglades, and run9,470 25 ning north at the distance of some eigh4,864 58 teen or twenty miles from the Atlantic 9,658 77 coast-widening in many places into '500 00 extensive lakes; and finally turning east, 250 00 not far from the northern boundary of the 1,873 98 state, empties into the Atlantic.

$55,234 49

$20,000 00

1,842 42

218 40

4,301 09

2,000 00

255 00

$55,234 49

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south.

"JOHN WILSON,

The table land is the most desirable portion of the country on many accounts

especially the counties of Alachua, Marion and Hernando, (formerly Benton.) The rich land is better diffused, allowing better chance for good neighborhoods, likely to prove healthy-free from insects-soil quite as rich, and cliOn the Atlantic side there is but little mate pretty much the same as the slopes. and on the Indian river inlet. The St. good lands, except near New Smyrna, John's affords but little first-rate land, though where there is a body of good land on this river, it is destined to be very valuable for sugar and tropical fruits.

On the gulf side there is much good land, but in large and dense hommocks, short rivers. These lands will become all along the coast; only divided by immensely valuable for sugar; but will never be settled by a large white population. They will be owned by heavy planters, who will either reside upon the Keys, or in the interior.

The soil is of every variety, from the poorest pine barrens to the richest allu

vions. The hommocks of the table land are of various sizes, from half an acre to forty thousand acres.

Acting Commissioner." Extract from the Tropical Farmer. East Florida is that part of the Peninsula from the Suwanee river, east and This region is naturally divided The most wonderful appearance of into the Gulf and Atlantic slopes, and the these hommocks is, their elevation above table lands—a slightly elevated plain the pine and hickory lands. The whole between the two slopes. The table region is high and rolling, but in coming lands rise gradually from the Suwanee out of a hommock, which appears whilst river south, to the head waters of the you are in it, like a vast river bottom, Withlacooche; averaging in width about you are astonished to find yourself going twenty miles, with but few streams of down hill into the pine barren. running water, and an occasional fresh water lake-varying in size from that of a mere pond, to one of twenty to thirty miles circuit. These lakes are few, and

In

The soil is a mixture of lime, sand, alumina and vegetable matter. some places the sand largely predomi nates, in others the clay; both in the

pine barrens and the hommocks. In unknown among us, and according to the the hommocks, the soil, which is of ev- last census returns, the deaths in East ery color, has vast quantities both of Florida is only a quarter of one per cent., lime and vegetable matter; rendering less than any other portion of the Unithem vastly productive and almost in- ted States. If that fraction of a per exhaustible. A singular feature in the cent. could be abolished, the whole world country generally is, that the higher "and the rest of mankind" would soon portions are almost invariably the richer. be here. As it is, we expect many of This part of Florida is evidently an them here this fall and winter. upheave-caused by a subterraneous The productions are various and valfire. In traveling over the high lands uable, comprising sugar-cane, Cuba toyou see at every step traces of workings bacco, cotton, long and short, corn, arof the great deep. The rocks sticking row-root, sisal hemp, and tropical fruits, up, and lying strewed over portions all of them growing luxuriantly, as well both of the pine barrens and the hom- as you could expect anything of the mocks, are evidently submarine-such vegetable kind to grow in a rich soil, and as may be found at the bottom of the gulf, all covered with sea periwinkle, oyster and clam shells. These shells of ten being incorporated in the formation; in fact, the beholder is no doubt as sensibly struck with the evidences of the country's having been submerged as could have been the children of Israel, when, walking through the Red Sea, they saw the waters heaped up on either side, and trod under foot the floundering fish.

There is a white stratum of shell-lime under the surface of the whole Peninsula at various depths. In all this there are shells only partially decomposed. The hommocks and high portions of the open country were no doubt basins, while the sea was over it, into which were poured for centuries, the washing of a thousand streams from ten thousand hills, rich! rich! rich! And they being a thinner portion of the layer above the raging fire, were thrown higher in the eruption.

