The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-01-03
VISIT or CECIL DELEGATION
TO FLORIDA.
Toasted On Fresh Vegetables and
Fruits-Farming Possibilities
OF state.

Frutts-Farm1ng POSSIBILITIES
Of State.
The Cecil County delegates, WIFI
made a tour of several Florida
with party of delegates te
the Farmers National Congress, fol
loving the Congress which was held
in Jacksonville, December 3-6, are
showing their friends a souvenir
diary of their trip.
Commenting upon the opportuni
ties Florida offers for farming anu
live stock production, they say:
s.The trip which was arranged by the
Association of Florida Fairs took us
through counties where extensive
farming operations are being carried
on. ana we were surprised to learn
that the corn crop of Florida TINS
past year, exceeded in value the
citrus crop, which was fully up to
normal.
eve were shown herds OF pure
bred Shorthorns, Angus and Here
fords which have not had any gram
or housing, that were in excellent
condition.
ssThe greatest opportunities seem
to be in breeding the cheap, native
cows to pure bred beef type sires
The climate is very mild, and calves
dropped in January and February
on the pastures, made an excellent
growth for finishing as yearlings on
velvet beans, corn and peanut hay,
which are grown in abundance on
cultivated land.
DAIRY farming also offers ex-
ceptional possibilities, as the price OF
fresh milk is higher than in more
developed states, while the cost OF
production is very much lower than
where expensive housing for stock
and excessive cost for labor to dis
tribute the feed are necessary. The
dairy cattle can gather their own
roughage in Florida twelve months
in every year.
s'Considerable sport has been
made about the Florida piney woods
rooters, but we visited hog farms
where prize winning pure bred
Poland Chinas, Duroc-Jerseys, Berk
shires and Hampshires are being
raised at less cost than is possible IN
our country.
ION December 10th our party en-
ioyed fish fry dinner spread on
tables under green leaved trees n
the city park at Mcintosh The fol
lowing day we had picnic dinner
and oyster roast at Silver Springs
On the 18th we were rendered
luncheon on porch of Tampa Yacht
and Country Club, overhangine
Tampa Bay, and the following da,
at luncheon given to us at Braden
town Golf Club, we had fresh straw
berries, tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes
celery, etc., grown in that vicinity
together with fried fish out of the
river.
s'No one should miss an oppor-
tunity Of visiting Silver Springs, sil
miles from Ocala, and taking a ride
in a glass bottomed boat. The
English language does not contain
words to adequately describe thu
wonderful coloring and formation
both vegetable and mineral, seer
under the water at that place, and
there are numerous varieties of fish
swimming here and there to lCnd
life to the setting.
1--WE saw a number of tractors al
work in the fields, and inspected
some barns full of excellent oats
COW pea hay, corn and velvet beans
The latter is one of the favorite
leguminous crops and gives heavy
yield of high protein content grain
as well as luxuriant growth of vines
"Of course we visited orange and
grapefruit groves and helped our
selves to the golden fruit, by per
mission of the owners.
1.-THE roads we travelled over il
automobiles furnished by our hosts
in Alachua, Marion, Lake, Orange
HiIlsborough and Manatee counties
covering a distance of $50 miles
were excellent, and are part of the
attractions for tourists to that State
1.-THE exhibits at the State Fail
proved that Florida is producing 9
great many of farm products. The
peanut seems to be taking the place
of cotton and making the farmers
more money. Every one of the 81
county exhibits included some va
riety of sugar cane or sorghum fol
making syrup.
"All of the farmers we talked
with said that they get two crops
per year from cultivated land anc
sometimes get three crops. Lane
values are comparatively cheap. anc
the mild climate eliminates the
necessity for expensive barns t.
house the live stock, so Florida