The Sunland Tribune (Tampa, Florida), June 9, 1877, page 2, column 4
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Meeting of the Fruit-Growers' and Agricultural Association.
A very small minority of the members of the Fruit Growers' and Agricultural Association assembled in the Court Hall last Thursday night and although ?? g?????? around the Hall was a little discouraging, the few present concluded to proceed to business ????? that minorities generally do the work of such ?????? at best. As the Secretary was absent and failed to send up the minutes of the former meeting, there was nothing to do but appoint a Secretary pro tem and proceed to consider the subject of grasses - set apart for discussing at the preceding meeting. As the members present had had very little, or no experience to the cultivation of grasses in this section, the subjecy elicited but little discussion. A few theories were advanced, but it was substantially agreed that experiments would have to be made in order to acquire positive knowledge on that important subject as it relates to this State. After this, Judge Knapp treated the Association to an impromptu discourse in which he traced the warm and cold currents of wind that prevail over this continent, by which the conclusion was reached that Hillsborough and some of the adjoining counties constitute some of the most highly favored section in this State and probably the most favored in the world. Tracing the cold currents to the points in this State where they were obliged to strike, if at all, he showed that this section was secure from them, and in like manner secure from the tornadoes that sometimes proceed from the vicinity of some of the islands south of us. He then compared the temperature of this section to that of portions of Egypt and some of the countries bordering on the Mediterranean Sea, most of the productions of which countries we have scarcely thought of attempting to propagate here. Yet there can be no doubt about our climate, and so far as we know, none about our soil being adapted to such productions. This being so, we have yet scarcely imagined the productive capacities of this part of Florida. There is an immense field for successful experiment into which no one has ventured. The Judge has kindly promised to bring a series of papers before the Association from time to time, to which he will treat this entire subject, our favorable location, and the new productions that might be successfully and profitably introduced here. After a little more scattering talk, the Association adjourned to meet on the night od the first Thursday in July.
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