Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-19
Editorial correspondence

lEultorlal CorreSpondence)
Florence Villa, Fla, March 15.-Thou-
sands of people from all parts of the
North and West who invaded Florida in
the early winter, many of them before
the holidays, are now clamoring for
transportation to get back home. They
came on the instalment plan. but are
now insisting on leaving within the
next ten days or two weeks.
The soil of Florida is fertile almost
beyond belief. Vegetables are grown in
enormous quantities, especially in the
muck lands which are now being drain
ed in great areas.
Wonderful System of Canals
Along the Ocklawaha River, the most
tortuous stream in the world. whose
| course has been Strengthened by won
derful system of canals in recent years,
| thousands of acres have been converted
into rich and phenomenally productive
soil. In this district 5000 acres repre-
sents the development of tract
whose yield of corn and potatoes has
been little short of marvellous. AS a
| test of the soil 100 acres were planted
| in corn and the yield was 142 bushels
to the acre. The average Pennsylvania
| farmer would probably be tickled with
an average of 80 to 40 bushels. Last
season 1000 acres in the same section
| produced 81, 900 bushels, which was SOLD
at an average of $1.0B per bushel. the
crop netting over all expenses above
$4,000.
This ought to be encouraging for the
vacant lot potato and corn movement
| In Harrisburg. 1 should add that ir
this big cornfield the small ears-nub-
bins, you know-and the stalks were
| not gathered but the owners turned
into the field 200 or 800 head of cattle
and about 1900 hogs, which were fat
tened through their own foraging. Th'
cattle and hogs were sold at a bis
profit.
800 Bushels Per Acre
This year the owners of the same
tract have planted 500 of the 1000 acre'
in Irish potatoes. the seed costing SIS.
900. On this muck land, so rich in al
the elements, the yield of Irish potatoe
In former years has been over 800 bush
els per acre, or 100 barrels. In tht
+. same ratio the crop of potatoes from
the 600 acres this year will be abou
10000 barrels which should. at presen
prices, realize for the owners Sc to s.
per barrel-approXimate $360,000. A
soon as the potatoes are picked corr
will be planted and should be read!
for plucking in September or October
Cabbage could then be planted an'
gathered before the next potato season
unless the hog and cattle feeding
should be resumed.
About 5000 acres of this rich blacl
land was sold for $750.000. AS th
drainage of the river bottom costs from
$40 to $15 an acre, the profit can b.
readily figured.
Not Good For Corn:
Certain distinguished soil expert o
the University of Illinois was sent
sample of this rich earth for analyst
and reported back that it was no goo
4 for corn. He had found very little po
tassium and declared'it would not pro
duce corn. He was advised that TIL
person who had shipped the sample ha
gathered the dirt from between row
of corn ten to fifteen feet high an
that there had been gathered about IA
bushels per acre. He asked for anothe
sample and submitted a similar analy
sis Still not convinced he came t
Florida this winter and seeing a pile o
corncobs as big as barn, where 94,00
bushels had been shelled, he concludes
there was no doubt concerning tn
corn growing quality of the soil.
In the Everglades humus 40 feet dec
has been discovered, the residue of cen