The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-08-25
BRAIN and Drawn BUSY
Strenuous and Efficient Work of the
Farmers In the Martin
Section

Martin. August 25-The season for
planting fall gardens is now on and
between showers the busy truckers are
getting ground prepared. Beans con-
stitute the main fall crop and il the
price of these at the time OF maturity y
is in proportion to anticipated prices
of other foodstuffs the planters should
be able to make up for some past
losses
The truckers Of this belt feel that
the returns to them after the express,
growing expenses and commissions are
deducted are not sufficient int crest on
the sums invested and the wear and
tear of the farm and the farmer The
trouble does not seem to be with the
farmer or the prices paid by the u1ti-
mate consumer. Cantaloupes sold for
10 cents each in the open market by
retail This meant $3.50 per crate to
the consumer. Choice cantaloupes in
the early season sold for more Late
in the season cantaloupes were retail
ing in Washington for 10 cents each
In Boston and New York fruit stands
sold them for quite as much. In spite
of these high prices the canta1oupe
farmers lost heavily. They paid not
all common laborers based on the ten
hour system. They paid small ad-
vance on crates and other things used
in making the crop 1t is seriously
contemplated by many to unite with
the truckers association and establish
such connections as will put the busi-
ness a safer basis.
The corn crop is exceptionally fne
not only in this section but through
out Marion county. DR.. Boozer, banker
OF Ocala, has offered liberal prizes for
the best yields of corn during the past
few years and through this stimulus
thousands Of bushels are grown. where
only a few years ago the acreage was
smaI. The corn crop will mean much
to the farmers as the price OF shipped
corn will be higher than it has ever
been before.
The Ocala Fertilizer Company has Of
fered many liberal prizes for the best
yields of corn, sweet potatoes, etc. A
number are planning to contest for
these prizes at the Marion County Fair
in November.
The hay crop will not be large this
year. The season usually known as the
rainy season" has been late and even
now the rainfall is very small as COM
pared with former years. Farmers are
being urged to cut every pound of hay
possible as $40 a ton now is predicted
for next spring.
The peanut crop is extra. No better
prospects have been seen for years.
There are not SO many hogs as in for
mer years to eat them, but So peanuts
are even better than Scent pork.
The farmers hail with delight the
news that hog cholera serum can now
be had for the asking from the state
board of health. The cholera scourge
has killed several thousand dollars
worth in this county during the past
season.
Watermelon farmers have saved
great quantities of seed. These are
from the choice melons and will be fur
nished to growers throughout the Unit
ed States who know the value of the
Florida grown seed.
beginning at Kendrick, three miles
from Martin, there is a busy stretch of
the Atlantic Coast Line that is hard to
equal. Kendrick boasts of it's lime bus
mess, trucking and a large happy COM
munty of Industrious people. Only a
mile from there. the hum of Zubers
i two sawmills retort activity and gen
products being MANUFACTURED and ship
ped One mile from Zuber and on the
railroad is Fessenden, with it's well
kept academy buildings and industries
the ]. n. Tiller Company, naval stores
main plant; NJ. E. Robinson, Sunny
Jim's" large general mercantile store
| and small farms, while at Martin there
/ are many large farms, the chief being
1.-The far-famed Sugar Hammock, owned
| by Col. J. NJ. Martin and his son, Law
yer w w. Martin. sawmi1ls, stores. etc
| Gradually in this section the stumps
are disappearing. we1l-built homes are
taking the places of cabins. good wire
lfences are replacing the rail fences
built a generation ago
| The ranges for cattlemen are grow
! ing less each year as the outlying lands
| are being fenced. To illustrate whai
| these free ranges have meant to those
who would give a littel attention to a
| herd of cows: An aged colored mar
| 107 years. Oliver Abition, owns herd
of nearly one hundred cattle He still
| goes out to look after them. This ac-
tivity has kept him as spry as boy
| The sales of beef cattle have supported
him for many years. These cattle rur
on the free ranges. or the unfencee
lands of other people. We mention this
to show that little attention on the
part of poor folks in the past ha:
| brought great rewards.
| Mahaley Williams. another coloret
person. blind. had made a good record
She has insisted on cooking for herself
sews. can garden, and is able to gather
some crops in addition to keeping
lhouse" She has preferred to do such
rather than to pine away or live OF