The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-08-13


at Sanford, Orange county, printed in a
recent issue the following letter, written
by ga prominent market gardener Of
Alachua county," TO Mr.. J. E. Ingraham.
We commend it to the citizens of Middle
Florida as source from whence many
valuable hints may be gathered concern
ing the profitable business of market gar
dening, which has done 80 much to build
up and enrich the interior portion of East
ern Florida, section of country which is,
generally speaking, far inferior in depth
and richness of soil to Middle Florida, and
has the additional disadvantage that its
natural growth is several days, If not
weeks, later in starting in the Spring than
that of our section, and frosts which
would destroy all early or tender vegeta-
tion in it's low lands, would scarcely effect
any damageeon the hills of Middle Florida
We hope TO see the day soon, when Talla-
hassee, Monticello, Quincy and Madison
will each ship more early vegetables and
fruits to Northern and Western markets,
than all the stations on the Transit Road
put together. Here is the letter:
GAINESVILLE, FLA, July 5, $780,
james E. Ingrdhdm:
My DEAR SIR: / regret that / have not the
time to answer your letter in full. Will give you
n condensed report, and at some future day will
take pleasure in giving you and your friends such
information as you may request.
ohn hn vaIo taA In, hot Hodo In
December and January for early shipments;
transplanted in February or March, or when
from four to twelve inches high; shonld be
planted deep in the ground as possible in rows
from four to five feet apart, and from three TO
four feet apart in the drill or rows Cultivate
by plowing and hoeing, very much on the order
of cotton or cane-about two plowings and one
or two hoeings is all that can be done. have
gathered, shipped and sold from one acre this
season 425 one bushel crates, and sold at from
80 cents to SO per crate; have netted from this
one acre this season $3.50 clear of all expenses.
The average crop here per acre on good land is
from $50 to $50 bushel crates.
Beans should be planted as early as 1st Febru-
ary, in rows two and a half feet apart and from
two to four feet apart in drill the width of
common hoe apart Some prefer TO drill them
from one to three inches apart. l prefer them
in hills on account of hOeng between. They will
yield on good land, natural or fertized, from ESQ
to 500 bushel crates.
Cucumbers should be planted from the 1st of
February to the 1st of March, in rows four feet
apart, and plenty of seed used and sOwn in the
drill from three to four inches apart to warrant
perfect stand. When all danger of frost is over,
chop out 10 the width of hoe, six inches apart,
leaving only one in a hill. This will ensure a
big yield and is plenty far apart, as shipping sea-
son, as general thing, is over before the ground
Is well covered with vines After this mode OF
planting, on good land or when well manured,
the yield will run up 10 400 or 500 crates per
acre. Cotton seed and stable or barn manure
makes the best fertilizer, composted in pens, one
layer OF each, three inches OF cotton seed 10 six
inches of stable or muck, is the best know of
tor vegetables, or "muck" and cotton seed in
the absence of stable manure. COw-pen lands
are excellent.
The common fish guano is the best common
fertilizer we have used here-from $50 TO 300 lbs.
per acre in drill. Caution should be used not to
put on too much at the time or in too close con-
tact with roots. When 800 lbs. per acre are
used it is much better to put half the quantity
deep in the drill and half the second plOwing
sown in the siding furrow, and cover with next
furrow.
Beans range in price from 80 cents 10 % per
crate. A good crop per acre will make from 500
to 5000 clear
Cucumbers 800 TO $780,
Egg-plants, a good crop, will yield from 200 10
500 crates per acre, and sell from 81 to "a per
crate.
Irish potaioes( e. Peerless preferred) yield from
100 to 25O crates, sell for 81 to 90.
Squashes yield per acre 200 TO 400 crates, and
sell from so cents to 50.
Beets from 200 to 600 bushels per acre, and sell
from 81 TO 81 per crate.
Cauli flower is a well paying crop-yields well
and sold this season at from $12 10 $50 per bbl
shipped from here.
Cabbage will net from 800 TO $500 per acre.
Mutton corn will not bear shipping to North
ern markets. l shipped extensively 10 Augusta,
Macon and Atlanta, Ga, and sold at 40 cents
per dozen 90 bushels can easily be made per
acre, or about $500 or 5000 ears, equivalent to
$3.50 gross, or say $50 to $500 per acre net. l
have made this this season. Prys sceM
Watermelons and cantelOpes will yield 700
good saleable melons per acre; an average OF only
ten cents each is 800 per acre. $15 to PCS will
manure. plant, cultivate and deliver on railroad.
OF course when shipped North We realize much
better prices. 800 per acre for melons can be
made here aud sell in home markets. Cost OF
planting and cultvaiing less than any other
| CROP All the foregoing crops can be planted on
| the same land that oranges are grown on under
six years old. These crops should all be fol-
| lowed, as soon as gathered, with sweet potatoes
on the same land-which will yield from 100 to
400 bushels per acre, and sell al from 80 cents to
| 81 per bushel. When potatoes are not planted
| field peas should be, and soon as peas are
| gathered, the vines should be plowed in as fer.
tiliZers for the oranges.