Another section of the state deserving the attention of the grape grower, is Marion, one of the central counties. It extends from latitude twenty-nine degrees to twenty-nine degrees thirty minutes, with an area of about 1,760 square miles. The surface is generally level; but in some localities it is undulating and hilly. Numerous lakes, ponds, streams and springs exist; and excellent water can be obtained in all parts by wells, at a trifling expense. I carefully examined the country to the south of Ocala, and the region between Ocala and Orange Lake, the whole being hilly or rolling. A large proportion of the soil in this section was found to consist of a dark sandy loam, with a sandy loam subsoil, in many places containing large quantities of limestone and silicious rock, studded with shells - in our opinion unequalled for vine culture. To the south of Ocala, and between Ocala and the lake, large tracts of excellent cleared land (at one time used for cotton growing) is open to purchasers at about $10 per acre. Around Orange Lake some of the largest wild orange groves, to be found in the state, exist. One we examined, contained about 500 acres.

Near the margin of the lake, lemons, one year from the bud, we found totally uninjured by frost; and bananas and pine apples had escaped with but slight injury. Cane, cotton, tobacco and potatoes may be referred to as the staple products; but oats, rye and the fig, peach, almond, and other fruits can be successfully and profitably grown.

Good health, as a rule, prevails throughout the county, except in the immediate neighborhood of lakes and water courses, where intermittent and remittent fevers of a mild type occur during the autumnal months. Two routes present themselves to those who wish to visit Marion county - one by the St. John's river, from Jacksonville to Palatka; and thence, by the Ochlawaha steamers to Silver Spring; and from Silver Spring, by stage, to Ocala. Another is by Florida railroad, from Fernandini to Gainesville; and thence, by hack, via Micanopy to Ocala. The visitor will find the residents intelligent and hospitable in the extreme. Mr. E. J. Harris, the accommodating, hospitable and gentlemanly host of the Ocala house will gladly furnish any information the prospecter may desire. I may casually remark, that the tourist or invalid will find a superior winter climate in Marion county, with good accommodations and excellent board at the Ocala house for $10 per week or $28 per month.

For general good health and superiority of land, we are satisfied that Hernando county presents many advantages. The county is situated on the Gulf coast, and lies between latitude twenty-eight degrees fifteen minutes and twenty-nine degrees thirty minutes;'and area about 1,500 square miles. As an evidence of the quality of some of the land, I may remark that some of the small fields cleared by the pioneers some thirty years ago, have been in cultivation since, without manure, and are still productive. In the center of the county lies a remarkable body of land, being high and rolling, reminding the traveler of the best cotton lands of Georgia. The county is admirably adapted to orange culture; and for sugar is not excelled by any portion of Louisiana. In many localities the pine apple and banana can be successfully cultivated. As an evidence of the mildness of the climate we may remark that the lemon is the most tender of the citrus tribe; and as we were leaving Brooksville, in February last, Dr. Mayo handed us some lemons grown in the place, which for size, color, thinness of skin and aroma were remarkable. We were assured by A. F. Frierson that he annually made from 150 to 200 gallons of wine from eleven Scuppernong vines.

As an evidence of the quality and productiveness of the land in this locality, with defective cultivation, and little, if any, manure, we append a few figures, going to show what has been produced per acre:

The inhabitants of the county number about 2,500, and represent almost every State east of the Ohio. In the language of S. Stringer, Esq., of Brooksville, " they arc a peaceable and quiet people, frugal and hospitable, courteous to strangers and glad to see them come when they bring the insignia of honesty and enterprise. There are but few who take any interest in politics, and most of these are among the colored people."

Machua county, in the neighborhood of and to the east of Gainesville, presents a section of the State worth examining, as large bodies of excellent land, adapted to grape culture, can be found. Beginning at the western boundary of the State and extending to a section near the head of the St. John's, the traveller will find an elevated belt, with a northerly and southerly slope, forming a ridge or spine about forty miles in width. The soil of this belt is underlaid by a porous limestone older than the miocene group of the tertiary system, and is evidently one of the future wine producing sections of the United States. There may be a few isolated spots on the banks, or to the east of the St. John's river, where the vine may succeed, but, in our opinion, the viticulturist must locate in a more elevated region, where he will find climate and soil adapted to his wants.

As a grape for producing wine, where the proper thermometric conditions exist, nothing can equal the Scuppernong, if we take into consideration the quantity and quality of the product, ease of cultivation, non-liability to disease and its adaptation to almost any soil. One great item of expense attending the culture of other varieties is pruning, training and difficulties attending cultivation where vines are planted close together. The Scuppernong possesses advantages peculiar to itself, for, all that is required for its successful culture is to supply it with an arbor over which it can wander at will, for to grow it successfully the knife must not be used. Where durable varieties of timber, as live and white oak and cedar are plentiful, the expense of erecting a suitable arbor is trifling. The vines are planted about thirty feet apart and trained to stakes for three or four years, when stout posts, with a crotch at the upper end, are firmly placed in the ground at proper distances; upon these posts stout poles are placed, and upon these saplings or split stuff is laid. When the trellis is erected, the vines are allowed to wander at will.