The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-11-09
VEGETABLE GROWING I'M
ALACHUA.

We copy below from late issues of the
Gainesville San several very interesting
articles on vegetable growing by Mr.. p.
M. Oliver, of that city, who has attained
quite local reputation as successful gar
dner. His remarks will be appreciated by
all who propose to engage in this industry
in Middle Florida.
CUcUABERs.-The rows should be laid
off from 4 to II feet apart; thoroughly
broken out in fiat beds, well pulverized !;
take care that the middle or water fur
row be well opened, in order to carry off
the surplus water from our usually heavy
spring rains.
This should be done the latter part of
January or early in February, as the
mildness of spring will allow. Then
open the bed with small scooter plow,
making plain but small, shallow furrow |;
and, if the land be rough, better pass up
and down each with hoe, and knock out
the clods and roots. This being done,
then planting should commence. Buy
good seed from reliable houses. Do not
be penurious or too economical in seed,
better plant lavishly, SO as to insure an
early and good stand, and have some to
cut out, than miss an early and paying
yield. The. old adage, "the early bird
catches the bug" holds we'll with vegeta-
bles. I generally plant the q white spine !"
variety, though the long green is said to
be very good. Sow good seed in the fur
rows so as to come up about three inches
apart, one in bill and cover with rake
When up, let them stand this distance
until they become bulky and strong, OF
until all danger of frost is over. Then
cut out to one inch hill, to 10 inches
apart. They will stand this distance very
we'll until they begin to cross or lock in
the rows. BY this time the early and
paying shipments will have been gather
ed. After this mode of planting more
and earlier fruit can be made per acre
than any other have ever tried. - .a&e
As to the mode Of cultivation, nothing
is more simple. Keep the ground well
pulverized by plowing and hoeing every
10 or 20 days; and be sure in laying by
that the grass and weeds ara all out--
This will enable one to gather with much
less trouble, and allows all the moisture
to 60 towards the support of the .euealn-
Der in dry weather, As to the quality Of
land to plant, l prefer the best thatacan
be got every time; and, if not naturally
good. make it 80. A compost of stable
manure, cotton seed, mellow muck aud
lime, is good for any and all kinds of
vegetables. Other manures or CONNER
cial fertilizers can be used to grsst ~
vantage in the absence Of the shove com
post; but great caution should be used
in the mode Of applying and the amount.
As TO the stage to gather, / canpot here
well describe that. II must be learned
from experience. The best only shonld
be well and closely packed 10 crates TO
themselves, and culls'' in different crates.
Ialso think it good idea to ship sach
quality TO different commission -houses
and let each sell on its own merits. Ship
promptly by the most direct and quickest
route, regardless of the little dtasrsnes
in freight. Above all things ship II rood
-
eonditionto no other than houses al e.
tablahed reputation, and you viii run
but little i any risk
/ have been more psyticpisr IN writing
on this .iirst mentioned vegetable, non
the iact that ny "A dyice y u csrs d pick:
Ing, pspkipg ana shipplns y ncscuna -
holds well and mb8s be observsd d tIl@
naap4 cement u svery eI61s " III
y T01k i n u inport t3i: tz5s|
aaIou,e WA ~ n |an 4 s