The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-03-11
Precinct and state Associations

Editor of The Florida Agriculturist:
In your issue of February 25th, you
say (editorially / think that "Cultiva-
tors of the soil seldom ever unite for any
length of time, for their own good, and
instance the Grange as a case in point.
Now, Mr.. Editor, take exception to all
this. Tillers OF the soil will, can, and do
unite for their own good better than any
other people in the world. If you will
glance over the issue of any agricultural,
Horticultural, floral, poultry or livestock
journal, YOU will see whole columns of
notices of meetings of clubs, associations
and societies, lin all parts of the country
except Florida) in the interest of these
industries. Look at one single interest
in agriculture alone, viz: The New Eng
land Ensilage Congress, that has just
adjourned, the proceedings OF which
every man who owns COW or horse in
Florida, should have read. 1t is to live
stock and agricultural associations that
the credit is due of having raised ensil-
age to the front rank, as a milk and but
ter-producing forage. Had it not been
for the combined societies of poultry
raisers, that run back for thirty years,
working throught County and State Fairs,
the old dunghill fowl would have been
the only known breed. Had it not been
for the agricultural societies meeting to-
gether for mntual exchange of ideas and
experiences for the past thirty years,
and the demand they have made for bet
ter tools, we today would have been US
ing the same old plantation hoes, the
straight-side, mould-board plows and
woodentooth harrows of half a century
ago. Nearly every improvement in ag-
ke ho fb.o
suggestion of practical farmers, in farm
er's clubs assembled, and very many of
them from tanners themselves. Who
but the farmers clubs and agricultural
societies, promoted the passage of the
laws that have made the inspection of
commercial fertilizers obligatory in every
State, except those that have. not these
same associations? just IN proportion
as these different interests are combined
in clubs, etc., do we find them in the
most advanced state. Every thinking
man knew, and the whole press of the
North foretold the downfall of the
Grange, when it fell into the hands of
politicians as an agricultural and social
organization it was a perfect success,
the day it became a political body it
dated its downfall and decay. When it
attempted to control township, county,
and State elections, and became ma
chine in the hands of politicians, it lost
sight of the aims for which it was organ
lied and passed away, as it should.
When the apple interest OF the North
was going to decay, when thousands of
growers were putting the AK to their
trees. what saved them? Earnest CO.
operation. Today it is upon sure
foundation, with growing outlet for all
the surplus crop in foreign markets;
and Notwithstanding the enormous weld
of the past year and the hard times, their
perfect organizations, have saved them
from the disastrous failure that has over
taken the orange growers of Florida for
the same period. What would be thought
of a man who should begin to build his
house from the roof downward? This is
lust what the fruit growers and press of
Florida are attempting to do with our
orange interest. All your State Fruit
Growers Associations, State Fairs, Or
ange Exchanges (God save the mark
are your cap-stones. The foundation
best laid by earnest precinct associations,
well-organized county societies and the
delegated State conventions are lacking.
see that the Palatka Neacs is agitating
the question of a commercial fertilizer
inspector The editor ought to have
gold medal at once. This is the very
first practical suggestion in the great or
ange interest. If the-what is it called?
Florida Fruit Growers Association
had made the slightest attempt to that
end, such a law could have been got
through the Legislature years ago. Yet
today the fruit growers of the State are
paving $40 a ton for a mixture OF 500
sand and 500 South Carolina phosphate
and KANT, that costs $12 per ton. am
credibly informed that to obtain one
ton Of pure bone meal, or dissolved bone,
one would have to buy five tons of the
stuff sold as 'fPure Bone Meal" If the
editor of the PaIotkG NeacS succeeds
Through his agitation in getting us an in
spector who should be good analytical
chemist he will surely deserve well of his
State. 1t lies with the Press and more
particularly the Agricultural Press of the
State whether we have an organization
or not.
The peach-growers of Delaware are or
ganized, the apple-growers of every
State in the North are organized; the
grape-growers of California, the poultry
raisers of dozen States are organized;
all the livestock interests of the North
are organized and each and every one of
them supports press in itsinterest.
Is it not the simplest folly to say that the
fruit-groWers' of Florida cannot organize