The Sunland Tribune (Tampa, Florida), Thursday, March 9, 1882, page 1
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"The Barren Lands."
- LIMONA, FLA. March ??, 1882.
Scarcely a day passes, but some one passes through this region over the dry ridges that "lie T" shaped from Limona and Bloomingdale to Thonotosassa, in this county, and exclaim against the "poor barren lands that will not sprout cow peas." All emigrants are advised to avoid this region and go to the "rich" lands of the Alafia and Pease Creeks. Some are sent to Clearwater and others into Hernando's hammocks. Now there used to be no complaining about this advice to send men to the "rich lands," because when these shall be filled with people, then the "barren lands" shall be called for by those who either cannot or desire not to go farther from water communications. That it is not right, nor proper for the settlers on these "rich lands" to de???? our poorer lands, that they may praise their own locations. If they ???? superior advantages, let them ???? on those and not depreciate the??. We grant them all they may claim for their own; yet insist that they shall allow us to posess what is ours. Let us see what we have yet.
First: We are so near the ???? seaport of this portion of Florida that a good horse or mule team can ??? the trip from the farm then to Tampa, and back in a day. This is no inconsiderable item, especially to the fruit-grower.
Second: These "barren lands," are no less adapted to the growth of semi-tropical fruits, than are the "rich lands" with which there are contr???. The best fruit lands are those ???? are best underdrained. Lands ???? be ever so rich, yet if they are wet, or if water stands on or near the surface, for any length of time during our rainy season, they are illy ????? to the growth of fruits. These "barren lands" or dry pine ridges ??? ???? are well drained: Are the "rich lands" the same?
Third: These "barren lands" are more cheaply cleared ??? ??? "rich lands" with which they ???? ????. By clearing a her???? ????pared ????are com??? ???? ?????? ?????? meant, not ?????? dead ????? of the pines or felling and burning the trees, but the removing of the stumps and roots from the soil is mea????. On these lands are found the ??? straight pines, rather sparsely growing with an undergrowth of the willow leafed and black jack oaks. An ordinary man can grub and cut out ????e average pines in a day. And ????l who have tried it, know that the oaks, with the use or proper tools, ???? be grubbed for one and a half the cost of cutting down the same tree ????. Those who have undertaken to clear land covered with the saw palmettoes, and the oaks that grow on the ???? same "rich lands" may give the??? ???? of clearing them. It will not do to insist that it is best to leave the roots in the ground till they rot out. Besides increasing the yearly cost of cultivation, more than the interest upon the cost of clearing them out; these roots become breeding places and harbor ????? injurious insects. It is safe to assume that the difference in this cost of living, will purchase and apply to these "barren lands," such neede fertilizer that will make them equal in product??? ????? qualities to the boasted "rich lands."
Fourth: The "barren lands" are healthful to a remarkable degree. The few cases of malarial diseases which occur to ????ts upon them, may be traced to the use of impure water, such as is obtained from a shallow hole dug in the ?????? at a pond or wet place, or improper or insufficient food. ??????ing that there are healthful localities? in the "rich lands" it is not ???? by the most strenuous pane???? of them, that all and even the ????? are desirable places for residence ????? is rule is doubly effective when hammocks are meant by the "rich lands."
Fifth: The greatest distinctions between these "barren lands," and the "rich lands" consists of the difference of vegetable matter ???? ??e soil of the two. And when the ????? shall have received the same as ???? that difference will disappear ????? does not result in favor of t???? ????w so-called "barren lands." The hammocks and so called "rich lands" ????? ?either from natural moisture on the surface, or the character of the vegetations? that have fallen upon them ha??? ???? in former ages, nor are they not subject to the annual firing, that ???? by all the grasses, weeds and leaves that fall on the surface, a???? prevent, by destroying the ma????? for plant foor entering the soil ????? otherwise would have done.
Sixth: These "barren lands," not including the white sandscrub, contain all the elements ????? ???? except suh vegetable matter to provide it with a proper deg????? humus, as this will involve the ???? subject of fertilization, with cow dropping, muck, barn mannure, bone dust, gypsum, lime, potash, guano, ????? ?????. We must leave it for the p????? simply giving it as our settle???? ?ictious, that the time is not for ?????? when the as now designated "barren lands" will not suffer by comparison with the "rich," but on th???? ????y will excel them in value.
J. G. KNAPP
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