PREFACE.



THE writer of the following pages first saw Florida


in the month of January, 1880,


when he accompanied


General Grant on his tour through the State, as corre-


spondent of


the "Chicago


Times."


He had


previ-


ously either traveled


or resided in


: portion of the country, East,


_first


impressions of


the "Land


nearly every other


West, and South


Flowers "


but his
were so


favorable that, his special service as correspondent being
over, he returned thither with the idea of making for
himself a permanent home which should put an end to


his wanderings
-experience in


Since then he has enjoyed an extended


the State, engaged in a vocation requir-


ing visits to all the more prominent places, and traveled
over its immense territory under circumstances the most
favorable for learning its real resources and observing
the great variety of its productions.
SAlmost from the beginning, the importance of writ-


ing a book


embodying the


results of


his observation


experience


was urged


upon


him by the


friends


a