The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-28


Syndicate Formed for Tobacco Culture.
GAINESVILLE, Nov 16.-GTeat activ-
ity is noted among the truck farmers of
the Gainesville district, who are either
planting or cultivating vegetable crops
Every indication points to a much larger
acreage this year in lettuce and cabbage,
particularly the latter, which is being
planted extensively by those who have
never raised it before, and almost every
farmer who has cultivated lettuce in the
past is increasing his acreage.
Lettuce growing is fast becoming the
leading industry in this State. Only a
few years ago nobody shipped this product
North, and only few truckers raised it at
all. Two years ago only few baskets of
lettuce went from Florida to the North,
and what little went forward was shipped
by farmers in this immediate vicinity
Last year the acreage was largely increased,
with an excellent yield, With better
shipments came better prices in both Now
York and Philadelphia, which handled al
most all of the Florida lettuce.
LETTUCE SHIPMENTS.
The shipments of lettuce from the
Gainesville district last year aggregated
about "A, 500 packages from an acreage OF
about S25 acres During the time that
shipments were being made the markets
in New York and Philadelphia were at no
time gluted, and lettuce brought about
$3.50 per package on an average, after
the express charges and the cost of bask-
cts had been paid Many made fortunes
with the crop, and encouraged by the re-
suits last year, the farmers will all plant
more or less of it this year
In North Gainesville, however, the in
crease in the acreage of lettuce is slighr.
The same can be said of Rocky Point,
where for the past two years it has been
grown extensively. The farther south one
travels, the greater he finds the increase
in acreage In Tacoma, a small neighbor
hood on the Gainesville and Gulf Railroad,
aad the Florida Southern division of the
Plant System, farmers are planting 80 per
cent. more lettuce than they have planted
in any previous year. just north OF this
the farmers of MicanOpy are going into the
will plant double what was cultivated last
year. Still further in the Lake SimOnton,
Evinston, and Mcintosh neighborhood, all
of which are included in the Gainesville
district. FIVE times more lettuce will be
planted this year than last, when the acre
age was small Farmers, in fact, planted
only small garden spot for the purpose
of making an experiment. This year they
are making a business of it. Around
Orange Lake TIE same activity prevails.
The farmers as far south as Hunter Hill
have decided to give the crop test this
year, and much lettuce is being planted
there.
LETTUCE GROWING.
The farmers of Gainesville have been
receiving communications all the summer,
asking questions about lettuce growing
Some Of these communications came from
farmers far south Of here,
So far this season the cultivation Of let
tuce has not been very successful. The
heavy rains killed thousands of plants on
low lands, after they had got an excellent
start. From present indications lettuce
will begin to 90 forward as early as the
25th inst. The crop is usually shipped as
late as April 10, and is steady source of
revenue for FIVE months. Last year it
brought to Florida about 5000, 900. That
sum should be double during the coming
winter Last year the 5000, 900 was dis
tributed among the farmers in the Gaines
vile district proper. This year many
other points in the State will receive
share of the returns.
The cabbage industry will be conducted
on somewhat larger scale this year than
it was last, but while the acreage will be
much larger the farmers say that many
unfayorable conditions have been encount-
cred this fall, which have not only mater
tally decreased the prospective yield, but
have in some places resulted in the destruc-
ton of plants Farmers were in the first
place imposed upon by seed merchants.
Many truckets bought and planted seeds
in hot beds, and the latter did not sprout.
This left the growers in deplorable situa-
ton. They had prepared their land at
great expense and had made many other
arrangements for cultivating cabbage. The
season for planting seed has now gone by
Another setback was the recent heavy
rains, which killed plants by the thousands
in low lands A great demand exists for
cabbage plants, but it is demand which
cannet be supplied Notwithstanding these
drawbacks, the general opinion is that the
increase in yield will be at least % per
cent. over last year, principally in the Lake
Simonton, Evinston, Mcintosh, and
Broadman districts.
LOST ON TOMATOES.
The farmers here have lost rather than
made money on tomatoes, which they cul
tivated on very large scale. They have
consequently abandoned this crop, and
turned their attention to growing cabbage.
While the tomato land is not so well suited
to cabbage, by the use of fertilizer good
crop is anticipated.
The acreage in cabbage in Mcintosh
will be larger by at least 100 per cent.
Last year it was estimated that 425, 040
barrel-crates of cabbage went forward from
the Gainesville district This year, if the
conditions shall be favorable from now on,
at least $50, 900 barrels of cabbage should
be sent out. Farmers made about S712,-
600 last year from this crop, but the
market that season, owing to short crop
in other localities, was unusually good
The price was $3.50 net last year, but
truckers do not anticipate more than 81
net this year The first shipment of cab
bage will be made about February 10,
,,-ha,, all nf tba Norfharn otnoL will ,r,
badly have been disposed of. Besides
cabbage and lettuce, many thousands of
packages of other classes of truck will be
shipped from here. The farmers are
planting every variety of winter vegeta-
bles Beets are planted in good sized
matches and are lnnkino well Shinmants