The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-02-04
Strawberries
Talk of Making this Fruit Crop
A Feature of the Next Fall
Planting

One of the changes in the next
fall program which is now being
considered by several owners OF
land which is being cultivated this
year, is the chances of making a
strawberry crop profitably in this
locality.
Mr., Charles Windham, who
knows this section we'll and has
made strawberry crop three
years at Kathleen, has just made
visit to Punta Gorda accompan-
led by Mr.. j. L. johnson also of
Kathleen. The object of this trip
was to examine several tracts
of land which Mr.. Windham
had in view as likely to make
admirable strawberry fields and
interest some of the growers in
putting in this fruit.
Mr.. Windham brought a small
carrier, such as is exclusively used
for shipping strawberries with ice.
A number Of men examined the
carrier and Mr.. Windham explain
ed details of shipment.
The Cooper tract, which has ov-
erhead irrigation is one of the
holdings most likely to make
Strawberries protitably. 1t was
proved last year that this land
would make fine berries and plen-
ty of them. In coming into this
section for Strawberries, it is the
belief that the more steady high
temperatures will reduce the ne
cessity for strawing to counteract
the cooler weather nights farther
north in the present strawberry
centres.
There is some question raised
as to the possibility that the aver
age land here would prove too
light under usual conditions to
grow the crop to advantage.
Messrs. johnson and Windham
found quite an acreage, however,
that they decided would be as
good land as they could ask for.
Land should have been used at
least one year to be in shape for
berries, and two-years working
would be even better in some cas-
es.
While Mr.. Windham says he
hardly thinks this area would go
into market much earlier than the
present centres of the business,
it should make fine fruit for the |
same dates and possibly at |
slightly less cost, while the ship
ping, which is by zones, he under
stands would bring the railroad
at the same figure
as now is paid from the present
points.
Mr.. Windham says it is neces-
sary to start soon raising plants
and that a thousand plants put
out soon should produce sufficient
plants to use on one acre. This
thousand would cost $3.50. He
would use the Missionary berry
for the early crop and one of the
new berries possibly for the later
,ruit. The bed Of berries at
Japt. Ed Smith, s was examined
carefully and pronounced fine.
Among the local men who have
desirable land are Messrs. Dewey
md Cooper. Some of the land in
he new drainage canal area was
lecided to be likely to prove good
trawberry soil.
Mr.. Windham expects to return
within a couple of weeks, and any
me interested in strawberry
,lanting for next fall can obtain
from him at that time. l
The fine new Irish potatoes that
ave been in the local market for I
couple weeks, have been from S. i
l. Elwell s farm on Lees branch. Il
)nly small portion of the crop is
eing taken out at this time, it be-
lg such as the quantity of water
4 the ground made it necessary /
% remove. Those which Mr.. Ell
yell brought in to this office for c
amples, certainly showed the ca t
ability ofsome Of his land for po- V
ato growing, even under such pc
lliar weather conditions as these I
-ere grown in. Mr.. Elwell n
,as able to get good figure for
Il he had at this time. d
w. G. Crews has had the Skip b
er-Holderby packing house open a
1r over a week putting up fruit
'om Mizell s and some Of the 9th \
: groves. e