davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-04-03
A "CRACKER's" IDEA.

Editor Florida AgriculturiSt:
[ can heartily endorse all your say in
recent issue under the caption Learn
Your Business" Alas, too many so-called
grove-makers have almost ruined their
land by constant and continued cultiva-
ton, not allowing even a blade of inno-
cent, harmless grass to grow on the land,
to shade it, to utilize the elements in the
soil not required by the orange trees, and
finally to give back to the soil, when it's
young life is finished, more by far than it
has taken off, and an element, too, that
must sooner or later be applied to the
soil or our labors will amount to naught
-hUmus.
Those of our orange growers who be-
lieve in and practice the clean culture,
are egotists of the worst type, and won't
be convinced of the error of their ways,
so have ceased to attempt it, but hope
in time that they, like your humble serv-
ant will learn in the expensive school of
experience.
However, want the clean culturists to
answer me one question. know that our
people 1--WE Crackers) are laughed at and
derided as non-progressive, but neverthe-
less we manage somehow to make orange
trees progress from tender shoots to ma
iestic trees without forever and eternalIy
digging and delving in the sand. have
often seen young trees set out thirty feet
apart, less than one inch in diameter and
four feet high, and the soil between these
trees, where thcrewas no possibility of an
orange root reaching for years, was
plowed and cultivated two or three times
year and kept as free from grass or
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-04-03

Thousand upon thousand ofdollars are
annually expended in Florida for fertili-
zers, and it is safe to say that a very
large per cent of it is worse than wasted.
This may result from many causes. The
fertilizer may be applied at the wrong
time, the fertilizer applied may be worth
less or not the kind the plants or trees
require; it may be applied in superabund-
ant quantities and only small per cent
absorbed by the trees, the balance, in the
words of Mr. Neeld, ''going down to China
or up to heaven" The object should be
to economic in this matter, and if some
thing else can be found to take the place
of the expensive commercial fertilizer SO
much the better.
The following communications from
practical men of the State, werespectfully
submit to our orange growers. Their
ideas are the results of years of
experience, and are not visionary and
theOretical
MR.. ADAMS ON GREEN MANURING.
Editor Florida Agricu1turiSt:
have just opened the AGRICULTURTsT
of March 18th and read with unalloyed
satisfaction your article entitled, "Learn
Your Business 1t is "chuck full'' OF
good, sound common sense, practical
common sense The writer not only is a
keen practical observer, but has the
courage to trample under foot some very
old, very hackneyed and very generally
accepted heresies The writer strikes the
key note when he says, ''Two or three
years of constant cultivation without al
lowing green sprig to grow will
deplete the richest soil until it will scarce
ly raise cow peas" That is a solid truth.
That is one OF the things we know. We
know it by eXperience-a most costly
teacher. Talk about weeds robbing the
soil and you will be in fashion, and every
one will applaud the custanea antiques.
But what weeds take from the soil is but
q small fraction of what is lost by naked
cultivation. Take rich field and let one
half grow up to weeds; when full grown
cut and haul them off, Rob the soil all
you can for five years. Take the other
half of the same field and keep it clean by
frequent cultivation; don't let robber
weed ever show above the surface; keep
the cultivator and harrow constantly
going. that no robber weed can for a mo-
meaf rob the soil. Atthe end of five years
cor0rare the fertility of the two halves Of
ii.se two fields. One has been as faith
snlly robbed by weeds as it possibly could
! ae. and the otherh has been defended from
the ROBBERS by one OF our thorough, "
intensive farmers. Which half will be
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-04-03
DeLand, Fla, Wednesday, April 3, 1889.

