The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-03-29
Work for ApriI.
oranges.

rendered useless the sowing OF various
crops during the month of March, so
that a "staud' has either not been Sc
cured or but q feeble growth has re>
suited. Where such is the case, SOW
again al the first favorable moment
after rain, and endeavor by increased
vigilance in hoeing, to keep ahead of
the weeds that will inevitably spring
into being, and let us hope that a
recurrence OF dry weather will be
tempered with sufficient rain 10
carry crops, even if late, to matu-
rity. Nothing contributes more to
the welfare of crops as keeping
them stirred with the hoe, enabling
the heavy dews to penetrate to the
growing roots while the plants are
young; the impetus thus acquired,
enabling the crop at later stage to
carry on their development with less
extraneous aid.
All planting in the kitchen garden
in spring and summer with crops
such as turnips, lettuce, beets, peas,
beans, potatoes, radishes, carrots okra,
etc, should tor convenience in after
| working be sOwn in drills, and the
first hoeing by filing in the drills acts
as an earthing-up also. Give all
such plants sufficient space in the
drills by judicious thinning out.
Plants intended for salads, a. e better
for abundant watering whenever dry
weather occurs, which it neglected
they lose crispness and flavor On
ions will now be making good growth
and IN this they should be encour.
aged as weight tells in harvesting
the crop and realizing the best prices.
Towards maturity, and especially
where onions are inclined to develop
at the neck above the bulb, it is rec
ommended to run light roller over
the plants, or break down the leaves
to check any exuberance Of growth
at the expense of the bulb which is
the essential point to aim at unless
seed is an object. 1t is astonishing
that year after year no effort has been
made 10y any one 10 raise seed here,
and there is no reason why something
cannot be done to this end. North-
err seedmen do not seem to make a
speciality Of the kind of onion seed
required for Florida, and the kind
wanted, is not generally dealt in by
the trade in this country and in Eu>
rope. The best seed comes from
Teneriffe, and the importing houses
OF that island are obscure to US here,
although locally widely known in
places where they grow large onions
such as Spain, MADEIRA and Bermuda.
Tomatoes will be setting and rips
ening fruit among the earliest set out
plants. AS opportunity offers, cons
tinue setting out plants from seed
beds; pinch back any rampant growth,
remove suckers and endeavour to
maintain bushy habit OF plant
where stalking is not resorted to,
where but few plants are grown,
supporting the trailing shoots on
stakes is to be preferred.
The bush squash can still be sown
and its bushy habit will enable it to
perfect its fruit in closer quarters
than the running varieties The best
are the white and yellow bush scal-
lop, and the summer crookneck.
Hubbard and Boston marrow are
good varieties TO SOW of the larger
growing kinds. Okra is always a
good and continuous cropper in sum.
mer and fall, and may be sown now.
| Melons may also be sown. Rice,
any time during this, and next month
sown in drills Will ensure a crop, es>
pecially on low lying and hummock
land. Georgian is the kind best suited
here and does not need irrigating.