text: UFDC Home | Help | RSS TABLE OF CONTENTS HIDE Front Cover Title Page Table of Contents Frontispiece Main Main Title: Truck farming in the Everglades CITATION THUMBNAILS PAGE IMAGE ZOOMABLE Full Citation STANDARD VIEW MARC VIEW Permanent Link: http://ufdc.ufl.edu/FS00000085/00001 Material Information Title: Truck farming in the Everglades Series Title: Truck farming in the Everglades Physical Description: Book Creator: Waldin, Walter Record Information Bibliographic ID: FS00000085 Volume ID: VID00001 Source Institution: Florida State University Holding Location: Florida State University Rights Management: All rights reserved by the source institution and holding location. Resource Identifier: ltqf - AAA1013 Table of Contents Front Cover Front Cover 1 Front Cover 2 Title Page Page 1 Page 2 Table of Contents Page 3 Frontispiece Page 4 Main Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Main Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122 Page 123 Page 124 Page 125 Page 126 Page 127 Page 128 Page 129 Page 130 Page 131 Page 132 Page 133 Page 134 Page 135 Page 136 Page 137 Page 138 Page 139 Full Text I-.- *a/*F- ,a jr A ~ F . \ *\z l; . ku ..;u as"~Ps *-, 'ii5.. * Truck Farming IN The Everglades By WALTER WA LDIN '7 W 3s 1#- COPYRIGHT, 1910 BY WALTER WALDIN LIBRARY FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY TALLAHASSLE, FLORIDA TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. To the Prospective truck Gardener............ 5 II. Agricultural Schools .......................... 7 III. The Man Fitted for the Business............... 9 IV. Capital Required ............................. 12 V. Location and Selection of Soil................ 15 VI. The Everglade Section ....................... 17 VII. Preparation of the Land...................... 21 VIII. No Present IDanger of Overproduction .......... 23 IX. Selling F. O. B.............................. 26 X Drainage ............... ..... ..... ....... 29 X I. Irrigation ................................... 34 XII. Stable Manure and Fertilizer .................. 38 XIII. Culture of Tomatoes......................... 48 XIV. Culture of Potatoes.................. ........ 55 XV. Culture of Peppers ........................... 60 XVI. Culture of Egg Plants....................... 65 XVII. Culture of Beans ............................. 70 XVIII. Culture of Celery ............................. 75 XIX. Culture of Cucumbers....................... 81 XX. Culture of Cauliflower and Cabbage............ 84 XXI. Culture of Lettuce.......................... .89 XXII. Culture of Watermelons and Muskmelons........ 91 XXIII. Culture of Onions........................... 93 XXIV. Culture of Okra............................ 96 XXV. Culture of Squash and Pumpkins ............. 98 XXVI. Culture of Sweet Potatoes................... 99 XXVII. Culture of Strawberries ...................... 102 XXVIII. Culture of Bananas........................... 105 XXIX. Culture of Paw-Paws.......................... o8 XXX. Culture of Pineapples ........... .. .......... 112 XXXI. Culture of Jamaica Sorrel..................... 116 XXXII. Culture of Forage Plants.................... 118 XXXIII. Insects and Fungi ........ .............. ... 123 XXXIV. Tree Growing in Connection With Trqckring.... 129 XXXV. Notes on Frost............................... 132 XXX V I. Birds ....................................... 137 XXXVII. Summary .......... ........................ 139 *- MR. WALDIN'S HOME ON THE EDGE OF THE EVERGLADES. - ~I~Pf~i~ .- i:i 1*~ r CHAPTER I. TO THE PROSPECTIVE TRUCK GARDENER. O the city man, living on a salary, often in a dark or stuffy office, always an underling, working in a narrow gr.",.\>, dependent on today's wages for tomorrow's food, the inde- pendent countryman's life must appeal, for he is a free man, master of himself, is conversant with nature in its many moods, enjoys the first fruits of the earth with the gleam' still on them, and all its first impulses and pleasures. Often, as we hear country boys, on the threshold of manhood, taunted with being farmers, it makes me feel that the city boy requires training other than agri- cultural to teach him relative values. City people sojourning in the country for fresh air and cheaper living, looking down on the farmer as inferior, will scarcely believe that it requires more brains to run a farm properly than to sit over a ledger, nor can they fathom the many experiences that the countryman must necessarily first master before he can be classed as a successful landholder. The city, glistening with its many frivolities, has drawn young people from the country to such an alarming extent that universal comment has been aroused, much the larger percentage of our population being today engaged in other than pastoral pursuits. This in itself would not be so alarming, were it not that the vitality of our nation is being drained proportionately, for it is a well- known fact, if the country should today cease to replenish the city with new blood, the city would sogn die for want of population. No wonder, then, the cry of today is, "Back to the farm and nature." And back we must and