The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-11

Fe9sacolai sept. 10.
Editor. Pensacola Journal:
/ am glad to see that somebody be-
sides myself is writing about the ag-
riculture Of the state of Florida, Pro-
lessor J. E. burlington, Florida Col
lege of Agriculture, says in his writ
ing: Florida has an abundance of
good, cultivated land, which are cheap
compared with lands of other states.
VIII take Escambia county to illus
trate. Government reports 4so, 420
acres of tillable soil in the county, and
up to the present time about $4,000
acres in cultivation. Prof burlington
goes on to say the climate Of Florida
is unsurpassed, which is a fact I have
been all over the globe of ours, and
found nothing even equal to it. A large
number of crops may be grown in
this state In succession such as corn,
sweet and Irish potatoes, oats sor-
ghum, cane, peanuts, velvet beans,
cow peas, cotton, truck and fruit,
crops and all pasture and hay grasses,
such as the lepsedick, bermuda. kud-
zue. The late imported grass from
South Africa, tho napier, imported
about six Years ago by the government
and under cultivation and by govern
ment reports will cut up to 80 tons of
green feed to the acre. 1t grows like
the japanese cane. The test made at
the experimental station on the yield
OF feed from the crop in Florida at
Orlando cut 10 1-5 tons to the acre
There was another planting made at
a different time under somewhat diff
ferent conditions which gave a crop
weighing at the rate of 80 is tons Of
green feed to the acre. These results
were obtained as the first crop from
newly broken pine land without fer
tilizer. In these tests the cane was al
lowed to mature to be used as seed.
If the harvest had been limited to the
usual cutting of three cuttings to the
season, there would have been a con-
siderable increase in the total yield
for the season, as the usual practice
of cutting both the kudzu and this
cane is from three to four times dur
ing the season. This grass affords
a great promise as a soil crop. 1t
grows very rapidly and may be cut
when it is four or five feet high sup
plying a heavy yield Of green feed. In
nutritious value and palatability, ma
pier grass is not excelled by any SINH
lar feed. It is nearly as strong as the
kudzue, the strongest known cattle
feed. Will be glad to give further in
formation on this wonderful grass,
and it should be planted by every
farmer and stock raiser in the state
and especially by Escambia county,
the finest county in the state for stock
raising; abundance of good water
from springs, branches, creeks and
rivers and a green growing native
grass, dense forests that make COM
plete shelter for cattle without
barns. and II you viii plant the ma
pier grass and the kudzue you can
cut hay for home consumption and
also for export, and any farmer who
Is too Internally lazy or indolent to
raise feed for his own stock should
go to Jail Wake up farmers of Es-
Gambia county. am proud to see we
have some fine ones, and realize that
we are living in the best country of
the world, that the ozone from the
salt pure air from the gulf, as you in
hale it. invigorates you and fills YOU
with pep and energy
we want people to come to our
county ana city. lhoushnUs WohAu
come if they only knew Write about
it, talk it, and If necessary fight for
it. That is what have been and am
doing We have the finest harbor in
the United States. the greatest and
best port for access and departure for
ships Of ali kinds in the world. Just
think, one hour from the gulf; you
can be alongside dock or wharf dis
charging and loading cargo. You can
take bunker and load cargo at the
same time. Commerce OF the world de-
mands speed and economy, not in
transportation alone. but in handling
various articles of commerce cheaply.
by the saving of time, and without
fear OF contradiction, there is no port
In the south. north. east or west, that