The Florida agriculturist., 1907-10-02
A ST. JOHNS COUNTY FARM.


copy it because it gives an interesting
account of the possibilities Of farm
ing in Florida:
That farming in St. Johns county
pays has been demonstrated in SO en-
phatic a manner by the farmers Of
Hastings that the question never aris-
es nowadays. The people did not &C
cept assertions, however, but were
convinced by results and in time the
public admitted that the Hastings
section was adapted to farming. As
sertons have been frequently made
that there is abundance of fertile soil
adjacent to St. Augustine, but the
same old doubt prevails and results
are wanted. This doubt may now be
swept away by as strong a proof as
Hastings ever offered, A. w. Corbett
having demonstrated to the satisfac-
ton Of the most skeptical the fertility
of land near St. Augustine. A visit
to his farm, some four miles out on
the Hastings road, will convince any
one that enormous crops will follow
proper cultivation Of the soil. Mr..
COrbett, it is true, has an exception
ally rich tract of land and has expend-
ed money without stint, but every
dollar has been wisely invested and
will return with heavy interest. There
has been no extravaganza. What was
required was secured at the start and
nothing was omitted to assure sue
cess, and even Mr.. Corbett is
astonished at the immense yield.
few days ago a representative of
The Homeseeker visited this farm
with MIR. Corbett and was amazed at
the prolific growth of every variety
OF plant on the place. A waving corn
field first catches the eye, but on clos
er inspection fields of lima beans, COW
peas, mlllet, rice, pumpkins, water
melons, tomatoes, Kaf1r corn, pop
corn, peanuts, leeks and great varie-
ty OF other plants are discovered.
Several acres of corn divide the field
with pumpkins, which cover the
ground between the rows of grain.
he vines run riot over the cornfeld
like a great sea of green. At every
step pumpkins, large and small, ripe
and green, peep through the big
leaves. The crop will be enormous,
no estimate being possible. Mr.. Cor
bett no doubt has market in view,
but 1T will take lot Of pumpkin eaters
long time to consume this big crop.
The vines stretch beyond the corn
neld and in some places run into the
woods.
The corn yield has been immense.
and much Of it has been gathered and
sold, but there is sufficient in the field
to till many wagons. From a casual
observation many stalks were noticed
bending under the weight of five or
SIX and in one or two instances seven
large ears. Watermelons contested
the ground in many places with the
pumpkin vines, although they were
planted far apart. Both outran the
space allotted to them and met in a
struggle Tor the ground Many loads
OF melons from this field have alreadv
found their way to the tables of Mr..
Corbett'S customers and he has few
more wagon loads in the field.
Nearly two acres are devoted to
sugar cane and the indications are
that this will prove one of the most
profitable ventures of the farm. The
soil seems to be peculiarly adapted to
cane and the field looks strong and
healthy. Mr.: Corbett expects this
crop to bring him about $500 per acre.
He will build a mill and grind the
cane, making syrup for his store trade.
Next year he intends to plant about
ten acres to cane. Passing to another
field the ground is hidden by luxu-
riOuS growth of h1,sh Inn hoo