The Ordway new era., 1910-03-18
ABOUT FLORIDA LANDS
Phosphate Rock Is Shipped to Chicago
Whore II Is Prepared and Re-
turned As Rich Fertilizer


Denver Republican OF March 9th some
OF you have read of "the great rush to
Florida for farms," etc. After telling
many facts about this wonderland, l
find this statement, 1.-The soil OF
Florida is rich far beyond the con-
ception of mankind. 1t Is almost
sulid fertilizer" True in one sense,
but this ''solid fertilizer" Is phosphate
rock and contains no available food
for vegetation. until ground fine aud
mixed with the blood and otfal OF our
northern stock yards and treated by
special process. This Is done In Chi
cago and the fertilizer sold back to
the Florida people at $40 per ton. A
careful estimate is $50 to $50 per acre
for a crop. This has to be done on
every acre In Florida AS far as know
and have seen about every agricul'
tural district In the State. or course,
II you can be assured OF $500 crop to
the acre this first cost is trivial, but
many years when Texas and California
are prosperous, the truck Is scarcely
worth shipping. and In fruits alternate
years is the rule and oftener bumper
crop every three years or so.
This writer l have quoted Is speak,
ing Of Ocala. Fla.-nOrth central part
of the State. This is as good or better
soil than must OF Florida, but 1t Is not
out of the frost line and at least half
Of the years have killing frosts for
tomatoes. potatoes. beans or peppers
their paving truck. This year their
Oraprc. w"r" 'ruyru N the trees hnd
almost +, r,l, .u-s The northern
people who have set ned there are turn
ing their attentiUn to hay and grain
and are doing we'll. Cow peas and other
legumes, except alfalfa. are profitable.
The wide.awake. enterprising north
ern Yankee will Ind the WY I" live
and arcumuaIc. hut ihv h""k-ke"per
or clerk looking for u haven ot rest
on. the ten acres will probably be
found back at his desk after a year or
two. They generally d'ift back into
the chicken business or som" kindred
occupation II they stay In the state.
"A playground f"r the New York
millionaire" is the best detnitl"n m
Florida l have as yet seen He can
spend three months here with his
YACHT and automobile and Mt other
times stroll among his grapefruit and
oranges and go back invig"rated and
strengthened, but his "output" Is
many times less than his "input."
or course. that IL OF no account
to him. but to the poor "ten acre
seeker" 1t Is OF vital Importance.
Come here. Dnald. and let us
measure that immense grapefruit
i9} inches In circumference!-abOut
four inches greater than that OF one
Of our Wolf River apples. Twenty
four Of such would little more than
fll q crate. - Is about as small us Is
ever shipped. This fruit Is remark.
ably hne here-much milder than
farther north and very much milder
than the California fruit. The Cuban
fruit Is still sweeter and some varl'
eties are almost as sweet as an orange.
Heat has much to do in eliminating
acids. The sapadillo and nance are
20 insipid that you would not care I"
indulge until you have been STEPPED
in Florida climate for u year or so
Mu,berrics and surinam cherries are
ripening- most exquisite fruits. Lo'
ouats are In their prime-an in
d,..rr,bubl,. cherry. The hurricane
In September blew down the banana
plants and the crop Is short, but OF
excellent quality. Both varieties are
grown here-sweet aud sour. nave
never seen the latter in the North.
They are for baking or frying and re-
mind one NJ Il mild apple sauce.
But after your curiosity is satisfied
In these "freaks" you will go back u
Oregon prunes or peaches for your
steady fruit diet. /. e.. unless you arc
fond OF the grapefruit and oranges
The King urangc-a kid glove variety
is sweet and juicy and is $" delicate
that It is never shipped north; :" "'
the "Smooth Cheyenne p'neapp"' II
n,oat delicious fruii-so sweet IN"
YOU would never ask for sugar III"
Florida tumn'" Is u most eXcr'I'h'
one. cxrelling our Colorado tomato
very few seeds. but the strawberry Is
not good. Green corn Is In the mar
ket and beans are getting tough.
- & ROBERTS.
For Sale.