The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-11-07
SUGGESTIONS TO THE
BEGINNER IN TRUCK.
ING INDUSTRY.


staple crop for Florida truckers. and
its commercial production has enOr-
mously increased within the last few
years. In some parts of the State to-
matoes can be grown and marketed
during the entire winter for thr
northern markets. and the grower
can readily dispose of his product iof
ready cash at remunerativc prices
either in the local market or To the
agent of the large commission hous-
es.
For the newcomer there is no bet
ter crop with which 10 commence
for il thrives well ON newly clearer
land, and adap,s itself to almost any
type of soil, from the light sandy
leans down TO muck lands, provid-
81 they are well drained.
Varieties OF all the varieties.
and there are many, the best for
General purposes is LivingstOn's
Globe. 1t is a comparatively new
one, but its hardness. earliness, ship
ping qualities, color, shape and size
have made it general favorite. II
is a heavy fruiter and seems suitel
to any section of the State. The
Acme is an old standby, very yigOr-
GUS and early, and of the same type
purple fruited Variety; are both
10th LivingstOn's and Redfields
Beauty. OF the red fruited varie-
ties there are Matchless Stone, Ear
Llama and Early Freedom. The
Duke of York is an excellent varie-
~. its strong recommendation being
its power to resist blight. In the
selection of varieties, however, the
varying demands of the markets (of-
ten capriciOus) are important fac,
tors, and should be taken into con-
sderatiOn, together with earlinesS
| (anOthcr important fcature), yield,
soil and climate conditions. Medium
sized, smooth. spherical fruits ripen-
ing evenly with firm skin are best
suited for shipment.
So;l-Any good vegetable soil will
suit the tomato. for preference :!
sO0d sandy loan. but whatever tn"
selection perfect drainage is essen
tial.
Fertilizer Care must be exercised
IL the amount and kind of fertilizer
en- ployod. Above all, it must be
quick acting and readily soluble
ploducins rapid fruit growth am
early ripcu:ng, avoiding, us far Il;
possible, such ingredients rs would
produce only ine and leaf growth
Most of the fertilizer companies pre-
/
quircmcnts, and all that is needed
for the beginner is 10 write to thu
one nearest his locality oXplainin!
tie nature Of his soil. when hi
wants will be promptly attended to
Potash and phOsphoric acid are mos
fs.Nn IA hn AZ 4
fruit, whereas nitrogen. except i,
the form of nitrate OF 81 da, is not
hcR,e tn formulas should contain
) i'rh percentage Of each of the fir
. two From 100 TO 100 pound
, per acre is the requisite uuantil'
;ivcu in three applications. The frs
application. about 500 to coo pound
; l'cr acre should be broadcastcd Il
tn" time of preparing the land, tn
, second drilled along the rows on tn
appearance of the first bloom, an,
inc third, also along the rows, whcl
/ th, first fruit commences to set.
+ Planting Soc! should be starte
= IN seed beds In the southern por
- tun of the State these seed beds ca
q Ice prepared in the open in a shcl
= Il red place. hut as the cultiyatio
- proceeds northward so must the SOW
a inS h. made in cold frames or no.
beds. The seed beds should be c
4 light sandy loan. raised Il few incht
Il ahoHc the level of the ground. abou
I to t feet wide. and as long as d,
"a sired or convenient. The soil Shout
J e thoroughly worked and Il lisl
'pplcation of fertilizer given I'll
''u Just enough to get a GOO
start ot plants. The seed bed shoul
y ne kept moist. not wet. Where II
l seedlings are brought along in
Ut cold frame or hotbcd, watering an
Is Neh'iIation require very careful a
c 'tn'ion. Sow the seed thinly
Dc dIlits " II inches apart. and whe
Il Inc FIRST truc leaves have well star
10 'l' or as soon as the plants beg
~ 10 crowd transplant to thorough
n prepared bed, setting the plants
=. 'N'heN apart each way, where tn,
i" an be held uptil they attain abor