The Florida agriculturist., 1907-07-10


Mr.. E. D. Underwood, who has a
small garden farm near the S. A. L.
shops, gives very gratifying account
Of his experience as a truck farmer
on Amelia Island for the past few
years. Mr. Underwood was an en-
ployee Of the shops, where he re-
ceived a good salary, but, seeing the
opportunities for gardening here, he
left his position there and, acquiring
piece of low land near the shops,
has been making a good living by
using the land for supplying the peo-
pie of Fernandina with Vegetables.
Il fnd,' says Mr.. Underwood, "that
there are great opportunities on Ame-
liza Island for the growing of truck,
and | believe that it would pay the
people of this city to make study
of the matter and induce people to
go into the industry on large scale.
"On the little piece of land I have,
and there are only few acres, I am
making a good living and laying aside
for d rainy day. | find that Bermuda
onions is the best crop that can
be raised. That is, [ have found it
the most profitable
''Of course, there are other crops
which can be made to pay, and [ be-
lieve that it is only a question of time
before this island will be the leading
vegetable producing section Of its size
in this state.
'This certainly ought to be the case
and it will be just as soon as the peO-
pie of this city find that there is
future for the vegetable industry here
and decide to take advantage Of it.
Commenting on this statement, the
editor says:
1T is gratifying to The Record to
know that it is stirring up considerable
interest and bringing about a general
discussion of the advantages to this
city to accrue from the growing Of
vegetables on Amelia Island. During
the week we have had frequent calls
from those who know something of
the character of the lands OH Amelia
Island and all of them claim that this
is an ideal place for the growing of
the early spring vegetables for the
northern markets.
practical We tell the story Of the
success of Mr.. E. D. Underwood,
man who has given several years of
etables and who has been making
comfortable living on only few acres
of land, working but about half as
hard as he did when he depended upon
his salary as an employee of the shops
to support him and his family. He
has found that even the poorest land
of Amelia Island has the qualities for
the growing Of vegetables, and the
knowledge he has attained has been
acquired by the best kind of practical
experience and demonstration.
Nov, if Mr. Underwood can do all
this, what will be the limit to the
success of the man with capital who
undertakes the growing of vegetables
on the island on large scale?
"Others have given their experience.
One man stated that he grew the finest
cabbage and the best tomatoes on this
island that were grown in this state,
and that he always had his produce
in market sooner than those who were
gardening or truck farming farther
down the state
THE point is plain to us, very plain,
that there is great future here for
this industry The opportunities are
such that they will be taken advantage
Of. In the meantime it ought to be
the work of the Fernandina Board Of
Trade to take the matter up; ascertain
what lands are for sale, the terms
upon which they can be had, and give
this information to the public. The
Record has a mailing list of the truck
ers of Florida If the Board of Trade
will delegate some man to make a
Of tha tar To