The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-11-28

son contemporary, is one of the growing indus
tries of Florida, we feel it duty to encourage it
and let our neighbors know what it will do in
Levy. We called on Mr.. r. D. Simmons last
Saturday morning, and he took us into his gar
den and proposed to dig cassava root for us
The first one he struck was monstrous root for
one years growth. 1t measured five feet in
length and fifteen inches in circumference at the
base, and weighed twenty pounds. Mr. Sim
mons also took up an arrow root that was fifteen
inches long and an inch in diameter. Gainesville
AdoOcate, 15M
This industry will soon be commenced
in this section. That cassava will grow
to perfection on the rich lands Of Middle
Florida was demonstrated before and dur
ing the late war, and is being proved by
several farmers every year now who
merely grow it for home use, not perhaps
being aware of its great value as an arti-
Gle of commerce and as feed for stock.
Judge Tillman, formerly planter in
Madison county, in this State, and now of
Waycross, Georgia, cultivated it before
the war, and we have his authority for
the statement that on good soil it will
yield in the neighborhood of seventy
tons to the acre. We trust the Judge
will give us the results of his experience
as to yield, soil, time of planting, &c. If
our farmers would give some attention to
the industry, capital would speedily be
invested in starch mills in every commu-
nifty, and the growers find ready market
for the roots at remunerative prices 1t
has been ascertained that aside from the
superior starch obtained, cassava yields
greater percentage OF glucose sugar than
the same bulk of corn, and from it is also
obtained the tapioca of commerce. In
South Florida the roots are used as sub
stitute for bread. There can be no pos
sible doubt that its introduction into this
section would not only prove successful
but be of immense benefit materially.
We append the following from the
Barlow Polk county, Informant:
The article known in the commercial world as
glucose. and so extensively used in adulterating
sugars and in the manufacture OF candies, syr.
ups jeles, and all similar things, has heretofore
been made from grapes and corn, but mostly
from the latter, taking many millions of bushels
per annum, one establishment using 1000, 900
year. BY recent experiments aud the fullest
test, il is shown that cassava contains greater
quantity 10 the ton than anything else, and that,
according to price, it can be more cheaply made
from these roots than otherwise, and ut the same
time utilize the starch; and still further. The
residuum willlmake the tapioca of the market.
The poorest sands of Florida will produce the
cassava In large quantities, ami there can be but
little doubt that the much despised and neg
lected fat-woods and saw palmetto fats will
produce from fifteen tn forty tons 10 the acre,
with very light cultivation. And as the con-
sumption of glucose now 10 its infancy, reaches
about 100000 tons, and starch perhaps three
times as MUCH and If cheapened so as to be 40
cessible, tapioca may likewise grow in public
favor.
The relative product Of glucose is about IS fbl-
lows: One bushel of corn-ffty-six pounds
produces thirty pounds glucose. One bushel of
cassava-same weight-produces say only thirty
pounds. Then one acre of land ia the North
west produces on an average thirty-dve bushels,
or about one ton OF grain good average land
In Florida will produce forty tons OF cassava, or
about | 400 bushels. One acres product of corn
will produce 1,O0O pounds glucose; one acre Of
cassava viii produce 1900 pounds; or II the
product Is reduced TO the poorest land product
of 800 bushels Of roots, then $4,000 pounds Of
glucose Is produced. and the profit on iis manu-
acture Is fully one cent per pound, and The taben
are worth about forty cents per buslel. or from
$500 to $500 per acre.
II ID generally asserted that forty tons to the
acre may be averaged. and We have recently
seen . statement going the rounds Of the press,
saying that sixty tons to the acre Il made on Ia.
dian river. Now, It these siatemeuts are true,
how far ahead of orange growing and every
thing else Is this neglected root cropf We have
no reason 10 doubt them, Cor the potato and
tomato ere new additions TO the food crop, and
80 how impossible 1t Is to supply the demand
for them.
There 10 another feature OF this crop thas en-