The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-04-18

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Rnrmln9 80 Rrntf Qelsnrss
We are disposed % remind 90 citisens 80
"a sxcslleni lessoa CO b learqed fpQm g %
servaslon and cousi Faiien d 90 prActice4 q =
Nv among q. who havs atismpted 9 dspan
somewhat nom the established order g tlllngss
and instead OF relying entirely ca the slsple
crops Of corn, grain. oot.sp snd cane - source
Of observation-disclosures, have gone into the cultiva-
ton Of several vegetable crops for early shipment
Nerth. The results Of the operations Of such
experiments have been most Satisfactory and
convincing.
With land devoid Of any previous preparation.
By means Of rotation Of crops and manuring,
thus bringing Il Ia one or two years 10 the tine
or hsaSt properly needed to convert old corn OF
cotton fields into garden spots, quite number
Of our most enterprising farmers have for several
years put In Irish potatoes and cabbage on
considerable scale, and realized therefrom very
handsome returns. Twenty-Five barrels Of Irish
potatoes. suitable tor shipping purposes, have
been taken from land per acre, which nstted in
New Ysrk over the cost Of freight. commissions.
barrels, labor Of producing, seed, manure and
rent Of land, $50 per acre. besides leaving half
many more potatoes OF q second size on the
hands Of the producer, for homo use. feed, etc.
This b all accomplished between the first Of
January and the fifteenth of April TO first Of
of May. That is to say, any Zoe farmer in Leon
county, can, without interfering with the staple
operations of his farm, set say I" acres to Irish
potatoes in January. Lay out for seed at 81
har tn h. ~ r
manure 90 bushels of cotton seed to the acre,
600 bushels at cents per bushel, $50; and ten
dollars per acre, say 500 to cover labor, rent,
barrels and packing, In all an outlay of 1856,
distributed through 100 days Put on the
cars at Tallahassee $50 barrels of potatoes that
average in New York $3.50 per barrel, making
$1,S75; commissions of 10 per cent off, leaves 81
$3.50 freight and carriage of90 cents per barrel or
$225 off, leaves &1.O12.5O transferred from the
ten acres of the old farm to ones trouser pocket
in 100 days; about 1876 barrels of medium sized
roots left on hand, worth, say $2O0 per barrel,
makes $3.50 more, and the ten acres just in trim,
and just in season to be put to either corn or
cotton, from which crop $3.50 more can be real
lied by the first of December, when that ten
acres can go again to seed with rye or oats for
winter pasture for the dairy cows, and take an
other crop of anything the following March,
This is one of the great advantages a farmer
in our climate, and with our seasons, enjoys over
the Northern man. Here we can plant some crop
at any season of the year, thus turning over and
putting under the grass and weeds as fertilizers.
What we note of potatoes is equally true of
cabbage. That crop planted last August is be-
ing now sold in New York by several of our
farmers at net profit of 1874 cents per head, and
the crop from which they are being taken runs
about 5000 heads to the acre-say 1925 dollars
per acre-and this between August first and the
end of the following April leaving the land
ready and in season for either corn, cotton or
sweet potatoes These figures are taken from
facts as practically demonstrated noao. In
neither instance has the enterprise interfered
with the general operations on the farm No
less corn, cotton, cane, sweet potatoes or other
crop has been grown than if the truck crops
had not been handled.
Our lands are stiff and do not leach. Fertili-
zers where it is desirable to apply them, held
in the ground.
Fruits, so far as tried, pay equally as well as
truck farming We have the great advantage
of moi being dependent on the orange alone, but
can look to peaches, plums, pears and grapes
Then let every farmer look to these certain
sources of money. Remember the cash comes in
q most convenient season. and avoids the neces-
sity of q cropping mortgage" to enable one 10
gather the crop of cotton in the fall. We hope
the exhibition TO be held by the Middle Florida
Agricultural and Mechanical Association, on the
Sd and 4th of next month, avowedly with view
to encourage this line of industry, may have the
desired effect, and awaken our farmers generally
to true sense Of their interests.