found the most fertile? The one robbed
by weeds will be nearly as good as new;
the naked fallow will scarcely "sprout
COW peas"
That is fact. That is one of the things
that good sense and experience hasfOund
out. Still We find nine out of ten who
never learn anything from the experience
OF others; continue to expose the sandy
soils of Florida to the devastating rays of
asun that dissipates in vapor our scarcest
and most costly element of fertility-the
ammonia. The longer watch the dam
aging effects of stirring our soil, the more
dread have of exposing single particle
of it to the sun. I have almost reached
the conclusion that the soil in an orange
grove should never be stirred at all. A
soil in Florida kept carefully shaded from
the sun requires but very small amount
of fertilizer to keep itup. Oneconstantly
stirred and exposed to the blaze of our
torrid sun needs an immense amount to
prevent it becoming an absolute desert.
| have Mandarin tree setin 1877. The
ground has not been stirred around it
for nine years. 1T is in a tough Bermuda
grass sod nine years old. 1t is so tough
two mule wagon, loaded, drives over it
without making plain track. The tree
now has a spread of branches of twenty
two feet, and is a picture of vigorous
health and white with bloom. The crop
will probably be 5000 Mandarins. L
have extended my Bermuda lawn into my
orange grove so several orange trees are
now in as tough Bermudas sod as can be
found in Florida. The ground is never
stirred about them; the sun never scalds
the soil in which they grow. A moderate
amount of fertilizer is spread broadcast
on the grass, and though the grass takes
some of it, still am sure it takes much
less than would be wasted by naked cult
ure. sometimes NOW the grass, and
the mOwings rot on the ground, thus re-
turning to the sol. all it took away and
good interest besides. Those trees in the
Bermuda grass are as healthy and dark
green and productive as those i'll cultiva-
tion. Why?
This summer | shall put six or eight
acres of grove, nine years old, in Bermu-
da and cultivate with mower instead of
plow. | have faith that in orange cult
ure in Florida we may find it just the
thing. Professor Mehun, OF Germantown,
Pa, one of the most scientific of practical
pear growers, says ''the perfection
of cultivation for the pear is grass
cut close" If that is true (and
l believe it isl. of the pear in Penn
sylvania, why not for the orange in Flor
ida? To be sure my experiments, so far,
have been limited; but so far as have
tried cultivation in grass of the orange
tree am very much pleased with the re-
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-04-03
Robbing Our Soil.

MEssRs. ADAMS, NEELD AND sOUTHwICK
DISCUSS THE SUBJECT OF 'GREEN MA
NURING," ETC.
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-04-03

suit. And when / reflect upon the i'm
mense waste of fertilizer and labor which
accompanies clean culture am embold-
ened to extend rapidly my trial of a meth
cd that reduces the labor tO.a minimum
and conserves to the fullest extent our
costly ferterilizers.
Now, beg to say that / don't want
any reader of this to understand that
recommend the cultivation of orange
groves in Bermuda grass, have not got
that far. I do say that the waste of fer
tility by the grass culture will doubtless
be much less than by naked culture. And
| also say that so far the few trees | have
in Bermuda sod are ''all right" I shall
fix more of them the same way; spread
my fertilizer on the grass and cultivate
with a two-horse mower instead of a plow
and when done will tell you how it works
in practice. DUDLEY w. ADAMS.
Tangerine, Orange County, Fla.
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-04-03
THE SCIENCE OF CULTIVATION.


ject let me ask why teach people to raise
oranges? Why induce greater produc-
tion, when the present is too great for
profit? If we had 100000 of boxes of
oranges, we would get $2,O00,OOO for
them, whereas now we do not get this
amount for the 100000 now produced.
When we made but little early truck,
tomatoes brought $6 to $8 per crate,
cukes 80 to 81 per dozen, other truck in
proportion, but for the past fewyears the
business is almost discouraged, except in
very favored localities. When these big
prices prevailed, those who consumed
them were as well able to pay the prices
as those who use. them now pay, SO | see
no benefit save to middle men, land spec
ulators and transportation lines; surely
we clod-hoppers are knocked out" And
the cry is how to produce cheaply! And
for who-for what! Home consumption,
let me say, and then | will talk to you on
the subject of cultivating and fertilizing.
we cultivate Ill OFU0T " ieuuCI SOluUl0
plant food already in the soil; If there is
none in your soil naturally then you need
only to keep the weeds and grass down
that they do not appropriate what is put
in the soil for trees or plants. A shade,
or mulch to the land will benefit by she'd
ding the hot sun from the soil and thus
extracting moisture and volatile fertiliz-
ing gases. The natural porosity OF our
sand will let in heat, light and moisture
enough to dissolve what little organic
and inorganic elements it contains, if we
but half stir the soil, enough to keep down
weeds and grass. Mind you, your soil is
not rich in the fertilizing elements simply
because it will grow weeds and poor
quality of grass, for these take up little
else from the soil than lime, the other
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
West Virginia

The Supreme Court OF Appeals OF West
Virginia in deciding that Governor WILSON
vas entitled TO hold over until the contest
between Corr ana FLEsIyG had been ended,
decided In effect against Mr.. CARR's claim
also; and we hardly know how TO regard
che report that the court has TO decide hi'
ease hereafter.
FLEMING and Corr will pow 6ght their case
out in the courts. Governor WILSON ought
20 call session o, the Legislature-and Of
course will call one-ss soon as the Contest
Committee OF members Of the Legislature Il
ready 70 report IN the GoFf-FLEMsG case
The contest IN West Virginia 10 unparalleled
1t has now gone on about feur months. W.
trust that Il viii be decided peacefully and
ktrhteeuslv.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
Food Adulteration.