will go, for this threatening catastrophe is too appalling to be passed by unchallenged. TRUCK FARMING Will not.this undue proportion of population tending city- wards have the effect of still enhancing the price of all farm products? This great question has already been answered by the protests against high prices of our entire population, re-echoing as it has to the farthest corners of our civilized land. In direct con- sequence of this unbalanced condition of population, all food products have advanced to an almost prohibitive figure. This seems particularly so during the long winter months, when fresh farm products are to be grown only in the far South. Will it not be wise to inquire into the probable results of this extraordinary situation? Without penetrating further, has not the far-seeing individual, though hopelessly in the minority, already found the necessary remedy to combat this, which we must admit is a great and menacing evil? He has already con- cluded to not only rebuild this tottering economic structure by getting "back to the land," but to replenish his depleted bank account, and wisely so. That this feeling has already taken root is proven by the remarkable inquiry for farm lands throughout the entire country, and particularly in the extreme South and Southeast, for he who is wise enough to foresee this great tendency wishes to enjoy with his family and progeny not only everlasting summer, but at the same time to avoid the rigorous Northern winters. No wonder, then, that once it was announced that the great rich body of land in South Florida known as the Everglades would be reclaimed, thousands began to avail themselves of the valuable opportunity to secure a home and a livelihood in this superb climate-in a country where fortunes have been and will be made, with probably less exertion, on a smaller body of land, under more pleasant circumstances, and in less time than in any known place on earth. CHAPTER II. AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS. GRICULTURAL education is at last recognized and conceded to be a necessity for the advance- ment of a nation. Our far-seeing statesmen recognize the value of the scientific advance- ment of agriculture and are gradually awaken- ing to the fact that it is of more importance to a nation than mere Dreadnaughts. Well devel- oped farming communities are worth more in- trinsically than overpopulated business centers. Elementary agri- culture is now being taught in many schools, and as soon as its real value is exploited will become the fundamental study in all schools. It is already being recognized as the real foundation of business prosperity. The farm is where sound minds grow in sound bodies, and where the perfection of intelligence is attained. It is here where high moral standards flourish and are brought to still higher ele- vations. He who is brought up amidst verdant nature, unham- pered and uncontaminated by vulgar business methods such as are practiced and are prevalent in thickly settled cities, is in possession of a much higher development of manhood and is apt to attain such positions of prominence as will satisfy man's highest ambitions. F4-4is atxa. IN DOCKS, MIAMI RIVER. YACHTS ANCHORED AT "ROYAL PALM" DOCKS, MIAMI. CHAPTER III. THE MAN FITTED FOR THE BUSINESS. ERE I to select an ideal for this business, it would, of course, be a man of not only unusual strength of body and character but one having a great amount of both common sense and per- severance. Unfortunately, very few men have all of these qualities, but those who have weaker bodies often have the other essentials to a more marked degree. If you think you are a hustler, or rather if your neighbors think you are (and that is the only true sign), if you are of a persevering nature, if you are a friend of outdoor labor, if you don't get tired easily, even though you have but the ordinary vitality and strength, you can, and most likely will, make a successful farmer. The veritable giant, with all his strength and stature, is often outdone by the ordinary man, possessed of the other useful char- acteristics, for often weather or other conditions over which he has no control interfere very seriously with the countryman's plans, and in a short time practically annihilate his efforts. It is then that the man with perseverance and stability comes to the front and often builds great success upon the very ashes of former failures. That this quality is necessary is easily proven, for each and every farmer, be he ever so successful, can recount at least one and often more incidents in his past in which his best efforts have been utterly wasted through no fault of his own whatever. There is no mystery in the business; but success depends upon hard work, good judgment and capable business management. In a word, he who is successful elsewhere is apt to be more successful here, his only competitor, the average Southern farmer, being not only a very indifferent business man, but often not 1O TRUCK FARMING overly industrious; whereas, his Northern brother is generally in possession of both these virtues, and is, in addition, of an