The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-30

1t has been a well known fact for many
years that cassava could be successfully
grown on the high pine lands of Florida,
because it has Been demons trated by nearly
every farmer, especially in South Florida
who plants a small patch every year for
home use, says the Orlando Dispatch. Its
value is wen known as a healthy and nu-
tritious food for man and stock. 1t is the
only absolutely sure crop that can be rails
ed in the slate, as il is not destroyed or
seriously injured by Geld or drought, which
in late years we have often been afflicted
with.
1t is more cheaply raised than corn or
any other field crop, and its yield per acre
is phenomenal as from five to twenty tons
can be raised per acre with less labor ard
fertilizer than COIN that would produce fif
teen to twenty bushels per acre. Cassava
contains larger per cent. of starch and a
finer grade is manufactured from it than
from any other starch-producing plant
that grows.
For many years in South Florida all field
crops were considered immaterial COM
pared to the orange or citrus crop, and all
of our energy and capital was expended
in that industry alone which certainly
looked very fattering, and ii seemed like
every one was ambitious to- own a fine
orange grove at the expense Of every hing
else as it represented to US a competency;
and many of us had pictured life of ease
and comfort under our own vine and fig
tree in this, the most delightful climate
on earth. But alas our blasted hopesi
For with one fell swoop Of that terror to
the orange industry, jack FROST our fairy
castles and hopes were laid low, but not
buried, and with that indomitable pluck
and Will power so Characteristic of the
American people, we at once set to work to
repair the damage under the false beher
= only occurred II,
about fifty years; but after four years
of struggle and hard labor our hopes are
again dashed to the ground by the ruth
less power, Jack Frost" and with them
much of our courage.
We have now been forced TO decide that
we cannot afford to devote all of our en-
ergy and labor in the future to one indus
try; we must diversity. And now The
question arises what crop can we raise
at a profit in our nearly-and in many
cases entirely-destroyed orange groves2
We have tried various crops without graf
flying success. The cultivation OF cassava
is not an experiment; We know that 1t Is
a sure crop; but without a market 1t would
he of no value to us as a money crop,
which we are in much need of at pres
ent, But as the blacklist cloud has a Sill
yer lining, cash market has been brought
to our very doors for the only crop that
our land is adapted to except the citrus
trees.
The Planters Manufacturing Company
with capital of $4,000, is building a fac
tory at Lake Mary, Orange county, on
the line of the Plant System Railroad. The
factory will have a capacity OF 100 tons
per day Of cassava for the manufacture
of starches, dextrines, farina and tap
ioca. The company guarantees 10 buy and
pay cash, s. per ton, (. o. b., railroad or
at factory for all Of the cassava raised
within a radius of twenty-five miles of
the factory. They are prepared to fur
nish seed when required at the lowest pos
sible cost price They are also prepared
20 extend favors TO those who may re-
qure assistance for seed and fertilizer for
a crop OF cassava.
What boon p Is here brought to the
door Of the discouraged orange grower and
farmer. II enables him at once 10 resusil
tate his injured grove, and at the same
time and on the same ground raise from
five to twenty tons Of cassava per acre.
which means S25 to $lo0 per acre cash. Any
thinking man viii see that our land that