The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-07-30
NEWS FROM MARTIN
Special Cor. ocala Banner:


former years. Industrious farmers
and those that conduct the farming
business on a scientific and business
basis find it safe. profitable and pleas
ant AS a result of the optimistic
conditions, there will be another
large acreage planted in the things
for which the Martin section. is now
so far famed. The larger planters at
this point marketed rd-breaking
crops, and did il so well that the
names, Martin & Co., Z. p Towns
end. Knoblock Bros, Chambliss and
Howell, are familiar in the canta-
loupe. bean and melon markets Of the
north and east. A number of the
smaller farmers have done extra well
during the past season, among whom
are ]. n. Rawls, E. Weaver, Ed
Brown, stephen Brown, Walter Smith
and Albert James. Intensive cultiva-
ton and the best of attention to
seeds. fertilizers and the putting up
Of packages are taking the place of
methods to overlook these essentials.
The corn, pindar, sweet potato and
chufa crops are all most promising,
and no former year has offered a bet
ter outlook to the farmers that de-
pend upon these staples. The season
has been one of great satisfaction for
the general farmers, both as to TEN
perature and rain. The farmers are
a hopeful set, as most of them have
money in bank, plenty of stock and
prospects that were never brighter.
The general health of this section
rs good. II there is a sick person
near here it is not of a serious nature.
Seldom do We see a physician in this
section owing to the extreme good
health Of the inhabitants The deaths
that have occurred during the past
year have been because of the infrm-
titles that belong to old age.
Fall gardeners are getting lands in
shape for an early planting of beans
and other general crops that mature
before frost 1t is quite a positive
contrast TO see the farmers down
here making ready Yor another Sec
ond crop during one year and to know
that the western farmer or the north
ern one must be busy now looking out
for fuel and barns to fight the cruel
blasts of winter. The Florida farm
er has the advantage, and with the
proper kind of energy he need not be
in want at any season.
The breed of hogs in this section
is being steadily improved. The pork
crop viii be quite large this year. n.
]. Townsend will have a large num-
Der to market to butchers. Most OF
the people of this section save almost
enough meat to last them. This is a
most necessary thing for all commu-
mites to do that expect to enjoy any
degree of prosperity. Everything
that will save a dollar from going to
Illinois or Massachusetts to buy meat
will mean a dollar of prosperity down
this way.
The velvet bean crop is large and
gives good promise of a productive
yield. This will mean a goodly num-
Der of fat beeves for the local mar
kets.
At about four O'Clock in the morn
ing the visitor to this section is great
ly impressed by the "oratorio" of
whistles that the numbering interest
is great about Martin. In addition to
the whistle and hum of the Roess
Lumber Company's mill in the viii
lage, and the Knoblock mills just be-
yond, the buzz of the saws of the
Sumner Lumber Company, two miles
away 10 the south, and the Meffert
mills two miles to the north make in
dustrial music all day long. This
chorus Of industry pealing out on the
morning air is an inspiration and
teaches the captains of industry who
have vision to believe not only in the
present but the future of Florida.
Mr.. ]. NJ. Meffert is continuously
improving his lime properties. He is
now operating much of his plant by
machinery, and viii constantly add
other Improvements as they are sug-
gested by the needs and the growth
OF his business. Mr. Meffert's career
in the industrial activities of this sec
ton has been marked by great sue
cess. 1t matters not what he has ia
ken hold of it has been, like magic,
converted into gold or a power in the
industrial line. He has successfully
developed farms. mills, lime business
and naval stores plants, and as a side
line commercial activity. He has
showed to othehrs by his attention to
business that they are all lmitless
as to development. He has also shar-