During a recent visit to Florida we found the date, papaya (Carica papaya ?), guava, and banana growing freely, and producing abundance of fruit. We have reason to believe that the tea plant would prove a success on the heavy soils and hilly lands about Tallahassee. For our supply of pine-apples we are mainly dependent upon the Bahama Islands, and we annually, for this fruit, place in cousin Johnny Bull's pocket thousands in gold. Yet, strange as it may seem, in some portions of Florida we have the soil and climate to produce pine-apples in the greatest perfection. In the English colony of Natal, with a climate approaching that of Florida, the culture of coffee has succeeded ; and, I may ask, why not test it in Florida ? From observation, and data derived from reading, and conversation with reliable persons, I have reason to believe that the following list of productions will prove successful in Florida: Cocoa, almonds, olive, vine, pine-apple, plantain, yam, arrow-root, jalap, rhubard, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, senna, madder, opium poppy, cloves, black pepper, nutmeg.

It would be useless to refer to the quality and productiveness of the cotton and sugar in Florida. With the diversity of climate, productiveness of the soil, and frequency of rain during the summer months, the only question is, what tropical production will not prove a success in Florida ?

During the summer of '65 I traveled over nearly every portion of the South, east of the Ohio and Alabama rivers, with the exception of Florida, and found disease existing among grapevines to a great extent. The Scuppernong alone seemed to be exempt; and with this exception, I concluded that the grape would prove a failure in the South. During a recent, visit to Florida my attention was more particularly directed to the grapevine; and after carefully examining a large number of vines of different varieties, I could not detect a trace of disease, except in one place, where I found the fruit had rotted. This condition was accounted for when I ascertained that water could be obtained by sinking a hole twenty inches deep. What surprised me most was to find that "hardy as an oak" grape, the Delaware, growing freely in a light soil, and presenting no trace of disease. From my limited observation I have reason to believe that the grape will prove a success in eastern Florida; and that lands worth one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre will eventually be clothed with vineyards.

Some of your readers will state that it is strange that the vine has not been tested; but they must recollect that sugar-cane and cotton have always been productive crops since Florida was ceded to the United States. And, according to Vignolles, "it is a well-known fact that in west Florida the French Government ordered a suppression of the vineyards lest their success might injure those in France; and we learn that similar restrictions, as to the olive, and perhaps the grape, were imposed by the Spaniards over the Florida colonies. Although these decrees are ancient, and have, perhaps, long become dead letters, yet they must have prevented the spirit of enterprise that in the first instance suggested such enterprises, which, once quenched, were not easily revived." - Vignolles' Florida, New York, 1823, p. 98.

The climate of eastern Florida is un-equaled. The winters are dry, warm, and enjoyable; during the summer months rain is ample, and the range of the thermometer is never so high as in the Northern States. Although the mean at Pilatka is 80° for June, 81° for July, 80° for August, and 78° for September, yet the thermometer seldom rises above 90°, and a pleasant sea or land breeze is nearly constant. In our Northern States the thermometer frequently rises during the summer months to 95°, and sometimes to 100°. The monthly extremes of temperature at Fort Columbus (New York city), for thirty-two years was as follows: June, 89° ; July, 93°; and August, 89°. At Key West, Florida, for twenty-three years, the monthly extremes ranged as follows: June, 88°; July, 89°; August, 89°. I have selected Key West from the fact that it is warmer during the summer months than any portion of Florida east of the St. John's River. During the heated term of last summer I left New York on the 4th of July to escape the intense heat of our mid-summer, and enjoyed a pleasant sea breeze at St. Augustine, with a mid-day range of the thermometer of from 80° to 84° of Fahr. scale.

Many suppose that the South is unhealthy, and more particularly Florida, because yellow fever sometimes prevails at Key West and Pensacola. The intending settler need not select a home within the limited area where yellow fever is an annual visitor. There are certain localities where fever and ague prevails, as it does in the neighborhood of New York city; but this is no reason why such localities should be selected. From observation, and facts derived from statistics and reliable persons, I am convinced that a man Is more likely to enjoy health in Florida than in the Northern States.

During a recent visit to Washington I was favored with an interview with the Commissioners of Agriculture and Land, and arrived at the conclusion that those departments possess but little positive knowledge regarding eastern Florida. It seems to us that if the Hon. the Commissioner of Agriculture were to select some competent person to examine and report upon the climate and productions of Florida, that it would prove a profitable investment to Uncle Sam. If an individual were selected who could adapt himself to the habits of the people, and throw his opinions and prejudices overboard for the nonce - one who has a knowledge of horticulture and pomology, as well as kindred subjects - a mass of valuable information could be collected that would, if published in the Report of the Department of Agriculture, benefit our country. The adoption of such a course would direct the attention of our people to the advantages of Florida, as well as the population of the fruitgrowing regions of the Continent, who entertain the opinion that the whole United States is merely a hyperborean region.

It seems to us that such a course would benefit more than the publication of lengthy articles on the older States.

Some persons visit Florida and form an opinion of the whole State after examining but a limited portion. One of our leading agricultural correspondents passed from St. Augustine to Picolata by stage, over the worst portion of the State, and condemned everything in unmeasured terms. "What is wanted is some unprejudiced and competent person to examine eastern Florida, and tell a plain, unvarnished tale.

To avoid letters to answer, and other objectionable features in connection with a published name, I must sail under false colors; but may remark, that if any of your readers desire further information regarding Florida, you can inform them where I can be found, and that I shall be happy to tell all I know of this great fruit-growing region. It is more than probable that I shall visit Florida at an early day; and if I do I shall only be too happy to furnish some facts and figures regarding orange and grape culture there. Al Fresco.