The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-26
MATTERS At MARTIN
Descriptions of q Great Marion County
Farm and Other Interesting
Notes.

Martin, April 2S.-The ideal of farm
ing in Central Florida score OF years
ago was not what it is today nor was
the practice what Is seen today. One
of the most gratifying of the indus
tries being developed is that Of farm
ing and farming so that ii Will pay
The forests are being cleared because
the world wants rosin and turpentine
and lumber and Florida will be rich
for many years il the cleared area is
developed by men Of industry, men
who have faith in farming and who
know how to farm. The need of Flo
rida today is for thousands of men who
want to develop vineyards. orchards
truck farms and straight farms. The
side lines of swine and cattle raising
promise enough when coupled with the
others TO make men prosperous and
happy.
The present season has been little
wet but with dry weather for harvest
ing the first vegetables, returns prom
se TO be satisfactory.
Laborers are in great demand. A
hundred men could find work in the
section at remunerative wages. Many
farmers have paid as much s1.25 for
table gatherers are in great demand
One of the largest farmers in the sec
tion is Mr.. Tiller of the firm Of J. n.
Tiller & Co. He purchased the E. c.
Mcleod lands a mile and a half from
Martin. Mr.. Tiller has. ii were re-
built this farm and today has one of
the prettiest farms in Central Florida.
He has under fence nearly seven hum
nd Of ierh
state of cultivation. The barns are
large, the farm is well stocked with
hogs, there being over 500. Improved
cattle have just been added. A fine
small orange grove is one of the de-
sirable parts of this farm. Recently
the correspondent went over this val
liable property with Mr.. Ti1ler and was
greatly delighted and interested in the
fine growing crop to be seen.
The watermelon crop is very prom
ising. so acres. with vines three feet
long and in a high state of cultivation
look like one of the finest vegetab BILE
prospects of the section. The Tom
Watson and Kolb Gem varieties are
said to be the most desired by North
ern markets ana with this end in view
these varieties have been planted The
yield
The watermelon rows are nearly half
mile long and are clear. of grass. A
thousand pounds of fertilizer of special
mixture have been used to each acre.
The vines are tenderly nursed till they
begin TO spread after which they are
left TO mature by shine and shower.
The eighty-f:ve acre cantaIoupe
int he
vines are healthy and are putting on
fruit very rapidly. 1t is thought that
Mr. Tiller's cantaloupes are farther ad-
vanced than those of any other grower
in the section. His cantaloupes
seed were especially selected from
the Colorado Rocky Ford region
and from fruit that was we'll nigh
solid and that grew close to the vine.
These seeds cost a deal more than the
regular commercial seed and will of
course give results because of the care
in their selection. The special mixture
of a thousand pounds of fertilizer per
acre on these cantaloupes is shown G
results already. An early crop with
a hundred crate per acre yield has been
predicted by experienced cantaloupe
men,
patch of so acres : These beans are now
being picked and sent to Northern
markets. They are the choice Golden
Wag variety. A great many cars will
be loaded judging from the prospects
| of blooms and young beans that load
the vines.
cucumber patch of three acres un-
der intensive cultivation show what
ho nd Of 40 IL
| when mixed with brains and turned
| with industry. This patch will fill
several hundred crates within the mex
| few days
| Four acres of cabbages have filled
notch prices. as this has been "cabbag,
year"
| A sweet corn" field of several acre.
| for early trade In Northern market
| shows the possibility of the early sea
son in Florida.
| Regular farm corn field has in it IA
| acres while 130 acres are planted t,
velvet beans. Near by is small pc:
patch" of only fifty acres. A pea nu
field of so acres of pea nuts and 8
acres OF chufas are the fattening prov
ender for the hogs to be slaughtere,
L
| Mr.. TiIler uses the latest labor saw
| ing devices. The crops show wonderful
\ regularity due to machine planters
| Fertilizers distributors and spreaders
| mowers and binders. hay presses an,
| late plows are considered as grea
money makers and labor savers by thi
/ great farmer.
It is Mr.. Tiller's plan to remove ever,
stump from the fields he cultivates an,
to use machinery for doing everythin:
| possible.
| He also is adding a horse and null
| growing department.
| This farm gives employment at som
| seasons to two hundred persons and
| smaller force is kept busy the yea
| round. Only a few years ago the land
| embraced in this farm were known a
| cut over lands and few had faith Il
| them to fence them for them. Nov
they could not be bought for less thai
$50 per acre. 1t Is predicted that sue
lands will see a higher price within tn
next few years The forage needed 70
/ thirty mules has been grown on thi
place.
Several hundred bales of hay are nov
| in the barns and the farm shows
credit in favor of its products after al
lexpenses have been taxed against it
/ Mr.. Tiller at present is one of tn
largest naval stores operators in tn
| state but after few more years O
| activity he plans to retire and spen
n hic t. 70 hat rx,;fv r. I,