Page 187 - a-history-of-columbia-county-florida-(1996)-edward-f-keuchel

A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 176/340

A Period of Growth and Development

The high quality of Columbia County’s agricultural products
earned the designation “Banner County of Florida” referring to
the large number of prizes (“banners”) awarded area growers at
agricultural fairs. T. B. Oliver, a member of Columbia County’s
Immigration Association and the compiler of a promotional bul­
letin sponsored by the Board of County Commissioners, used the
designation “Banner County of Florida” as the subtitle of the 1889
publication.
Columbia County was a pioneer in the development of early
vegetable crops for northern markets. The Florida State Grange
urged its members to move out of cotton and into fruits, vegetables,
and grains. The Tallahassee Weekly Floridian in 1875 told of one
Columbia County grower, a Mr. Horne of Lake City Grange No. 1,
who made $1,000 from the sale of peas, beans, and cucumbers. Dr. J.
F. Appell, who moved to the county from Boston and was a
member of the Columbia County Immigration Association, did
considerable experimentation with winter and early spring vege­
tables for northern markets. English peas and snap beans were the
principal vegetables shipped during the 1880’s while cucumbers,
squash, Irish potatoes, cabbage and onions were receiving in­
creasing attention.36 In an analysis of Florida’s agricultural
potential published by the United States Department of Agri­
culture in 1882, it was noted that field crops such as cotton, corn,
and tobacco constituted the bulk of the county’s products, but the
raising of vegetables for shipment to northern markets was be­
coming a large industry. The USDA regarded oranges and grapes
as particularly suitable to the region.37
Both the Florida Agricultural College and the Agricultural
Experiment Station which was established in 1888 gave attention
to vegetable crops. Although the area did not develop into a major
winter vegetable area as hoped, vegetables continued to be an

•’"‘Columbia County Immigration Association, Columbia Comity, p. 36; Saunders
B. Garwood, “Florida State Grange,” Florida Historical Quarterly XLVII (Oc­
tober, 1968), p. 171: Tallahassee Floridian, August 3, 1875.
153

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