The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-05-29
THE FREE MEN OF THE TRUCK FARMS.

Some time ago the editor of the News had a
letter from q gentleman who wanted advice on the
matter of OCCUPATIONS He wrote that he was al
vears old and had worked like yellow dog for
twentv-two years and in that time had helped sew
eral men to get rich But now, said he, 81 find
myself with family, living in a rented house, with
a bank account of $500 and job that pays enough
to keep the wolf from the door and no more. What
would YOU do if YOU stood in my shoes? My health
is good
Don't know. No man can say with certainty
what he would do standing in another man 5 shoes
But IL isn't old by long shot. a man steering
wrong course can change it.
Why don't more of these men who hold jobs
that have no futures try farming, truck garden
ing? The farms are not crowded. There is a mar
ket for the things that the farmers and gardeners
grow. There is still unlimited wealth III the soil
and millions of acres of productive land to be had
almost for the asking.
True, the life to be successful, means work ana
long hours and achy backs and bllstered hands 1t
means an end to theatre-gong and trolley-partles'
and lot Of expensive grlmcracks that cost money
and don't amount to much.
The willing man can do well in raising truck
right here in Palatka, and besides, he has the adj
vantage of living in of the most even, heathtul
climates the sun shines on where there is sufficient
amusement and society to supply the longing OF any
reasonable social nature. Here can live i'll the
open every day in the year and enjoy life as the
God of nature intended man should enjoy It,
Here there is movement to develop truck gar
denng and the men who get into that work while
land is still cheap are the ones who are going to
reap the greatest rewards for their foresight and
labor.
Truck gardening lsproftabe. That has been
demonstrated Celery growing has paid one cltlzes
of Paatka at the rate of 81 500 acre net. 1t Is
sure monev-cash with the goods. Others are
raising from 90 to IS barrels of potatoes to the acre
and these sell in season from 1920 to S45O the bar
rel Potato growers about PaIatka have made
from $3.50 to 5000 an acre on potatoes tor the past
three years There is no danger of the market be
ing gutted. Paatka is Il place Of 4,5OO 1nhabl
tants, and its people are all happy. The city has
all the leading denomnatonal churches and goot
schools 1t has everything that other communi
ties nave except paupers, and many things tina
Others have not
but | couldn't live in small place" says on
man.
Then don't complain of your lot. The l0rg
cities live on the ife-bood of humanity The,
grind and Cypress and stine, and sometimes de
moralize Some day, if mistake not, the lloot
tide Of this draining Of the farms to populate cities
will have been reached and then will come an era o
saner living.
Today the independent man is not the million
aire, not the manufacturer not the individual whc
is working for Il weekly stipend, but the man who
grows the things that the world must have in orde
to live.
If he owns his land he has wealth and no yoke
can rest long on his shoulders. He is free his owl
man. drawing the fullest benefits from his owl
labor.