The Punta Gorda herald., 1919-06-19
New Money CROPS for Florida

Florida has become one Of the
seven wonders of the country. Al
most every week comes announce
ment from some part of the state
fof new money crops that are be
ing developed. If a survey of the
state was made and published,
showing all Of the crops raised
within the borders Of Florida, it
would be the greatest surprise
that has been sprung on the
United States for some time.
Florida has been noted for its
fruit for many years, but until re-
Gently it has been almost entirely
citrus fruits. This good money
crop has now reached almost gi-
gantic proportions, the last crop
shipped bringing the growers
close to $25,OO0, 100000 and most
states would be satisfied with that
one line of production, but not
Florida.
Within the past decade straw
berries have become big crop,
the production of this delicious
fruit in the state running into
millions Of dollars and the acre
age is increasing yearly. Peaches
have been raised in small quanti-
ties but the past few years have
seen this popular fruit increasing
and recently the news columns
have told of big peach orchard
near Blountstown that is making
a remarkable yield, several car
loads having been shipped and the
trees all heavily loaded with a
fine grade of fruit. 1t is believed
that, with proper cultivation and
handling, this can become one Of
the prominent industries Of Flor
ida in the near future. Raspber-
ries, blackberries, gooSeberries
and various other small fruits are
also being raised with consider
able success and the list grows
longer with each season.
Avocado pears are being grown
with marked success in the south
ern part of the state and it is be-
Lieved that this delicious salad |
fruit will take a prominent place
IN the many varied products Of |
the state. Mangoes, persimmons
and other tropical fruits are
grown in the southern sections
and bring splendid prices. Figs
are good crop in any part of the
state and this delicious .eruit is
being grown more extensively ev-
cry year.
Sugar cane is now generally rec
ognized as the sure money crop in
every section of the state and
with the establishing of a number
Of syrup mills in West Florida,
near Jacksonville, on the East
Coast, in South Florida and in the
interior the acreage has been more
than doubled this year. Now
that it has been definitely and
finally settled that the finest SUI !
gar cane imaginable can be raised |
IN Florida, and with the high |
prices of sugar and prospective |
higher price on account of a sugar |
shortage throughout the world,
there is every prospect that the
of sugar will become
certainty in Florida in the very
1ear future, and then the raising
If sugar cane will become general
n the state and immense acreages
will be planted and harvested
The list might be continued in
as there are scores Of
'ig money crops already well es-
ablished, such as potatoes, corn,
omatoes, celery, lettuce beans
as, cucumbers, waUermelons,
anteloupes and many others, to
ay nothing of the great live
tock and dairy industry that is
eing expanded at an astonishing
ate in Florida. With this re-
larkable variety Florida is now
to serve itself with ev-
rything and ship to other sec
ions a few million dollars worth
f good things which are greatly
ppreciated, especially as many of
fem AFRO prouyn whom tho rest of