The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-07
POLK COUNTY SECTION
BEST PART Of
FLORIDA
MICHIGAN EDITOR WRITES EN-.
TERTAlNlNGLY OF C0NDI.
TIONS IN THESE PARTS.

Experiments have been made to test
the influence of climate as we'll as
the soil upon agricultural and hor-
tirultural products One scientific
conclusion is this: Soil must con-
tain 4 certain amount of fertility
plant food but over ana above this
food necessity. cii.nate seems to con-
troll the result" Another conclusion
is that climate is the important fac
tor; next water. rs moisture; a"d
thirdly. soil. In its ply steal or me-
chanical properties rather than ITS
nutrlment." One eXpermt nier says:
MY experience would indicate i'm
pOrtance of soil only so far as con-
cerned its physical factor for holding
and releasing moisture"
In Florida much OF the soil that
looks poor to northern eyes. especial
~ those that have been familiar with
the black vegetable loan Of our prai-
ries. or the heavier clays Of our tim
bered lands. because it is sandy. fail
to take cOgnizance Of the fact that
climate Is large factor In produce
tiOn. The word climate has larger
meaning than is generally given it,
for. as defined, II means "the c0ndi-
ton Of any portion Of the earth's
surface In respect to temperature.
moisture, and other atmospheric phe-
nOmena"
There is much to tell about the eli
mate Of South Florida, which, in con-
ncctiOn with the soil Of Polk county,
its lakes, its altitude. its freedom
from insects and malaria the Won
terful misunderstanding quality OF
the SOIL OVERLAPPING an irOn-impreg-
mated aud porous subsOil, presents i
combination particularly adapted to
the raising Of vegetables and fruits
IN large quantities and of The finest
quality for home consumption and
for northern and European markets.
Big money crops arc produced here.
because of the climate, at the time
OF the year when they command the
highest prices.
We have nothing TO say drrOga-
tory to other portions of Florida. We
know. however. that the water flows
from Polk county In all directions
Barlow, the county seat, is llj feet
above sea level. while a dozen miles
east of it the surface of Crooked
lake as given on government maps.
is 49, feet above the sea, and the
land ON its northern and eastern
shores rises from 80 10 over 100 feet
above the lake.
This section ef Florida, therefore,
offers an opportunity to the home
seeker to live in the most hcalthiul
spot ia America, whore III" cllmat"
IA we'll as the soil is A leading fac
tor in the production OF fruits and
vegetables. aud where with but lit
lie effort if satisfied in a land with
, no great extremes of heat and cold.
/ h" can surround his family with COM
fort and plenty and live without fear
oi frost destroy ing the results OF his
tabor.
The May issue OF The t;arden Maga-
zine, pubiish"d by Doubleday. Page
q 90. Garden city. y. Y. which
show III" average date of The last
killing frost in spring. as observed
for about thirty years, which gives
Fob T., for central Florida. March |
Tor th" mort hrrn part of the State.
March 10 for savannah. March II
for charleston. April for Richmond.
and SO on up TO May - in northern
New England. and May 10 to IL in
Michigan; while in South Florida.
below the 27th parallel of latitude.
the entry is frost at rare intervals
only" This gives the truck grower
in South Florida a climatic surety
Tor crops and early markets not pos
sessed by the tiller of the soil any
where else in he United State, and
all of this region receives the cool
ing and healing benefit of the ocean
and gulf hreeZes in the summer.
The ritrus f-uiis. grapefruit. or
anges. tangerin.s. kumquats. lemons
and lines. ar" ready for market in
the month Of November and the ship
ping season lasts until into May. The
early summer fruits consist of plumS.
/ grapes. podeaes. persimmons, melons.
: and are 70 be had in the months of
MAY. June July. August and Septem-