The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-08-09
A Word to Lumber and Turpentine
Operators.

| To the Editor of the Banner
Iwant to make an appeal to the
lumber and turpentine operators In
| this section of Florida.
1t is now costing these men more
than forty cents per animal per day
| to feed them, while this can easily be
done at cost not to exceed ten cents
per animal per day, thus effectiog a
| sa wing to the operator of not less than
one hundred dollars per animal per
annum.
Multiply thu number of animals
employed, gentlemen, by one hun
dred dollars and you readily perceive
the profit to your business.
1t is sufficient to support your fam
lily in luxury.
The secret is this: Stop the practice
of buying grain and hay from the
West and feed your horses, mules and
cows with cassava, velvet beans and
hay grown on the farms around your
home.
If you have not the time and in
clination to produce these crops your
self make a contract with some of
your neighbOr farmers, who are try
ing under adverse conditions to make
living by tilling the soil, and who
will be benefited equally with your
self by your patronage.
There is a prevailing opinion that
mules and horses which are worked
hard must be fed on corn, oats and
western hay. You were never more
mistaken, gentlemen; horses and
mules fed with cassava and velvet
beans, or a small quantity of hay.
which can be produced at home, will
keep in finer condition and perform
as many hours work per day as when
fed with corn and oats, and at the
same time you have the satisfaction
Of knowing that you are kelping your
neighbor, while effecting positive
saving of IS per cent. along these
lines Of your own expenses.
Begin right now to secure yOur cas-
sava seed for planting next spring.
There are farmers all over the state
who will agree to save the seed for
you. You will find such at Ocala,
Mcintosh, Lake Mary, Spring Gar
den, Lowell, Barlow, Fort Meade and
Homeland.
You can get velvet beans for plant
ing in any quantity at Fort Meade.
If you are not willing to trust my
judgment and the experience of such
men as Prof. H. E. StOckbridge, DR..
Inman, F. E. Perkins, Mr.. WardelI,
VIM. Lisle and Mr.. Gaitskill, try
very small area yourself and watch
results.
To successfully raise cassava you
must select a dry, sandy soil. Cas-
sava does not like wet feet. Break
the soil well in February and harrow
carefully in early March. Have the
soil nicely prepared. With straight
apart each way. Having cut the cas-
sava seed or stems about four inches
long, drop two pieces in each cross or
check, and let the boy who drops it
step on it so as to bring it in closer
contact with the soil. Cover with
two burrows with a shovel plOw, and
just before the young shoots appear
run over the rows with a roller or
board.
Immediately after the young shoots
appear the field may be plowed as
deeply as you like, hut all after culti-
walton must be as shallow as possible,
the broad, fiat cotton sweep, suffi-
GENTLY broad to clear a row with two
burrows is the best implement for this
purpose. PlOw IN both directions,
alternating. This will save hoe
work. Cultivate sufficiently often to
prevent start of grass and weeds till
about the first of August, then leave
it alone.
You may oegln 10 use the roots IOr
feeding by October LIST, and continue
throughout the winter. The roots
should be taken from the ground
only as needed for use, as they do not
do well if kept for more than week.
Think of the thousands of dollars
which might and ought to be saved
to the mill and turpentine operators
by this process, and think of the ben
efits which should and will accrue TO
our home farms when We learn to use
the nutritious forage they can pro-
duce.
Try it, gentlemen, and be con-
WINGED.
With hest wishes for your success.
JNo. H. STEPHENS,
A and l. Apt. Plant system.