The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-09-01
NEWS FROM MARTIN

Inc season LOT planning IaH gardens
is now on and between showers the
busy truckers are getting ground pre-
pared. Beans constitute the main fall
crop, and if the price of these at the
time of maturity 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 express,
growing expenses and commissions
are not sufficient interest 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 prices paid by the ultimate consum-
er. Cantaloupes sold for 10 cents
each in the open market by retail.
This meant $3.50 per crate to the con-
sumner. Choice cantaloupes in the
early season sold for more. Late in
the season cantaloupes were retailing
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 cantaloupe
farmers lost heavily. They paid not
less than an average of 81 per. day for
all common laborers, based on the
ten-hour system. They paid small
advance on crates and other things
used in making the crop. It is Sc
riously contemplated by many to
unite with the Truckers Association
and establish such connections as
will put the business on a safer ba.
sis.
The corn crop is exceptionally fine,
not only in this section, but through
out Marion county. DR.. Boozer, bank
er of Ocala, has offered liberal prizes
for the best yields of corn during the
past few years, and through this slim
illus thousands of bushels are grown,
where only few years ago the acre
age was small 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
offered many liberal prizes for the
best fields of corn, sweet potatoes,
etc. Anumber are planning to con-
test 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 compared with former years.
Farmers are being urged to cut every
pound OF hay possible, as $40 a ton
hay is predicted for next spring.
The peanut crop is extra. No bet
ter prospects have been seen for
years. There are not so many hogs
as in former years to eat them, but
81 peanuts are even better than SC.
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
furnished for growers throughout the
United States who know the value of
the Florida grown seed.
Beginning at Kendrick, three miles
from Martin, there is busy stretch
OF the Atlantic Coast Line that is
hard to equal. Kendrick boasts of its
lime business, trucking and large,
happy community of Industrious peo-
pie. Only a mile from there the hum
of Zuber's two sawmills report activ-
ity. One mile from Zuber, and on the
railroad, is Fessenden, with its well
kept academy buildings and indus
tries, the ]. N. Tiller Company, naval
stores, main plant; M. E. Sunny
Jim" Robinson's large general mer
camille store and small farms, while
at Martin there are many large farms,
the chief being the far-famed Sugar
Hammock, owned by Col j. NJ. Mar
tin and his son, Lawyer w. w. Mar
tin, sawmills, stores, etc.
Gradually in this section stumps
are disappearing, we'll built homes are
taking the place of cabins, good wire
fences are taking the places of rail
fences built generation ago
The ranges for cattlemen are grow
ing less each year. as the outlying
lands are being fenced. To illustrate
what these free ranges have meant to
those who would give little atten'
ton to a herd of cows: An aged
colored man COZ years. Oliver Abb
ton. owns a herd of nearly one hun