Joke as the paragraphers NAV about "JeT-
sey Lightning and the amount oil business
Il has furnished for the courts and the In.
sane and inebrIa, asylums, there Is no ques'
lion that New jersey IL far shesd OF any
other State 10 the Union In the matter oil
protecting her citizens against the Injurious
effects OF food aduIicration. There is little that
comes into the State in the way OF pro-
prietary food preparation that IL not SUD-
jeceed 10 The most rigid and searching sna'y-
sis, aud that, too, by chemists OF nationa'
reputation and unin peacbsble integrity.
These analyses are published in the annual
reports OF the New Jersey Commissioner OF
Food, which documents are not enly valuable
to the trade, but to the public generally. In
New jersey, there Is absolutely no excuse
for grocer's selling deIeterious aud adult
terated articles. aud such should be the case
In eli The other States. The New Jersey
system OF food inspection protects the dealer
as we'll as the buyer, and even when the
sdulteration Is not injurious places 1t in the
power OF tie buyer to ascertain whether or
not be is getting bis moneys worth. In his last
report the New jersey Food Commissioner
states Ms an evidence OF the necessity for the
law and It's rigid enforcement that out Of six
hundred and twenty-three articles OF food
analysed last year As per cent. were sdui'
terated. This single fact Is sufficient to ac-
count for the reign OF the American demon
dyspepsia IL not for the prevalence OF
many other diseases from which our fathers
were comparatively free. The New Jersey
Commissioner further says that moral sua'
sion Is the chief force used to persuade
dealers to comply with the law, It being evil
dent that the dealer is often himself imposed
on at first hands. Such a sytem in Virginia
az the New Jersey system would not be OBJ
iected to by honest aud reputable dealers
and would force to be honest any who
might be disposed to be otherwise. Not
only that, but 1t would educate both the
dealer and the consumer.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
ORESTFALLEN.
NORFOLK orrIcE-sEEKEas coME BACK
IN BAD FORM.
The Outlook Rather Gloomy-Eavy-Yard
Nctes-A Schooner In pis-
tress.
,co,ro.,o,,,a nca ~ ,ne Richmond Dispatch.

Correspondence OF the Richmond Disoa'cn'
NoHyoIy, VA, March 12. 1880.
number OF applicants for Office nave
lust returned from Washington badly crest
fallen and very much disappointed win tne
outlook. Those seeking TO dispace lore
men and other. IN the nayy.yard were ex-
ceedinciy discouraged at their reception In
Tue Office Of the Secretary OF the Navy, wnere
thev were informed that removals are not 70
be made lust yet solely on political grounus'
The prospect OF the Administration going
slow in the matter OF removals and tue pos
sibIe enforcement OF the civi-sefvtce regn-
latlons causes much dependency In tne
ranks Of the army OF expectant ones 10 t9is
section. Democrats on the ragged cage
holding positions are correspondingiy bsppy.
Commodore Brown, Of the navy>ysrd, LETT
ast night for Washington 10 urge the speedy
allowance OF funds for this yard, "a large
force expects 20 go 10 work in the copstruc-
ton department next Friday, the beginning
Of the half month. II Is rumored that the
frieate Frankiin Is TO be reTieged and put IN
order ard sent to New York for the eenten'
NAL celebration Of Washingion's inaugurs.
Two OF the James-riyer monitors viii be
brought here in May, it is said, to be hlted
out for practice in Chesapeake BAY with tue
cadets oil the naval AcaueWy.
Chiei-Englueer Isaac X. McNsry has been
ordered TO the James-Tiyer monitor feet.
The United States photographic once
lust este blished here by the Government is
now IN full operation under Lieutenant
Henry II. Bafroll, and Is already OF great
benefit 10 those engaged 10 maritime pur-
suits.
Mr.. n. w. Nichols has been appointed
bv the Councils deputy high constable oil the
city. III,
il il about settled that four companies wlll
70 from Norfolk and Portsmouth to the
centennial celebration in New York.
The rush OF immigrants this way from
New York has ceased.
Bishop Whitile and Bishop Randolph are
both expected here early next month.
The schooner Lula NJ. Qnillan, OF VII,
mington. Del, lost both topmasts and had
sails and rigging damaged in 4 squsli ID
Albemarle sound on Sunday.
Thirty carpenters were discharged from
the simpson dry-dock force at the yard last
night. A. the work nears completion the
working force is reduced.
The steamer Mary l.. Lougbery, ashore In
the Southern branch yesterday, was hauled
off TO-DAY.
II is said that the colored Republicans all
| over the two cities are organizing In order 70
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13