The climate in the summer is more pleasant than higher latitudes or than in any country in the same latitude not similarly situated in contiguity to the ocean, in the winter milder than any other portion of the United States. We but seldom have frosts that kill vegetation before the last of November, and in the southern portion of the Peninsula, seldom any at all. This portion of the Peninsula is destined some day to become the resort of the invalids of half our continent. The diseases of the country are few, simple, and easy of treatment. The debilitating effect of long summers is remedied with us by the cool nights which we have all the summer. The cholera, that death-plague of other countries, and the most of our states, is

in a warm and damp climate. Every thing of the vine species flourishesmelons of 60 to 70 lbs. are not uncommon.

In traveling through the country, along the road, the stranger forms an unfavorable opinion of the land; the roads passing generally over the poorest portions. But let him not be disheartened, but look around and he will soon be pleased well enough to move to the Land of Flowers. And though he may object because of the small proportion of hommock, and in fact of the large proportion of poor land; he will soon be reconciled upon reflection; if the entire peninsula were rich hommock, though all were high land, it would most likely become a mere grave-yard. As it is, it is the healthiest country in the world.

THE SALT OF FLORIDA.-In 1829, the easterly half of the island of Key West, consisting of a series of salt-water ponds, was leased out by the proprietors to the Lafayette Salt Company, who put up works on it, principally consisting of covered pans, after the plan adopted at Cape Cod and New-Bedford, from which the company must have taken from 15,000 to 20,000 bushels of salt annually. until 1846, when the hurricane almost entirely destroyed the improvement. The wreck of the materials was sold to Chas. Howe, Esq., who bought the landed property and rebuilt the pans and vats. He also constructed ground pans, after the manner of those in the Bahamas, from all of which he took, in 1848 and 1849, an average of over 38,000 bushels. The years 1849 and 1850 were not quite so successful, from the wetness of the season; yet there was still made in those seasons an average of 20,000 bushels.

Salt-Sisal Hemp-Indian River Country-Prospects.

The works were considerably increased in extent last year; but from the unusual fall of rain, no more than 20,000 bushels were raked. This year 500 acres were exposed to evaporation, and it is believed that near 60,000 bushels have been made.

SISAL HEMP OF FLORIDA. - Judge Heermans, the intelligent representative from St. Lucie county, exhibited to us several specimens of Sisal hemp grown by him on India river, from plants introduced into Florida by the late Dr. Perrine, of Indian Key. We learn that the plant from which these samples are manufactured, grows thriftily on the poorest soil, and for that reason is well adapted to many portions of this state. Time and population would seem to be all that are needed to make this an important article of commerce.

Judge Heermans gives a most tempting description of the Indian river country -a region of the state too little known of our people by reason of the presence of the Indians. The climate is delicious-the thermometer never going higher than 96, and seldom reaching that point. Frost is almost a stranger to the oldest inhabitant,' and as a consequence the tropical fruits flourish in perpetual freshness. The pine-apple, the orange, lemon, banana, lime, &c., grow to perfection, yielding a bountiful crop. This beautiful country is kept from being inhabited, except by a few fearless pioneers, by Bowlegs and his marauding band, who are in undisturbed possession of it-lords of all they survey. Their presence there is a monument of reproach to our government.

333

pical fruits, samples of which, we understand, were exhibited by him.-Tallahassee Floridian.

THE PROSPECTS OF FLORIDA.-Florida, by the recent census, will exhibit, as we are informed, an increase of nearly 100 per cent. since the taking of the last census. This is a gratifying result, considering the numerous obstacles and discouragements which have existed. Since the first of June last, we learn there has been a greater immigration into the country than for any two years previously, and we look forward with confidence to the fact that ten years hence our state will show an increase unparalleled even in the remarkable increase of our sister southern states. Florida possesses as yet but a sprinkling of population compared to her vast extent; the success which has hitherto attended agricultural pursuits in this state has given an impulse to cotton growers to seek its virgin and productive soil; but, with the exception of the production of cotton, the resources of the country have been comparatively unopened. Some attention has been paid to sugar planting, and with great success, but the great expense and large capital requir ed to be invested in sugar planting, have prevented hitherto the establishment of any great number of large sugar estates, although they are daily increasing, and nearly every family manufactured some quantity besides that required for their own use. Sugar planting, we believe, however, is destined to be the great staple of our state, the climate and quality of the soil giving it peculiar advantages beyond any other portion of the United States.