econom- ical disposition, a quality sadly lacking in most of our Southern tillers of the soil. This shiftless lack of economy and industry. so eminently characteristic in the South, is not caused, as is so often asserted, by climatic conditions, but rather by a lack of edu- cational facilities for the vouth as well as the adult. For who will deny that the Northern farmer, together with his forefathers, has been forced into economy and frugality for centuries past by his competitors in business.? This condition has never con- fronted the Southerner, he experiencing no privations caused by long winters which make inroads upon his purse. It. is, therefore. a fact that the Northern husbandman, educated as he is in a supe- rior manner, has many advantages in the South. Shall the prospective growetr comne to this part of the country? Yes, by all means; and although certain branches may be and will be overdone, we have up t,: the present time been unable to supply even a small percentage of the country 's population with our prod- ucts. We will soon learn t.. .It r-iift'y and when we get to raising sugar cane, rice, etc., we will certainly run short of land. Thus. though the field be large, the posibilities are larger. Our matchless climate, i; a great tlmptatii.,n_ to prospective immigrants. Many come here \\ ho canni:it endure the rigid North- ern climate; others (and I fetr the mna.ijrity) come here tempted by the fabulous prices often received b\ Lus fior our products-in other words, they are attracted by the almighty dollar alone. To these poor, grasping indi iduala I \\ ish to: extend nmy sympathy, for I certainly feel sorry f.-r th %-,e hi:, d:. niot naturally love their vocation; who cannot honestl. admire nature and her many beau- tiful products; who do not cv\en feel inspired or spurred onward by smaller successes to larger ones. Yes, indeed, he who cannot \\ork hand in hand with nature- who sees only the dollar wheln others admire beautiful nature- certainly deserves derisio:i rnly. and can be regarded only with abject pity. On the other hand. he who loves nature and tries to operate with it is uniform successful, his rewards being double, the money consideration being secondary, though often-yes. _ _i~(_~~~ CHAPTER IV. CAPITAL REQUIRED. ROBABLY nowhere can an individual start a business, agricultural or otherwise, with less cash than right here in 'South Florida, and nowhere can the agriculturist find a better place to invest his money. A man can, if he has strength. perseverance, and knows the business, make a fortune here with but little capital; in fact, all of our lead- ing truckers came here poor, and I do not know of a single one who brought much capital with which to start. It therefore seems not so much a matter of how much capital a man has, but rather how he invests it. The successful go at a thing without bluster and have accom- plished the greater part of their undertakings before their neigh- bor is aware of it. On the other hand, the boastful beginner often ends in ignominious failure. A conservative estimate of the amount of cash required to start a truck farm here will depend, therefore, much on the individual himself. Allowing he has a five or ten acre farm, including house and shed room, he will need, in addition, a horse or mule ($150), wagon and harness ($50), implements and incidentals ($Ioo). He will also need about $40 worth of good fertilizer* to the acre (for intensive operations), besides horse-feed and provender for himself and family if he has one, making about $700 necessary and sufficient to start five acres in truck. If, however, he is not a worker, he will need wages for a hired man, and this will add materially to the expense and deduct from the profits propor- tionately. *See last part of Chapter VI. 12 IN THE EVERGLADES I Of course beginnings have been made more often with much less money, and with splendid results. I will relate here my own experience in this line. My start was made with a capital of S $,ooo, and out of this a house costing $400 was built, and six acres of truck planted, mostly in tomatoes, resulting after six S months of close application in a gain of $3,400, after all bills were paid, including expenses of a family of five. No help was engaged until it came time to pick, pack and ship. We did the work. Many cases have been known in which truckers have given part of their time to working out for neighbors, earning thereby enough to carry their expenses, virtually getting along without capital, and winning out handsomely at the end of the season. Again, some will start on a wholesale scale, investing large sums in land, labor, tools and fertilizers, but by hiring indifferent help and trusting the project to some one else, make an utter failure.. In a word, this business requires constant individual attention, and he who trusts to disinterested people generally fails, as he deserves to. I would always recommend to all beginners that they keep a reserve of funds at hand for any emergency, such as may be caused by excessive drouths, wet spells, frosts or other unlooked- for obstacles. While advice of the neighborly kind