The President seems to be living up to the
pledge Of the convention which nominated
him that territorial officials should be select
ed from among the inhabitants OF the Ter
ritories. Now, IL Mr.. HARRISON will cause
an examination TO be made as 10 where are
the domicIles OF the clerks in the depart
ments at Washington, he will learn that
numbers Of them are charged TO Virginia
who have no more right to claim Virginia as
their home than CALEB CUSHING had when
he was appointed Minister to foreign coun'
try and set down as "CALEB CUSHING, Of
Virginia"
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13

the Federal army and shot down their
brother virsinisns. 20 Mr.. VILLAINS, and
presumediy many other Frenchmcp, cannot
understsnd how Mr.. HaLsrEaD. who bears
the name OF . distinguished French mar
sbsl--oue Of the great NAPoLros's trusted
lleutenants-could have been found sym
pa,hizing with Germany in the war Of some
eighteen years ago.
But the Jingoes are In Office In Washington
city now. and may treat the protest oil the
French vuLAIxE with contempt Mr. BLAINE
now has charge Of al such matters; and Mr.
HALsreAp 10 one OF BLANE's pets. VIII
the Plumed Knight allow little French
man TO chase the elephantine HaLsrEAD out
Of the field OF dipiomscyY We shall see.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
An Eel and AN organ.

There was a bitch in the elaborate pre-
enten services at Christ Episcopal churen,
Bingham, n. T., Sunday last. WINE the
ornate musical programme especially selected
for the occasion was under way the big
organ was suddenly struck motionless ard
dumb. The residue OF the morning service
WAS necessarily clipped and batting. After
service an investigation showed that the
.toppage was due to strange cause. Inc
organ bellows Is driven by a water motor,
supplied from the city water works. An
eel. bumped I'D from the depths of the Sus-
one6anna river, had got stuck in the pipe
which supplies the motor, shutting of the
current and .ilencing the swelling tones oil
toe big organ.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
LOUISA COUNTY.
County Court Well Attendcd-Acci-
dens-Personaf. &c.

oent-personnts Ec
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatchl
TRKvILrls's. VA, March II, 1850.
March court Is always well attended m
Louisa. but the mIldness OF The weather and
the numerous other attractions drew out our
electors by the hundred on yesterday. A
great number OF horses chauged hands.
A Mr.. Butler, living near Tolersviiie and
engaged In The copper.miues, was SERIOUSLY
injured by being thrown from mule very
violently. His collar-bone was broken ana
possibly internal injuries were received. lie
was senseIess for quite while.
Louisa Courthouse is TO have cannery 81
an early date. The property for the business
has been purchased and the organization is
said 10 have been completed. Nh Weir
GoodSIn is president; X. L. Talley, vice
president; Commonwealth's'Atto An
derson, secretary.
The exodus from our county to Roanoke
still continues. Mr.. Thomas MCGEE, promi.
pent and popular citizen, left to-day Tor that
city, Mr. MCGEE had been our deputy sheriff
for years until the last election, when ex-
Judge voolfolk Repubiicap) defeated Jen-
nings DemOcrat) for the sherifPs othce.
Plows are running quite brisk'y In all
parts, thanks to tue very high winds and dry
weather which have prevailed during the
month. IwIG.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13

"The discovery Of gold in Lower Cali
fornia Is followed by the usual reports OF
men without means rushing there by hun
dreds and nearly starving. The public In
stitutiou first needed in the average FL Do
RADIO is poornouse." Or fool-killer,
~ hich2
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
TIE ANCIENT CAPITAL.
March Court-PersonaI Matters.


