The Florida agriculturist., 1908-01-01

If you had, you could understand the
enormous increase in its consumption
IN the northern markets, enabling us
the past season to market I53 car
loads from Sanford alone during the
first three weeks of December at sat
lsfactory prices, the seasons output
amounting to 237 carloads. Some
years ago we expected to get 800 to
400 hampers (half-barre1 baskets) per
acre. Now we expect, and get, from
400 to 300 per acre: The average price
is about ST per basket, though it Of
ten runs far above this, bringing at
times 81 f. o. b.
Please note that our system Of sub
irrigation has practically eliminated
the uncertainty Of truck growing by
controlling the question OF water
evidenced by equal success in 1900,
with floods Of rain, as in 1907 with
out a shower from September to April
Another dangerous uncertainty in
ordinary trucking is the inability Of
the truck grower to bring his crop to
maturity on time With us we can
set the plants in the field without wait
ing tor rain, and by controlling the
moisture, keep them growing, so tnat,
having no unusual cold we can count
with certainty on time of maturity.
Ibis enables us to grow two or three
crops on the same ground in one
season say from September to June
1t is then possible to cut a crop Of
hay and also raise a crop of cowpeas
to be plowed in to plant on.
Gentlemen, do not think this is
overdraWn. On my place, since Octo-
Der I, 1906, have grown two crops
of lettuce, a crop of cucumbers, cut a
crop Of hay, have grown a crop Of
cOWpeas and the land is now in let
tuce again. Two market crops is the
rule rather than the exception, but
many of Our farmers are content with
crop of celery, though successful
crops Of egg plants, tomatoes, pep
pers and cucumbers follow celery,
yielding handsome and safe protts.
These crops have passed the expert
mental stage, though their develop
ment has only just begun, for we
have raised, and can raise, as fine
quality and large yield as anywhere.
Caul1hoWer yields Dig profits and is
being planted extensively. Onions
and Deets, not to mention cabbage, are
grown right In the winter, and in the
spring cucumbers, CantalOupes green
corn, Okra, squash, etc. | venture the
prediction that If the time ever comes
when we can Wean Our people from
the allurementS Of celery and lettuce,
we will grow strawberries in such per-
lection and quality, and at season
Of the year that will make the whole
United States sit up and take notice.
The yield in Irish potatoes, as in
other crops, is phenomenal in quanti-
ty and quality.
But, Mr.. President, lest I weary you
l must hasten to a conclusion. This
paper, however, would not be COM
plete did | fail to allude to the fact
that we have grown ten consecutive
crops of the same vegetables On the
same ground without the land becom-
ing crop-sick Or infested with any
germs that seem injurious to the per-
feet development Of any vegetable
This is not true Of other sections
where rain Or surface irrigation has
been relied upon. The claim is made,
and not denied, that minerals in Our
arteslan water, while stimulating to
plant life, are destructive to injurious
germs that blight and destroy crops
grown continually on the same
ground.
1t is also necessary to add that
whe1 1uxuriant vegetation grows all
winter without protection other than
that afforded by our beautiful lake,
which tempers the northwest winds,
outdoor life is wellnigh perfect the
average difference in temperature be-
tween the northwest and the south