is sometimes good, it is best to use one's own judgment and common sense in all matters of life before accepting some one else's say so. This is particularly so in matters pertaining to trucking and farming operations in Florida. .1 A\ DREDGE "OKEECHOBEE" DRAINING THE EVERGLADES. RAW RECLAIMED EVERGLADE LAND, LEVEL AS A PRAIRIE. CHAPTER V. LOCATION AND SELECTION OF SOIL. ROBABLY the most important factor to the truck gardener is the selection of the soil. True, vegetables are grown in nearly all kinds of soil. but with greatly varying results. Unless the soil be not only rich, but of good depth, and underlaid with a more or less porous subsoil, to admit both water and air, results will not be satisfactory. We have in extreme Southern Florida a number of different kinds of soil, from the deep, rich alluvial soil, better known as muck beds, to the poorest white drifting sands, almost too poor to support any kind of vegetation. It is a fact that less than one per cent of the farming in this entire State is done on any but soil of a very inferior nature. However, close investigation has convinced me that most of the best farm land lies dormant today for want of proper drainage. On first sight it seems as though this could be easily remedied, for although the country is comparatively level, the good land is surrounded by somewhat higher ridges, making drainage more difficult; and, in addition, the swamps are usually very large, and correspondingly large ditches must be excavated. This necessi- tates the expenditure of more money than can readily be raised by the individual, and must be undertaken by the larger corporations or by the State. Pine land, when underlaid by a clay subsoil, gives very fair results; especially is this so if under irrigation by the method better known as the overhead system (see chapter on "Irriga- tion"). South of the Miami River there are among the rocky pine lands lying adjacent to the Atlantic ocean numerous pockets, often many acres in extent, where excellent crops of peppers, tomatoes and eggplants, as well as beans, are grown to perfection. 16 TRUCK FARMING However, it requires almost double the amount of fertilizer to properly grow a crop on this soil as on the dark land of the Glades, and the profits are cut correspondingly. The better classes of pine-land soil are underlaid, besides with clay, with a porous coraline limestone, which, when not too far above the water level, will provide ample moisture through the capillary attraction of the sun, drawing the water up from beneath the reach of the roots of the plants, not unlike a lamp wick. Some useful fertilizer ingredients also are pumped within reach of the plant roots by this natural method. Still further south, in what is locally known as the Homestead country, are very shallow beds of land composed of an admixture of sand and clay, containing nearly two per cent of iron and aluminum, in addition to almost one per cent of phosphate. This soil, however shallow, produces excellent vegetables, and does not require as much fertilizer as ordinary pine land. CHAPTER VI. THE EVERGLADE SECTION. ITHOUT doubt, the richest soil in the State is in the section known as the EVERGLADES. This great swamp covers an area of over four thousand square miles, embracing considerably more than half of the territory lying south of W Lake Okeechobee. This region does not pre- sent an impenetrable thicket, as is so often sup- posed, but it is in appearance more like an Illi- nois prairie, dotted here and there with a clump of trees, quite similar to our Northern windbreaks, the only difference being that they have been covered during the rainy season with more or less water. This vast area is also covered with large patches of coarse grass, which, on account of the leaves or blades having rough or serrated saw-like edges, is called saw-grass. This grass in places grows so rank as to form a dense mass, often ten feet high. Through this tall grass here and there are winding, tortuous channels which, after enticing the canoeist through a maze, terminate more often in a still denser barrier of saw-grass. During the dry season these saw-grass beds are often fired by the Indians in quest of game, and burn to the ground. accompanied by loud popping noises not unlike the cracking of rifles in sham battles. Should the rainy season begin after one of these saw-grass fires, the life is smothered out of the roots by the water standing over them, and as these patches seem to have accumulated a great amount of humus, being frequently several inches higher than the surrounding land, they form an enticing seed-bed for trees, and low hammocks are frequently formed in this way. There seems to be no part of this immense elevated plateau that is TRUCK FARMING not reclaimable, or that will not respond to man's useful influence and energy, and thus be made extremely valuable. Since the land is free from stumps and trees, the item of clear- ing needs little consideration-simply burning the grass cleans the land for the plow. The soil, although the very richest, is easily worked and irrigated and has, in addition, such climate and