The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-12-21
vEeErABLE GROWING IN FLoRIDA.

articles on vegetable growing by Mr. r.
M. Oliver, of that city, who has attained
quite local reputation ~ a successful
gardener. His remarks will be sppreeia-
ted by all who propose to engage IN this
industry in Middle Florida. y
CuCUMBERs. The rows should be laid
off from to Al feet apart; thoroughly
broken out in Hat beds, well pulverised /;
take care that the middle or water fur
row be well opened, in order to carry of
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 viii allow. Then
open the bed with small scooter pillow,
making plain but small, shallow furfow ;
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. De not
be penurious or too economical in seed,
better plant lavishly, 80 as to insure an
early and good stand, and have some to
cut out, than miss an early and paying
yield. The old adage, T" the early bird
catches the bug" holds well with vegeta-
bles. Igenerally plant the 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 q hill and cover with rake
When up, let them. stand this distance
until they become bulky and strong, or
until all danger Of frost is over. Then
cut out to one inch hill, to 10 inches
apart. They will stand this distance very
well until they begin to cross or lock in
the rows. By this time the early and
paying shipments will have been gath
cred. After this mode of planting more
and earlier fruit can be made per acre
than any other have ever tried.
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 are all OUT
This will enable one to gather with. much
less trouble, and allows all the moisture
to go towards the support of the cucum-
Der in dry weather. AS to the quality of
land to plant, prefer the best that can
be got every time; and, if not naturally
good, make it so. A compost of stable
manure, cotton seed, mellow muck and
lime, is good for any and all kinds of
vegetables. Other manures or CONNER
cial fertilizers can be used to great ad-
vantage in the absence of the above COM
post; but great caution should be used in
the mode of applying and the amount.
AS to the stage to gather, | cannot here
well describe that. 1t must be learned
from experience. The best only should
be we'll and closely packed in crates to
themselves, and "culls'' in different crates.
/ also think it good idea to ship each
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 difference
in freight. Above all things ship in good
condition to no other than houses Of es-
tablished reputation, and you will run but
little if any risk.
l have been more particular in writing
on this first mentioned vegetable, from
the fact that my advice as to care in
picking, packing and shipping cucum-
bers, holds well and. must be observed in
the management of every class Of vege-
tables.
ToMAToEs.-This is an important, troub-
lesome, and, if properly managed, per-
haps the best paying of all our vegetable
crops for Northern markets. AS to the
different varieties prefer the Hather-
way" for shipping, though the Acme "
is said by many to be superior. The
"Trophy" is also very good. prefer
Hatherway'' because it yields equally
well, has more solidity and stands ship
ping, in my opinion, better Have not
had experience enough yet with the
. Acme to fully decide as to its merits.
Shall plant and test them more fully this
year, though the bulk of my crop will be
the Hatherway variety.
Hot beds of from three to four feet
wide by any reasonable length lowing to
amount of acreage to be planted), should
be prepared in December and early, in
January, by getting plank and running
close wall from east to west--say four
feet Matchmaking the fence to lean or
incline south, or facing the sun low enough
to just allowitbe sun to shine under. No
cold rains should be. allowed to fall on,
the bed, but watering pots should be
used when necessary. This fence or wall
protects the plants from the cold north
winds and rains, and gathers warmth
from the sun. Buttons or nails should be
tackled on top the fence so as to allow ]
strip of Osnaburg or other cloth to be
hung along and allowed. to suspend on
the south side in extreme cold nights, and
then thrown up after sunrise. This pro
lection will hold well in. very severe
weather, and is the best ] have ever tried.
The bed itself should be raised with good
compost at least four inches high with
poles or plank above the level OF the
common surface. The seed should be well
raked 10, andsth bed well spinkled with
water Care should be- taken noe to sow
too thick, for here in this bed they should
stand until danger of frost is over, and If
they should grow from twelve to sixteen
inches high, so much the better; had
them to commence blooming in bed before
transplanting. Here, they are. protected
with less trouble and win grew. faster
than anywhere elsa Prepare land as
with cucnmbers, except hedsg should be
five feet apart and from three to five feet
in the hill with only one plant. The land
should be bedded out well, then open the
water or middle furrewu deep and clear.
A careful dr0pper should drop or place
each plant In an uprigh6 position, with
root at the bottom of fnrrow and ton
leaning to one aide. The nlanta ahonId