The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-11-30
VEGETABLE GROWING In FLORIDA.

.
ted by all who propose to engage IN this
industry in Middle Florida.
CUCUMBERs.-Th rows should be laid
off from 4 to Al feet apart thoroughly
broken out in flat beds, well pulverized !;
take care that the middle or water fur
row be we'll 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 a small scooter pillow,
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 well with vegeta-
bles. generally 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 hill and cover with a 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, 8 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 plowlng 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 adj
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, l 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 "culs" in different crates
l 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.
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 we'll and must be observed in
the management of every class of vege-
tables.
ToMAToEs. 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 il 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 higb-making the fence to lean or
incline south, or facing the sun low enough
to just allow the 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 20 a. to allow q
strip Of OsnabuEg Or other cloth to be-
hung along and allowed 70 suspend on
the south side ii extreme cold ni9hts, and
then thrown up After sunrise. This pro-
tection will hnId vvaii n dvarv savsxef