loca- tion as to make it extraordinarily valuable. The ease with which this kind of soil can be cultivated, on account of its light and porous nature, is another very attractive feature, especially when compared to the stiff, heavy soils of other States. Another favor- able consideration is that the busy season comes here during the coolest and most pleasant time of the year, and though the labor be ever so hard, one can work in shirt sleeves ana without perspiring. Analysis of this soil shows, besides traces of potash and phos- phate, as high as three per cent of ammonia, it being in this respect a very rich fertilizer. When this tract is sufficiently drained and the possibility of overflow from Lake Okeechobee is removed, it will without a doubt become the largest, most pro- ductive and most profitable garden spot in the United States. The surface soil, and the subsoil particularly, varies consid- erably, some parts having a subsoil of marl, some sand, and in other places the muck is many feet deep. Where there is an admixture of sand and muck, it is not only easier to till, but is naturally much better aerated and in consequence contains less acidity. Were I asked to select an ideal soil I would prefer a deep sandy muck well decomposed, situated where it can be easily drained, preferably on or near the bank of one of the canals, by means of which also the produce can be transported by barge directly to the steamer lines plying to and from the northern mar- kets, thus getting advantage of the cheapest mode of trans- portation. This section is attracting many settlers and when once under intensive tillage will become, without a single doubt, the heaviest producing area in the United States. It is simply wonderful to _ d_ ~ 117li3 IN THE EVERGLADES S think that such a large tract should have not only the richest soil and finest climate, but be so located as to be subject to subirrigation throughout, with Lake Okeechobee as a reservoir and the entire Kissimmee River valley as a never failing supply of not alone water but humus as well. When to this is added the water transportation it is no wonder that thousands have bought and will buy homes here. This country can easily pro- duce forage enough to supply a million head of cattle the year around. I have often wondered why the black muck of the Everglades should contain two or three times as much nitrogen as similar land in the North. The only way I can account for this condition is that the severe disintegrating action of the frost in the North frees a much greater proportion of the ammonia, thus making it water soluble, by which agency much of it is washed from the soil and wasted. As we can till soil here in the South and keep it active throughout the entire year, all the nitrogen necessary will be freed to grow abundant crops, and for this reason, if for no other, the producing ability of this Everglade muck soil will be wonderful. There is no doubt whatever in my mind that this most expensive element (nitrogen) can be entirely dispensed with in our fer- tilizers for Everglade land as soon as the land is sufficiently re- claimed and aerated to remove enough of the everpresent acidity to allow the germs of nitrification free action. That this is true is proven by the fact that recently drained land here already produces fully twice the wild growth it formerly did. PLOWING NEWLY RECLAIMED EVERGLADE LAND. SEED-BEDS IN THE EVERGLADES. TOMATO FIELD IN BACKGROUND. CHAPTER VII. SH PREPARATION OF THE LAND. OWHERE will the old adage "A stitch in til saves nine" apply so strongly as here, and t experienced grower invariably gives his soil most thorough preparation by plowing, diski and pulverizing until a deep, mellow, comp, seed bed is prepared. Often in this part of t Country it is preferable to plow some time S ---advance of the cropping season, so as to let t land settle thoroughly, if possible catching some of the later trc ical rains to help settle the soil before finally harrowing to a fi seed or plant bed. This method of preparation has many decided advantage, inasmuch as it has a tendency to wash out any acidity contain in the soil, and deposit nitrogen absorbed from the air by fallii rain, thus finding here a tempting seed bed in which to st, bacterial propagation. The careful, experienced grower has I mind made up in advance as to the number of acres he wish to plant of any given variety. He plows carefully, turning S straight, uniform furrow, in'even sized lands. Should the si contain acidity he gives the sun a chance to act before he harro) it down, and applies lime or wood ashes to further remedy tl defect. All furrows must be plowed in the proper direction water can find easy access to the lateral ditches by way of t: dead furrows, for more thorough drainage. I If you are a novice you had better have some one experience, lay off your lands, or lay out your rows, for if crooked th, .Vw'ill not only be harder to work, but will be an everlasting eyesoi In case the land is seeded naturally with foul weed seeds, it is .great saving to harrow thoroughly and let them come up sever times, and by repeated harrowings destroy