The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-12-19

q. e. Anderson says every one who ha
eaten cassava-fed beef will agree will
him that nothing can be produced t.
equal It.
IL our farmers will take an interest il
growing cassava this spring they will b
better off than they are, and it will moi
DO long before they can supply Florida
with . far better quality of butter thar
that which comes from some of the
country homes and the East and North
By 30 doing it would not be long before
the surplus would begin to show itself.
Our markets could also be supplied
with pork just as good, if not better,
than many man has ever seen.
Already have mentioned many other
valuable uses cassava can be turned to-
To certain extent the cassava plant
resembles the castor oil bean when grow
ing. The richer the soil the taller the
plants will grow. This season we saw
some growing at DR.. Radford's residence
that wele over ten feet high and the
main stalk was as large around as your
wrists The leaves are from three to five
lobed. Six feet high is about the usual
growth the first season.
The top is valuable only for future
crop and The roots are the edible portion
for man and beast. They shoot out in
every direction from the parent stem at a
depth from four to six inches, sometimes
a trifle deeper if the soil is decidedly
mellow. During the first growing sea-
SON the roots reach a length of about
three and one half feet and diameter Of
about two and half inches and to one
inacquainted they would readily say:
Sweet potatoes are growing there;" for
the root cuts and tastes very much like a
irst-class sweet potato. Whether cassava
will ever take the place of the loved
Florida potato is the question; certainly
il will give Mr. Potato lively race for
first place. There is no question but that
1t win prove valuable in more ways than
one, especially as long as corn is 81 .25 a
Dushel each returning spring and we have
"a bring it from the North in late spring
time 10 ''iaper off" with, simply because
we do not grow it in sufficient quantities
for home consumption.
Remember that the roots have no ewes.
consequently t6e only method of propa-
cation is by cuttings from the stalks
above ground, and they can be taken at
any time after they have matured. Make
them about four or five inches in length,
strip the leaves of, which is an easy mat
ter for they are very brittle. There are
a variety Of ways for setting them out
One will tell you set them up straight
and only leave one eye above the ground.
Another con ends that they should be laid
down fat like sugar cane; while another
laims that a trench should be dug and
the whole stalk laid along in the same.
After buds have shown themselves nip
OFF all those that are not needed. This
looks like waste of the raw material,
especially the first season where the
farmer has only few cuttings. Next
season it is our intention to try the
various methods and see which is the
best. This year we cut our canes six
inches in length and laid til. m fat in the
furrow. Many OF them had been frosted
before they came into our possession,
Sconsequently they never matured.
q The young plant can be easily removed
3And will scarcely wilt. That's our expo
raence with few. Being short Of plants
We disliked to experiment very much,
but next season intend to make variety
ssof experiments and win give results ii
these columns. I
Don't forget that cassava must have q
loose soil; plenty Of sand, provided
manure or phosphates are applied freely
e the right thing. Set the rows from
nye p; six feet each way and cultiyat,
shallow after the first month.
Mhsn the ctop is matllred cut bhs
anas and lay them away Id b. cool piac.
under shelter and cover wei with hay
Some bury them deep enough to protec
So hem from frost. II the latter IL done 1
sonld be well to dig the trench on I'LL
SIS vide 20 that water will net lay in the fur
EoH rs trench for any length of time wv,
Pm some both ways this season i
AsceFtAin which win keep best. Weshav
nlA1 tried bedding in j lot, but hay
rot much fai b in them unless the balanc
n ths winter Is several degrees waFne
what We have Witnessed Tins fal
lzesdy the tops look sickly.
The canes have been out Of but iii
t1Esp is left, We drew dirt over th
ts,nap and thus far all seems to Be well
ve have no doubt but that the,
you'd have ssnt forth shoots ere Eli
I ths winter been a wsrm u two year
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