The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-02-08
FARMERS ARE
INTERESTED IN
INSTITUTES
STAFF OF EXPERTS VERY sue
cEssFuL DURING THE PAST
WEEK AND ARE NOW CONDUCT
ING MEETINGS IN D'soTo. POLK
AND HILLsBoRouGH COUNTIES.
Special to The journal.

JalianaSSoe, TeD. ~ no lol AOAS
institute star of the University OF
Florida returned last week from the
counties OF Gadsden, Jackson, Wash
inzton, Taylor. Lafayette and Aiachua.
where they have conducted thirty-twc
farmers institute sessions and re-
turned to the neld Monday, February
8. to hold farmers Institutes In De
Soto. Polk and Hfllsborough counties.
these meetings have been successful
from every standpoint, the average
attendance being decided increase
over that Of previous years In the
same districts, as suggested by the
following figures: in 1908, AZ sessions
mere held with total attendance OF
4.491; 1909. "a sessions with total
attendance OF 5,576; IN 1910. 122 ses-
eions, with q total attendance Of To-.
146. These figures indicate growing
interest in the farmers institute work.
These meetings are intended to reach
every farmer at his home and oners
obstruction on farm topics that can
be secured in no other way.
The results Of the experiment sta
stion work compiled are used az text
4 by the institute speakers and every
phase Of the work Is intended to be
Just IS practical as it is possible to
make it. The varied interests through
out the state make it necessary that
these various lines In agricultural
work must be handled Generally
speaking. the general farm crops are
the most ones most discussed since
these interest greater number OF
the farmers who can visit the instt
tutes. It was a notable fact that the
business men, professional men AM
the most aggressive farmers III each
locality from the hrst showed their 10.
terest ia the work that the University
OF Florida is trying to bring to the
farmers Of the state.
Tho Safest Methods.
The need OF diversified farming Ii
moro and more recognized as the
safest methods for the farmer Il
adopt. Where section has devoted
ill Of its time to one particular croI
we ind that there comes q day O.
some time In its history where tina
crop must give way to> general crops
One Of tke best samples we have o
mis- is In Gadsden county. where thu
tDbacco interests have been so over
done that many OF the shades an
now being used for growing the truck
crops In this section millions o
dollars have been invested in tobac
60 shades and tobacco barns, which
Has at last temporarily resulted In tn,
ever.production of that one particular
crop. In other sections OF Floridz
there cotton has been the staple cror
the farmers are seeing the advisable
y Of diversifying their crops, adopting
letter methods. are preparing for the
koll weevil. which in all probability
will visit these cotton sections o
Florida in the near future.
The cattle interests OF Lafayette
must also give away largely to gen
eral farming. These lands at presen
owned by large corporations vii
eventually be turned into farms wher.
general farming must be followed
Even the farmers of south Florids
who have devoted SO much of theil
attention to citrus crops are rapid,
changing their methods and adopting
the general farming methods. Thes,
conditions existing over the state vii
result in making Florida one Of thu
most important crop producing state'
in the south.
The 1--we stock industry Is gradual
ly filing long felt need on thu
Florida farm. The soils that ar
naturally Of sandy character cal
only be permanently improved b.
growing more forage crops and con
verting them into beef, dairy product
and pork. This means that live stool
of Florida will gradually improve Il
quality Several herds of Herefcrds
Ehorthorns, Jerseys and variou
breeds of hogs are found scatteret
over the state. These all have ter
dency to improve the live stock Il
their respective communities. TIL
farmers see the advisability of grad
ing up the native stock with bette
blood, since it means a greater PR
duction Of meat for the feed consun
ed.
The possibilities for forage crop
/. In Florida seem almost unlimited. Ia
gumes especially are peculiarly adap
ed to Florida soils. Each year ne,
ones are being introduced and foun
to have an important place in tn
long list that can now be shown fc
Florida. The cultivation, fertilizatio
! and storing Of these are the main pro-
lens for the Florida farmer to owe
come. These crops are under inve
I tigation at the Florida ExperimeI
1 Station and bulletins relative to the;
xkultivation are being issued from tim