The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-05-03
w. H. Haskel1's Advice.

w. I'll. HaSkelpS Advice.
GRovE.-Harrow often; this will prevent trees
from dropping their fruit during the drouth.
have never seen it SO dry in Florida but that
moist earth could be found in fields underregular
cultivation. Stir the soil with the Acme once in
two weeks if the drouth continues.
Only young trees need hoeing. What good is
accomplished by hoeing large trees, branches of
which sweep the ground?
AS trees and plants take their food in liquid
state there can be but little benefit to groves in
fertilizingin such hot. dry weather. I can hardly
agree with those who believe in root pruning
with the plow. If it is needed in any case let it
be done humanely. Let the roots be cut not
torn. l would let the trees occupy all the soil
and discard the plow in old groves. sharp
wheel coulter set to run four to six inches deep
and weighted down would cut the rows thorough
ly; run one or both ways through the grove.
In case you wish to transform trees, having
variety not fruiting or unsuited to the location,
budding will be better than grating. The
bud unites stronger than the graft. In such
work do not try to change the tree entirely in
one year; bud half of the branches now and re-
move as soon as bud has taken. Bud the re-
naming branches in October to remain dormant
until the following April.
The whole kid-glove family are reasonably
early, suited for holiday trade, and are the very
hardest in regard to cold The Satsuma is the
hardest of all; it will stand the freezes of any
winters we have in this latitude, but when in Wig
orous growth in the spring it suffers with all
other tender vegetation
THE FARM.
Pasture lands, if not positively moist, will be
benefited with thorough rolling with heavy
two-horse roller. This will compact the soil and
break up it's porosity, acting as narrowing other
land, preventing the escape Of moisture from be-
low. t"t r.t ~ t.s.
AS soon as the rainy season comes which will
probably be about June l plow and level your hay
fieldsfOr a crop of crabgrass. Harrowin in half ton
of cotton seed meal per acre. Ordinary land un-
fertilized will not raise paying crop. Cow peas
planted in the early part of the season or before
June will make forage; planted later they will
produce peas. In planting this crop SOW them
thinly, q half to threefourths bushel to the acre.
II of the conch variety SOW four to six quarts per
acre and plow them in. l .5g haft a9ru' s
Now, while the sun shines is the time to clean all
crops of grass and weeds. Therefore hoe the
corn, rice, cassava, etc.
In hoeing the rice, il planted reasonably deep,
say four to six inches. you can. with asharp hoe,
cut off all growth of rice, weeds, grass and all
half inch below the surface. This will destroy
the grass al Il weeds, but only cut off the rice,
which will come on again all right. This saves
hand weedins. Harrow these crops often-every
ten days. Ion't be discouraged with dry wealth
er; do your part with hoe and harrow. use the
Acme betwe n rows OF corn, cane, rice and cas-
sava. F1
Have grcnnd ready for sweet potatoes when
the rains Ridge up rows with plow and
hoe. 1 have no faith in fat culture for sweet po-
tatOes.
THE GARDEN. .tiaf GI
If the garden is situated on moist land, such as
the border of lake or springy ground. it will do
well for you to plant snap and bush lima beans.
squashes, okra, watermelons, cucumbers and put
out tomato and sweet potato plants f[ g
1t is useless to plant these vegetables on ordi-