Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-16
VEGETABLE GARDENING
la the NeIghbOrhOOd OF Penssesin Re'
quiTes labor and Expensive ma
nuFing OF a SANDY Soil

Occasional Correspondence Of the Appeal
PENSACOLA, FLA, Juse 13.-It is known
to your readers that this place is not in the
orange belt, but it may be Interesting 10
know something of the coil and natural re
sources OF this region besides those lnen-
toned in my last aTEnck farming" ior any
excapt Z homesrnalket ia not known here, YET
thosgs who are engaged in this business sue
coed 10 an extent that warrants the belief
thai gardening for Northern markets might
be made profitable here. l have not Under
taken 10 write theory, but facts as nearly as
can get them; so | shall make statements
and leave the reader to draw conciusIons.
"This being a sandy soil you cannot raise
anything in the vegetable line here without
msnurIng, but with manure finer vegetables
cannot be grown anywhere" 20 said prac-
teal citizen who has had much experience
in farming in Georgia and Alabama, and
also in Southern Florida. 1t may strike
the reader that il all the fertility must
be put into the soil there can be no
advantages, but not so. The loOseness oil The
ground secures free penetration TO rain, air
aad heat, with easy access TO the fertilizers
by rootlets, and this too with less frequent
stirrings. To the distance of one mile back
from the beach the saud-bed is 30 deep that
much OF the value OF fertilizers IL carried
bsloW the reach Of the rootlets by the rains,
and during dry weather crops suffer more
than when grown over a clay subsoil. The
effect OF drouth, however, il easily overcome
by what the people call 'drove wells" Oae
aaaiis. l.s.-A IT, stsS1s.dsss thsrs ara Lands
with clay subsoii which retain moisture
we'll and present equal advantages Of early
planting and easy cultivation, producing
wheu fsftiii1sd irish and sweet potatoes,
corn, and any garden vegetable, TO perfection
II -. III
require rapid growth 10 be good are OF supe-
rior qualify here, and the-sams may be said
of nelons snd small fruits Garden peas
are planted in December r. early crop; we
had them this year from the LIST of March to
the last Of May-radishes and other co-sea-
sOnsble vegetables, with Irish potatoes fully
gown, by the 22d OF March. Field crops
that have been tried and do well are corn,
oats, millet and sugar-cane. The bermuda
grass grows well without farliliz.Ug; other
grasses have been tried only as they get
scattered from hay fed to siocs,
but judging from these it would
seems that any grass wodld grow we'll here
on the wet lands. Several varieties Of the
grape do well, bus the scuppernoug seems 10
find here lis exact conditions, The liz is the
delight OF the eye az we'll as the ;sste, .aud
the peach also does we'll; but the grated
trees are short-iiyed. Apples do no good
here, aud only one variety Of pears has sue
ceeded. Sheep farming mas not been tried 10
auy great extent. OJe man, who is trying il
on Perdido bay, informs ma that il pays
well, the sheep needieg no feeGiny, exc, pt
ewes at lambiGg. asd The only enemies of the
flock are hogs sod dog. There ID DOT SUI
ficient native gTsss Tor cattie-raisisg, and
iAe dairy business ia just beginning 10 re-
caiFs attentinn-Ia eaneln-isEs thia5- 1870
developed country, with many facilities and
a delightful climate, but has little natural
fertility. The price of land varies from
81 % to $40 per acre, according to location
etc. V. THOMPsoN.