the majority of their 21 22 TRUCK FARMING This procedure cuts down much labor when the crop is planted. Some .of the best planters put in a summer cover crop of velvet beans, beggar-weed or cowpeas. This is not only a cheap way to store nitrogen, but the soil will be vastly superior in a mechanical way if shaded from our tropical sun during the sum- mer months. This method is further commended because these leguminous plants produce a valuable crop for hay or forage when the land would otherwise be dormant or grow to f:-ul weeds. The clearing off of land thus planted is very easy and, when raked over with a horse rake, will often be found to be in tine compact condition for disking or harrowing without further labor of plowing. CHAPTER VIII. NO PRESENT DANGER OF OVERPRODUCTION. UCH controversy has been brought up at dif- ferent times concerning the danger of the trucking business being overdone in this terri- tory. To familiarize ourselves with this, let us consider the conditions that have prevailed in former years. I remember that nine or ten years ago a light shipment of ten cars of tomatoes going out in a single day had a depressing effect on the Northern mar- kets. The prices in New York at that time depreciated from the mere anticipation of this quantity of tomatoes being thrown upon the market at one time. However, a few years later as high as 25 to 35 and even 50 car-loads of this same fruit were placed upon the market daily and it seems did not have the effect of reducing prices to as great an extent as those former light ship- ments did. During the season 1909-o1, over Ioo car-loads of tomatoes were shipped from Dade County per day for thirty consecutive days, and wonderful to relate, although the market at that time was not what we would consider high, it held its own remarkably well. Whether this is actually due to increased consumption or not, I am not in position to state. I think probably the weather being very pleasant throughout the North during the months of our greatest shipments, had considerable to do with it. It stands to reason that when the people of the North find Spring at hand, particularly after they have been penned up in their houses by inclement weather for months at a time, their appetites nat- urally have an abnormal tendency towards vegetables. During the time of cold weather in the North everybody has naturally TRUCK FARMING eaten largely of meats, therefore the first few sunny days are apt to bring the good housewife into the open, and the tempt- ing vegetables displayed at this time of the year by the green grocers have a strong tendency to induce her to invest in the vari- ous Southern products, so attractively displayed. One thing we can always depend upon, no matter how large the acreage originally planted, there are always many failures to be chronicled before the season is well advanced. Excessive rains, drouth, ravages of fungi and insects have a tendency not only to annihilate the crop, but often cause a number of our novices to discontinue the business entirely. I have often met people, unfamiliar with the business, who comparatively early in the season were so disheartened that they simply gave up the struggle, for which they were sorry later on, as the prices usually , in consequence of inclement weather or the other conditions named above, advanced to an almost prohibitive figure. The old grower, on the other hand, being familiar with pro- duction, and having in past years experienced unfavorable as well as encouraging experiences, usually is persistent and keeps right on persevering, and for this reason almost invariably comes out at the end of the season with flying colors. I frequently have known peppers, for instance, to be begging on the market, thereby causing many of those easily discouraged to neglect their crops to such an extent as to give them over to the weeds, and then for the market to advance to such a figure that those who had been untiring and faithful in their work, realized a most hand- some profit in the very years in which the largest acreage had originally been planted. This is equally true of other crops. So familiar have we grown with the different obstacles to be encountered and such sturdy control have we of the conditions here found, that it is a common saying in the South that we make crops here. Probably our familiarity and success with the use of a well balanced fertilizer is what leads us to want to monopolize all the credit of growing our crops, forgetting that Nature is the most important adjunct. TRUCK FARMING eaten largely of meats, therefore the first few sunny days are apt to bring the good housewife into the open, and the tempt- ing vegetables displayed at this time of the year by the green grocers have a strong tendency to induce her to invest in the vari- ous Southern products, so attractively displayed. One thing we can always depend upon, no matter how large the acreage originally planted, there are always many failures to be chronicled before the season is well advanced. Excessive rains, drouth, ravages of fungi and insects have a tendency not only to annihilate the crop, but