WILLIAMSBURG, Va, March II, 1889.
The March term OF the County Court,
which convened Yesterday, brought together
a good number OF the sovereigns from the
surrounding counties. AS has been the case
for several terms most OF the time OF the
Court was consumed in the trial OF Silas
Thorpe, charged with felony. There are
several leading lawyers employed in the
case. which is still going on as this report
closes.
The Good Templars are making strong
effort 10 clean out the saloons here, and yes
terdsy presented the Court with petition
OF voters requesting local-option election
The Judge has the matter under consldera'
ton. Since the petition was presented
several OF the signers have sienifed desire
TO Withdraw their names.
Ex-Supervisor Robert G.. Barlow, who
has been dangerously i'll for the past two
weeks with erysipelas, Is slightly better but
still a very sick man.
Rev. Thomas Carter Page, the new minis
ter for Benton Episcopal church, preached
10 large congregations Sunday morning and
night, aud made most favorable impress
sion.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13

"The Philadelphia News asks President
HARRISON to send Colonel ELLIOTT f. SHEP
HERD, editor Of the New York Mail aud Ex'
press, as Consul Ia the Csnnibal Islands"
The News is evidently schemiug TO give the
King Of the Cannibal Islands Royal Bengal
case OF indigestion.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
FIRE LfSCHBURG.
A Tailoring EstabItshmeut Suited
ana A Plumbers shop Dam aged.

I5ptCIhI IelcgFdIH 70 '110 77'7F -7777-I
LYNcHBURG, VA, March ia large frame
building on Main street between Eighth and
Ninth, occupied by w. l.. Page as merchant
tailoring establishment, was completely
Quilted by fire this evening at O'Clock. The
adjoining store. occupied by L. +. Burks,
plumber. and owned BY j. y. Page, was also
badly damaged. Very few OF the goods
were saved, and but little OF the furniture OF
W. L. Page, who resided over the tailoring
establishment
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
New orleans Races.

10y VoItBfdIlII 70 tuV i7IHFNV~I'I
NEW ORLEANS. March H. The weather
to-day was cloudy but pleasant. Attendance
large, track fast.
First race-hslt mile--Deboe won; Moon
light second, Eclipse, Jr.. third Time. sit.
second race--four and half furiongs--
CheeDy won; Cora l.. second, Orange Girl
third. Time, 57s.
Third race-iive iurlongs- Mscauley won;
Regardless second, Electricity third. Time,
1:04
Fourth raee-six and a hall furlongs-
Event won; SIllect second, Liza i. third.
Time, 1:24i.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
CyQtiGuPa

For cleansing. purifying, and identifying the
skin and scalp and restoring the hair OF children
and infants and destroying the germs OF scrofula
and all hereditary humors. the CUTIcURA RENE
DIES are simply infalliole.
CUTIcURA, the great skin cure, instantly allAys
the most agonizng itching, burning, and inflam-
nation, clears the skin and scalp OF crusts and
scales. and restores the hair. CUTIcURA SOAP
the greatest Of skin beautiders, is indispensable
In treating skin diseases and baby humors. 1t
produces the whitest, clearest skin and sottest
hands, free from pmple, spot. or Dlemish. CUTI-
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
especial telegram to the Dispatch.l

WILLIAMSBURG, March 12.-Silas Thorpe,
charged with an attempt TO commit felony
with intent 10 kill, was convicted IN the
County Court to-day aud sentenced 70 two
years In the peniteDtiary. His counsel
moved 10 set aside the verdict, which motion
will be argued in the morning. Mr.. Thorpe
Il In iail,
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13

"Dances for the benefit Of burial.ground
funds have not been inirequent OF late"
Pshaw; they have been frequent ever since
the fashion has obtained of making ball
dresses OF very thin material.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13
SO west rhIrty-ninth street. New YORK.
Remedies

oURA RBsoLvENr. the new blood purifier.
cleanses tho blood OF impurities and poisonous
elements, and thus removes the CAUSE. Hence
CUTIcURA RssEDIEs cure every species OF
tor;uring. humillatisg, itching, burning, scsly.
and pimply diseases OF the skin, scalp. and
blood. with loss OF hair and all humors, blotches.
eruptons. sores, scsles, and crusts, when physi-
clans and oil other remedies fail.
Sold everywhere. Price. CUTICURA. 90. SOAP,
25c: REsOLvRST. 81. Prepared by the POTTER
DRUG AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION, Boston.
gS- Send for How to Cure SKIN Diseases" ca
pages, 80 illustrations and 100 testimonials.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13

"About every nation on earth that carries
heavy guns is now engaged in protecting its
interests in Zanzibar" And still there is a
strong antI-prOtection sentiment in Zanzi.
bar.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-13

keep abreast with the white brethren in the
Republican camp. They are yery. jealous
aud outspoken OF the efforts OF the white
leaders to subordinate them IN the dlstrlbu-
ton OF the spells. ".