The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-03-03
[NTOMOl OGICAL
Dissertation on the Bug POpuIa-
ton of Florida
VIEWS OF McMASTERS
Sayk Ceatre Physician Reports Re-
suits of Further Researches in
Sunny South

SUsSS VI uuJlHCT HCSC0tCuCS III
Sunny South
MIAMI, FLA, Feb. 21-Dear Welles:
Did I say something about the ento-
mological resources of Florida? OF
course the hookworm occupies the
front rank, ever since the Standard
Oil college presented him with mil
lion dollar diploma. The hookworm,
we are told, passes the first few hun
dred years of his existence in the
ground. Then in the dark of the
moon he is seized with a desire to
migrate, and pitches his tent between
the muddy toes of the human biped.
Thereafter, he finds life worth living,
while the biped grows weary in well
doing, and finally ceases to do at all,
except at meal times, when be de-
velopes dangerous degree of energy.
An all-wise providence, however, has
seen fit to provide small army of
antidotes to the rayages of the H. w.
realizing that even lazy man will
scratch if sufficiently annoyed. So
X. r. sent the mosquito, the horsefly,
the nudge, the redbug, the flea and a
host-of others to prevent the victim
of dying of ennui.
AS you are doubtless familiar with
most of these 1 will pass them by.
The redbug, however, is new to you
and deserves more than passing
notice. He. like the H. w. is habit
at of the soil, so small as to be barely
visible. When he is seized with de-
sire for new pastures he attaches him
self to some passing human, beneath
whose cuticle he promptly disappears.
and thereafter he is known by his
works. When 1 first came to Florida
] was puzzled by the fact that most
OF the men with whom l conversed
stood upon one leg. BY careful study
a was able to note that the foot at
iached to the other leg was in con-
slant requiSition as soothing APP
plication to its running mate. l also
speedily learned that when talking to
lady, if a dreamy, far-off expression
fitted over her face, accompanied by
an almost imperceptible lifting of her
matchless shoulders, it would be a
gentlemanly and humane act to plead
an important engagement and leave
here to her, well, to her neighbors.
, The mosquito is troublesome in
Florida, only on the coast, unless
driven by high winds into the interi-
or. The everglades being covered
with fresh running water do not
afford breeding ground. OF the
reptile family know but little, hav-
ing seen but three snakes during my
stay, all Of them poisonous. Frogs
are unknown in this latitude and l
have been unable to see one as yet.
The nearest approach to it is the toad
fish which grows in salt water and
very nearly resembles our garden
friend.
l am in receipt of many inquiries as
to the possibilities of this section re-
garding fruit, vegetables, stock etc.
One lady asks if chickens can be rails
ed successfully. They can, if the
night be dark, the folks away from
home and they don't keep a dog. AS
to fruit and vegetables, there is never
any question as to yield; the real
question is will the market price leave
you a margin of profit after paying
expenses. Just now the crop of toma-
toes, wax beans, eggplant aud peppers,
planted in December, is being harvest
ed. Tomatoes bring $500 per crate
of pecks; average yield, say, 300
crates, 10000; clearing land df need
ed) $4,000; fertilizer $4,000: picking
$4,000; packing $500; very nice pro-
fit per acre. But suppose northern
Florida and southern Georgia were in
the field, why, then you might have
to contemplate loss.
In Minnesota just now farmer
with his fax crop on Hand could smile
if his thermometer read minus 40.
Two years ago crop of barley would
pay for the land. 'Nihil est, alb om-
nj parte beatum'', says Horace, and
this is. more true of husbandry
than of any other pursuit. This part
of Florida is being blessed by a sue
cession of severe frosts in the north
ern half Prices are good with ris-
ing tendency. talked this morning
with two young Minnesotans who
have twenty acres in garden truck.
They refuse to consider anything un-
der 81, 900 net profit. and ! rather
think they will get il.