The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-05-18

nutritious. The roots are fit for use
in October. There are several modes
OF preparing it. Grated baked in
thin cakes it is paIatable bread.
Boiled then mashed and baked it
resembles Irish potatoes prepared in
the same way. Grated and mixed
with little flour, an egg or two and
baking powder to make it light. it
makes when fried, the most delicious
fritter l have ever eaten. 1t is also
grated, and with proper condiments
baked as a pudding. From the
grated root is prepared fine article
OF starch, used in making custards, or
tor starching clothes, with this advan.
tage over other starches, the clothes
retain their stiffness for a long time:
Hogs are fond of the root and fatfeu
on it rapidly.
In planting, select your best land,
and it possible. manure some if YOU
wish large roots, as the plant is a
heavy feeder. l have know own forty lbs.
OF roots to be gathered from one
plant or hill, The top OF the nlant
is used for seed and should be cut in
pieces SO as to leave a number of
eyes upon each piece. They are
planted in checks 4x4 aud do not re.
qulre much work as the TOP soon
shades the ground. Cau be planted
from January until March.
Arrowroot should be planted in
drills two and half feet and eiob.
teen In the row: TIE roots are
broken so as to leave several ewes to
each. They require shallow culture
should be planted at the same St ason
as cassaya and are ready for use in
October To prepare the roots for
use, it is pounded or crushed until
all the iarina can be washed out: this
should be washed in several waters
until perfectly clean, and dried rap.
idly. The various purposes for
| which II is asegi, are So wl.li-nnon..,.
that it Is no. necessary for me to saw
anything further about it.
Upland rice does we'll on fresh pine
land as there is but little grass to
contend with. In good seasons the
product is from 25 to IS bushels of
rough rice per acre and sells at the
rice mill in Jacksonville, at from
$1,00 to $1,25 per bushel. The land
should be cleared as much as posi-
BILE of the dead wire grass left from
the spring plowiug as it will prevent
the rice coming up. About the first
of June bed up the land about three
feet apart. 1t is best TO do this soon
after rain, so as TO have moist
soil in which to plant the rice, with
greater probability of its sprouling
quickly. Open the bed with short
scooter plow so as to have a shallow
furrow-drop the seed pretty thick
SO as to be sure of good stand and
cover with board put upon the
foot of a scooter stock. This will
throw off all turfs OF grass and clods
and leave the top of the bed clean
When the seeds are we'll up bar off
close to the plants and chop out with
a narrow hoe Work the crop often
enough to keep down the grass and
mellow the soil. About the first of
October the crop will be ripe. Cut
it with a sickle while the dew Is or,
so as to prevent the shattering of
over-ripe heads. When dry, thresh
out. For family use the rice is
pounded in mortar to get off the
outer shell. The mortar is made
from pine block with conical cav.
ity burned in the end, the pestle is a
sharp stick hardened in the fire and
hung to swinging pole, with this
simple apparatus the rice is nicely
cleaned. The straw is eaten readily
by horses and mules.
| have in the foregoing letters
endeavored to show that by proper
management even a poor man has a
chance to make living in Florida
and get start. have been careful
in giving such plain directions that
even those who have been raised in
city or spent their time in some
mechanical employment in the house
will learn how to go to work in the
field aud make most of their family
supplies,
In my next communication, l will
speak briefly of other crops, manu-.
fapfuraO fools oronoro 4,oo.