often cause a number of our novices to discontinue the business entirely. I have often met people, unfamiliar with the business, who comparatively early in the season were so disheartened that they simply gave up the struggle, for which they were sorry later on, as the prices usually, in consequence of inclement weather or the other conditions named above, advanced to an almost prohibitive figure. The old grower, on the other hand, being familiar with pro- duction, and having in past years experienced unfavorable as well as encouraging experiences, usually is persistent and keeps right on persevering, and for this reason almost invariably comes out at the end of the season with flying colors. I frequently have known peppers, for instance, to be begging on the market, thereby causing many of those easily discouraged to neglect their crops to such an extent as to give them over to the weeds, and then for the market to advance to such a figure that those who had been untiring and faithful in their work, realized a most hand- some profit in the very years in which the largest acreage had originally been planted. This is equally true of other crops. So familiar have we grown with the different obstacles to be encountered and such sturdy control have we of the conditions here found, that it is a common saying in the South that we make crops here. Probably our familiarity and success with the use of a well balanced fertilizer is what leads us to want to monopolize all the credit of growing our crops, forgetting that Nature is the most important adjunct. e 1 , ,,c... I FREIGHT STEAMER AT WHARF, MIAMI. THIS BOAT LINE INSURES LOW RATES TO THE GROWERS. UNLOADING BARGES AT FT. LAUDERDALE DOCKS. '*": ;~ CHAPTER IX. SELLING F. O. B. VERYTHING should be done to encourage Cash F. O. B. sales of our products. Unscru- pulous dealers usually have a great number of drummers locally known as "tomato or veg- etable buzzards" canvassing our country. They frequently quote high prices on our products, but are very careful not to tie themselves down by contract to any given figure. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush" applies here very readily. We often find that our buyer will offer us a certain figure for one of our products, which price has been inflated by the representa- tive. We are tempted to take the risk and ship our products to his firm, only to receive a very insignificant return for the same. It should also be remembered that if we were all to adhere to the cash or F. O. B. system of selling we would in a short time have the matter so well in hand that no loss whatever would be incurred and we could go home from market with the cash jingling in our pockets, sleeping well at night and not being obliged to think and wonder and fret about the uncertainty of our returns. For this reason also, numerous packing houses have been established throughout our growing section by the growers themselves. Some packing houses are owned or controlled by dishonest dealers, who not only ship our stuff indiscriminately, but often have a direct understanding and come here for no other purpose than to deceive. The annual loss through dishonest commission men amounts in the aggregate to an enormous figure throughout this section of the country. Co-operation among the growers whereby these frauds can be detected and exposed would work a great benefit 26 IN THE EVERGLADES 27 in favor of the agriculturists of this section; and each and every- one of the new-comers should realize this, and should bear in mind that one of his first duties should be to join a branch of the Local Association now being established throughout this section and thereby help to eradicate this dishonest element. STATE CANAL IN THE EVERGLADES, FOR DRAINAGE, IRRIGATION AND TRANSPORTATION. 14 f, ." s " --~i"; S .* ; TEMPORARY DAM IN STATE CANAL, TO BE REPLACED LATER BY PERMANENT LOCKS. CHAPTER X. DRAINAGE. WET soggy soil will not produce, and all lands on which farming or truck gardening is con- templated must first be thoroughly drained of all surplus water to a sufficient depth to allow a free circulation of air, and ample room for the natural development of the roots, allowing them to penetrate the subsoil in quest of moisture and other necessary ingredients. A well drained soil not only offers a firm, deep foothold for all kinds of trees and plants, but allows the rain to percolate and in turn admits the air sufficiently to start the millions of minute yeast-like organisms, called microbes or bacteria, to start decomposition or nitrification of the soil. Neither these bacteria nor plant roots can exist for any length of time in earth saturated with water, as this unfavor- able condition produces an acidity which rapidly either renders them dormant or destroys them entirely. Soil containing the proper amount of moisture is in a con- stant state of intensive activity, every square inch being filled with millions of these useful germs, whose office it is to digest or make available the ingredients necessary to produce plant growth. Air is just as necessary for the development of plants as it is for animals. It must be