The Florida agriculturist., 1889-05-15

For the purpose of gathering information l
have visited many sections in Orange, Lake, Vo-
lusia, Brevard and Osceola counties. also wrote
several letters of inquiry to sections did not
visit. will mention what one peach grower OF
Oxford, not far from Ocala, replied tome. Speak
ing of his large Peento orchard, he remarked, re-
garding my peach crop. it was small compared
with the size of my orchard; no other peaches;
Kelsey's were nearly an entire failure. This will
do for all the other answers.
There are several new seedlings of Peento in
this lower sections coming that are very prom1s-
ing The one mentioned of Mrs. Selmas will be
disseminated by Mr.. G. H. Norton of Eustis, and
named think by him the Pearl" To judge OF
it as saw the tree when the fruit was nearly ripe
and from a specimen Mrs S. sent me, will say it
is very pretty and good to eat.
Another by w. A. Marsh, near Orlando, "the
Lottie" is very large and fine; "a single specimen
last season measuring eight and one-half inches
The tree is now carrying an enormous crop OF
fruit, that to Judge from it's size now, will be
very early and If it holds the good name this
season that it acquired last with it's first CROP
now in this second one, it will rank as very val
liable acquisition.
Here comes very important question with our
peach growers. The planter on our pine lands ii
he will start with the idea that OF the dozen ele
ments that enter into the life OF plants that good
soils do contain, ours here only has one Of them
and act from that point he will not go far wrong.
The culture that builds up soil, that is all the
time adding to it, is the only true plan.
If we expect good results we must find out what
those elements are that are wanting, and as last
as NAV be. place them in the soil.
1t is said that good soils contain from five to
seven per cent. of humus, while ours only contains
one Humus is one OF the most important ele-
ments One of the quickest sources OF supplying,
and think the cheapest for those who are favored
with muck within reasonable distance is in
planting to dig large shallow hole and place in
| that hole barrel to the tree of well decomposed
muck, and have seen good results with it fresh
from the swamp. 1t is safer to not compost it as
some do unless it has been done well and properly
at least for six months previous to using, as have
known trees to be killed by the use OF composted
muck.
Muck is rich in all the manural elements except
| it is deficient in potash, which may be applied al
| ter the tree is planted.
Ihaye seen rotten wood hauled from the forest
/ and worked into the soil about peach trees witt
| gratifying results Some planters are raking th'
forest and mulching peach trees with pine Leaves
! and dead grass obtained in that way; and work
ing it into the soil. must believe it cheap anC
valuable manure. now have some fifteen acres
| OF peach orchard heavily mulched with the rak
ngs of fifteen acres of clean pine timber did it il
December last. Lately | have applied one-hal
pound to the tree suphate OF potash. My man
put it on writes he did not have to hoe it in. as
it all ratified out of sight through the straw. Az
soon as peaches are off will apply one pound tC
the tree OF Blood and Bone, repeating during the
season every time work the land Last season
I used four pounds to the tree of wood ashes.
shall not use ashes this season, but intend to ap
ply it every other year.
PLUMs.
So little has yet been attained that can be called
| success, that cannot give much information on
| this point None of the Europeans not prune
of any kind have seen in fruit in this section and
never expect to. None of our own varieties,-the
Wild Goose Mariana and all that class are fail
ures have thought we may yet get plum OF our
own origin that would be success, but my faithin
| importations is very shaky. have more faithin
the Kelsey plum than any other Ihave seen tested
| here.
| There are several other varieties ofthose plums
| from Japan in my section, but so far none have
| done well enough to need notice
MARKETING PEACHES. e
There is no question but we here in Florida can
raise fine peaches and lots of them; but look at
the question of marketing as the most important
one before me- Inow am hoping for good crop
~ noaohoa with the varieties I have. and the