The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-05-29
How to Live in Florida.
FooD.

our groves come into bearing; what
can we do to make money to sup
port our families? ?"
The fact is the extravaganza en-
gendered by the war, has quite unfit
ted people to cope with adversely.
For years past work has been plenti-
ful at high prices, and they never
deigned to practice home economics.
Ii anything was wanted, however
simple, that might be produced in
the cottage garden, it was easier to
send the money and buy it. Times
have changed, and we are now down
to hard pan; how to get throgh it
is the riddle.
We commence a series of articles,
which will be produced from time to
time, and hope that some good may
result. We are not going to write
theories, but facts that we have seen
ourselves and that at times we have
been obliged to follow, when poverty
Knocked at the door. We will tell
you how people manage in other
countries with climate similar to this,
and where they have little money,
and no market, to buy anything.
The planters of the West Indies
were impoverished by the manumis
sion of their slaves, and had to find
out how to live on their own resour-
ces, so nowthe question is not what
can / send to market for ?" but " what
can send to market to bring me in
money ~ In the first place we con-
denim the folly of any person of linn
tied means burdening themselves
with Too much land, five to ten acres
is, sufficient; and this is capable with
industry Of supporting any family in
comfort.
1t is quite mistaken idea that
chickens cannot be raised without
corn. The planters in many parts of
the island of jamaica raise great
quantities or coc6aliut, cut III slnslf
pieces that the fowls can swallow, and
those that have no cocoanuts boil
Tanyahs and cut it up in the same
way. The chickens do not know
corn, and if you threw some to them,
would think You were pelting them
with pebbles. In the sweet potatoe
we have an excellent substitute equal,
if not superior to the cocoanut or the
Taayah. The Irish pork is found all
over the world, and brings the high
est price in the market. The pigs in
ireland DO not know corn, they are
fed on Irish potatoes grown in the
garden patch, in which every cottager
grows sufficient for his family and
pig, for master pig is an important
factor in the household economy, for
he has TO pay the rent of the cottage;
and often sleeps with the children or
very near them. West India pork is
noted for its delicacy, yet the pigs
never know corn; they are fed on
boiled Taayah, fruit and vegetables.
The sweet potatoe has more nourish-
ment than these. The waste patches
between the rails of five acre field
can be planted in Guinea grass, and
will give more food than COW can
eat ayear; with the additionof apeck
Of sweet potatoes daily, chopped up
and sprinkled with salt, even Flori-
de. COW can be made to give more milk
and butter than a family can consume.
You may go into hundred houses
in some parts Of the tropics, and
never find a pound of flour, all the
bread used is made from cassava; a
row or two planted in the field will
give more bread than family can
consume. Here you have chickens,
eggs, bacon, fresh milk and butter,
all from an acre or two of sweet po-
tatoes; bread from the cassaya, and
if you want buildings, it will make
delicious ones. Here is good sub
stantial food for any family, and plen-
ty oft, from an article almost as ca
sily raised az weeds. You can have