The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-12-10
New SMYRNA.
Proceedings of the Agricultural and
Eruit.GrOMere, Association.

NCW DHly Auds
Proceedings of the Agricultural and
Frutt-GFOWers' Association.
October 26,-meeting was held at
the residence of the secretary While
dinner was being served, the usual
walk was taken among the crops,
which consisted mostly of sweet po-
tatoes and COW peas. The ld,about
two and one-half acres in extent,is on
high pine land Outside of the fence
and close to it stand many very tall
pine trees, the effect of which is
plainly shown by the crops which are
quite light near the fence, while in
the middle of the field they are
thrifty and look well. The grape
vines of the scuppernong family also
seem to be seriously effected, while
the pine-apples which grow near the
fence are doing well. The tops of a
few large orange stumps set out last
spring, have been kept sound and
solid by being vanished with gum
shelac and alcohol, OF the consistency
of paint. Returning to the house
dinner was eaten, after which the
meeting was called to order by the
president, the roll called and minutes
OF last meeting read and approved.
The names of Mrs. Jane Sheldon and
Mr.. F. E. B. were proposed for
membership. Mr.. r. D. Smith then
introduced the subject tor the meet
ing by reading an article by S. s.
Parsons, copied into the South
Florida Journal from the New York
Times. The subject Of the article
was "Orange Culture in Florida" 1t
spoke of the proper location for a
grove, the prospects of market tor
the fruit when grown, and particu-
larly of the expense Of growing the
trees and keeping them in a thrifty,
bearing condition. His argument be-
ing that there Were but few spots in
! Florida where the orange trees would
i groS%als aSEd 'fSf 'Ff5Sdfdcs ics 4F Several crops
without suhl6ie fertilizer being ap.
| piled to them to.reduce the net profit
of the business to par with that of
raising apples at the North. He pro.
posed two methods of fertilizing with
muck, either of which, we have no
doubt, would, if followed out, have
the effect stated. Mr.. Smith said:
'That most OF our orange groves
must, after a while, be tertilized is
beyond question, but if we have got
| to follow one of these methods the
prospect is indeed gloomy for those
who have no present income, and are
waiting for their groves to support
| them. Now is there not cheaper
way of giving our trees the necessary
plant food? / think there is" He
expressed a doubt about chemicals
meeting the case, and stated as to the
objection to plowing in cow peas,
that it tore up the surface roots and
injured the tree. Quite an animated
discussion then followed as to the
different fertilizers and the mode OF
| applying them. Mr.. Allen could not
see why the materials that were
found by analysis to compose the
tree. leaf and fruit were not the things
wanted to make the grove thrive,
and as they could be bought compar.
atively cheap, and the cost of apply
ing was almost nothing, he considered
them the best fertilizers to apply.
Mr.. Smith said, "to buy commercial
fertilizers takes money, if man is
without money to buy with he must
find way to meet the case with Ia
bor." He then read an article which
gave a number of instances where
pine land groves had grown thriftily
and borne large and profitable crops
for twenty years and over without
any sign of giving out. Mr.. Hart
thought there was considerable truth
in what Mr.. Parsons had written, but
that it was so overdrawn as to entirely
mislead many that have not visited
the State, is evident from what has
Just been read and from the many
similar cases coming within our own
knowledge. He suggested the grow
ing of pea vines and burying them at
the extremity of the roots as one Of
the cheap ways of keeping a grove
up. Mr.. Rolf had no fear but that
he could keep his grove bearing after
it once got at it. Mr.. Alden then
read an article from the Rxr0J Caro-
L,,So,a of 1872. subject, Investigation