The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-12-02

split $3.50, and the proceeds are split bO-50.
One of the county's successful tomato
growers in 1921 received around $4,000
for tomatoes off 40 acres Of his own and of
90 acres share-crOpped; in 1919, $4,000 from
As acres; in 1913, over $4,000 from 20 acres;
in 1917, over $1,000 from 20 acres and he
had been getting good returns in years prior
to that. Marion County shipped more than
215 cars of tomatoes in 1921, with return
of more than $225,000
This crop is grown in practically every
section of the county.
WatermeIons
Thousands of acres of land in Marion
County now unused are we'll adapted to-
raising early watermelons. The kinds OF
soil preferred are light sandy lands that
have been cut over and lain out" idle for
a few years. 1t is not considered safe to
plant melons in fields that have grown
them within seven or eight years.
Commercial fertilizers are necessary for
profitable watermelon growing. It is used
at the rate of 900 to 1000 pounds per acre,
and is put into the soil in two or three ap-
plications The average formula is 5-S-5.
The variety most used for shipping is
the Tom Watson; tho in recent years the
Irish Gray is rapidly gaining favor with the
consumers and consequently also with the
growers of Marion County. The good prices
obtaining for several seasons have caused
growers to ship their entire output. and the
quality of seed has deteriorated in the Wat
son melons. This is mentioned by way of
warning planters to be sure OF sowing only
good seed.
Melons are planted as soon as the grow
ers can take the risk of frost, beginning
about February 18th. Every week following,
more seed are put in same hills till three
or four paintings are made. This is done
to get the quickest possible stand in case
the first are frosted Shipping begins June
LIST to 18th. The average yield has been.
about one car to two and half acres, tho
yields of a car per acre have been made.
Melons are highly dependent on weather
conditions as to their growth in size.
The cultivation for melons is not expen-
sive, but should be rapid. 1t is necessary to
spray the vines to prevent injury and loss
from anthracnose and aphids, or plant lice.
Vines are thinned to one per hill, and the
small melons are pruned off leaving only
one or two melons per vine.
The average cost lis about $4,000 per acre:
and prices vary with size of melons and
earliness. During 1921 the first and finest
melons brought 5000 per car, and the aver
age was about sits per car
Watermelons are grown in practically
every section of the county.
Snap Beans
Snap Cor, as they are in some sections
called, String) beans have come to be "a
regularly counted upon truck crop for Mar
ion County.
They are grown on any of the good truck
ing soils. Soils must be fertile, OF loamy char
acter and retentive Of moisture during the
growing season. Waterlogged soils will not
do
On all soils good grade of trucking fer
tilizers analyzing about 4-S-5. is used at
rate of 400 to 600 pounds per acre. Where
these beans have not been previously
grown, bacterial incubation will be prof
table.
grower at Anthony reports that on high
hammock land with clay subsoil he has pro-
duced 20 hampers and upwards per. acre.
The Giant Stringless variety was planted
this past spring March 18th. He used 400
pounds per acre of 5-7-5 fertilizers. They
were harvested April 26th to May 18th
The total cost was $4,000 for the two
acres and they gave. net profit OF 20 cents
per hamper, with 70 hampers per acre This
S is a low average
The following letter from grower at
Citra gives perhaps the best data that can
be had on beans.
In this immediate section beans are
grown on various soils, but we find they do
best on damp loan, not clay Fertilizers for
best results on loan soil, / find analytic
something like 5-S-4 The fertilizer should
be well mixed with the soil broadcast on
beds and narrowed in so plants will get
food as needed.
THE time we plant for Spring crop varies
from February 18th to March 1st; and for
fall, September 10th to October 10TH some
times later but no earlier We expect to
begin picking April 18th to 25th
On our best land, we get rs to 200 ham
pers. Seasons and conditions Of market
have something to do With the number of
hampers If good we pick more
1T costs more in the Fall to produce
given number OF beans, than in Spring
more grass and weeds to contend with
Fall beans follow corn For instance my land
is now October 1921 growing its second
crop OF beans, having made crop of corn
between the Spring and Fall beans BY
December 18th / expect to have crop of
cabbage growing on this land. All stalks
vines, grass, weeds ETC., are turned back
into the soil
The average cost of growing is about
30 cents per hamper, and the gathering and
hamper another SO cents, which will make
about $1.O0 hamper, cost f. @. b. Citra
The average price would Judge to be
around $3.50 f. O. b. New York: you under
stand this is my personal view-not official.
The varieties grown at this point are
Pearl and Davis, both wax Very few green
beans are grown here
Green varieties grown in other sections
are Giant Stringless Green Pod. Early
Speckled Valentine and Early Refugee. It
will require about three pecEs of seed per
acre"
Beans are grown in practically every
section of the county
Cabbage
Cabbage stands high among the truck
crops OF the county. Two crops are planted