Had they been removed, according to treaty stipulations, doubtless South Flo- The extensive pine barrens, much of rida to day would have boasted of thou- which is of remarkable fertility, afford sands of inhabitants, busily engaged in the means of an extensive business in developing the rich resources of this, the the manufacture of timber, a trade now garden spot of America, and in blessing beginning to assume great importance, the rest of the world with our produc- and also in the production of naval stores, tions and commerce. We trust, how- a branch of business scarcely touched ever, that the day is not far distant when as yet. Extensive water courses perwe shall be able to say to the multi- meating the whole country, and the petudes abroad who are waiting to make ninsular position of the country afford South Florida their home, that the In- the facilities necessary to the transpordians are gone, and the entire country tation of lumber and naval stores to open to settlement without fear of fur- market. ther interruption.

We hope Judge Heermans will favor our readers with the results of his experience in cultivating the hemp and tro

In the lesser branches of commercial production, we have various species of wood suitable for the manufacture of furniture, many valuable species of

drugs and dyewoods, moss, hemp, arrow root, and the orange and lemon, a traffic alone of immense importance. It is one of the difficulties of so extensive a catalogue of profitable employment, that with a sparse population they must be neglected for the more direct and familiar crops of corn and cotton, and that there are few who have the ability, the intelligence, or the skill, requisite to the introduction of new branches of employment. Lands are now cheap and abundant, and the largest portion of them are in the hands of the state, and will produce as they are sold a large revenue to the state, and thus relieve the expenses of the state government.

We shall present our readers, so soon as we can obtain them, the full statistical results of the late census.

STATE CENTRAL AGRICULTURAL SoCIETY OF FLORIDA.-The first attempt at an agricultural fair in Florida was made, in Nov. last, at Tallahassee. Mr. Martyn, a gentleman connected with the business of this Review, was present, and speaks of it in the language of highest encomium and encouragement. The Sentinel says, "Considering all the circumstances, everybody is astonished at the measure of success which has attended it. It has been pronounced by several intelligent persons, one of the most creditable first trials they have ever seen anywhere. The show was considerable—the attendance fair, and, but for the inclement weather, would have been very large. As an experiment, it has surpassed all expectation, both as to the articles exhibited and the interest awakened on the subject, and we doubt not it will be attended with the best results."

We append the constitution of the State Agricultural Society of Florida:

1. This association shall be called "The State Central Agricultural Society of Florida."

2. Membership shall be constituted by the payment to the treasurer of the society of one dollar annually.

3. Its objects shall be the encouragement and promotion of Agriculture, Horticulture, Manufactures, and the Mechanic Arts.

4. All county agricultural societies organized in this state, and the adjunct counties of Georgia and Alabama, may

become auxiliaries to this state central society, and their officers ex-officio members thereof, with the privilege of sending to the annual meetings of this society as many delegates as they may choose.

5. There shall be elected at the time of organizing the society and annually thereafter, a president, one vice-president, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary and treasurer, and an executive committee of nine members, which number shall be increased, if a majority shall deem it necessary, and who, with the president, vice-president, and secretaries as ex-officio members of the committee, shall elect a chairman, in whose absence, the president or vicepresident of the association may preside.

6. There shall be annually a fair, to be held in or near the city of Tallahassee, at some suitable place to be provid ed by the executive committee, at which suitable premiums shall be offered for the encouragement and promotion of the objects of this association.

7. The next annual fair of this society shall be held on the fourth Wednesday of November next, and continue four days.

8. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to appoint the time and prepare the place for the annual fair, which shall be in the month of November, and shall continue for four days; and to prepare the premiums to be of fered, a notice of which shall be published at least six months previous to the first day of the annual fair; and for this and all other purposes, the chairman of the executive committee shall have authority to draw upon the treasurer of the society for any moneys in his hands; and to aid in offering liberal premiums, the executive committee, or any of its members, may solicit and receive contributions to the funds of the society, and pay them over to the treasurer.

9. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to appoint the necessary committees to judge and award premiums, and to appoint all necessary of ficers, servants, and assistants, and to make all necessary and suitable arrangements for the convenience of exhibitors for premiums, and for the security and protection of their property; and to make all necessary and needful rules and regulations for conducting the

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