present in sufficient quantities to oxidize the various plant foods, making them soluble and ready for absorption by the feeding rootlets. Drainage, therefore, is neces- sary not alone to remove surplus water, but also to encourage the development of these organisms, without which successful agri- culture would be impossible. A rich deeply plowed soil that is well drained will hold moisture much longer than if plowed TRUCK FARMING shallow, and will feed plants accordingly, which fact has been often demonstrated during protracted drouths. Especially is this true where clay or muck predominates. Thorough drainage will work wonders, as has often been evidenced in the enormous increase in productions where it has been accomplished. In soil where clay, marl or muck predominates the lateral ditches should be deep rather than wide. A large proportion of the failures recorded can be directly attributed to either the entire omission of any kind of drains, or drains of insufficient capacity or depth to remove the acid stagnant waters or to allow the air free access to decompose the ingredient vegetable matter. Just how long these useful bacteria can exist under water has not been ascertained, but they are known to live in running water for a much longer time than in stagnant water, thus proving that land containing active drains can be overflowed with much less damage to the soil than when undrained. Drainage is therefore of the utmost importance to the practical and scientific agricul- turist, and where it does not exist naturally it must be supplied artificially. Soil of a compact nature can be drained with tile-laid under ground when the fall is sufficient-with splendid results, but when the land is very level, and in a country where great quantities of rain fall in a very short time, open ditches of sufficient depth and capacity are preferable.. The larger of these ditches, say eight feet or over in width, offer splendid transportation facilities for the removal of crops of a bulky nature, or to bring in fertilizing material, etc. The smaller sub-lateral ditches should be dug about 18 inches deep and close enough together to remove the surface water in a few hours after a hard rainfall. These sub-lateral ditches should be placed about 20 to 30 feet apart. These same ditches can be used for irrigation by forcing the water through them by way of head ditches. Of course, this applies only to a level country, and land that can be drained in this way, if otherwise suitable, can be used for planting trees, especially if the land is plowed two or three times, throwing the earth in the same direction, forming a IN THE EVERGLADES ridge or apex, say a foot or more above the general level of the field. This apex will drain the land towards the ditches and forms an admirable place to plant trees upon, securing them at all times from standing water. All ditches should be dug with sloping sides to prevent their, caving. The width and depth should be kept uniform, for one must bear in mind that the capacity or delivery of a ditch is governed by the narrowest or shallowest place in it. In case the land is extra level, great care must be taken to see that these laterals have sufficient fall, and for this purpose an instrument had better be used, a carpenter's level equipped with level sights being satisfactory for small fields. The lands of the Everglades are admirably suited for this manner of drainage. The open ditches can here be dug on almost a level, and for this reason these same ditches can be used for irrigation, by simply keeping the water-table where the crop will be benefited the most. This can be further facilitated by putting in miniature gates or locks, so water can be let in or out as the occasion may demand. It will be necessary to install a pump for raising the water to the level of the ditches in a dry time for irrigation, but this pump can in turn be used to carry out water in wet spells, thus serving a double purpose. The expense of a pump for this purpose need not be heavy. Since the lift is very slight a cheap outfit will raise a great amount of water. This method, in my opinion, will find great favor in this region. I feel that I would not be doing this subject complete justice without referring to the danger of one's being tempted to trust to luck and attempt to farm on level land without first making ample provision by digging these lateral ditches. Long con- tinuous drouths will disarm one in this respect and will convince the individual to take precedent as a guide. Failures are to be traced to this every season, as one is apt to think that because it did not rain one season it will be dry the next also, and so on. I say, DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES. We seldom have two 32 TRUCK FARMING seasons alike following each other anywhere; and here in Florida there have not been two alike in my experience. True, it may look a little foolish on your own part to have expended a snug sum for ditches only to have a protracted drouth follow; however, even here if you are alive to the situation you will, if you have not already done so, at once install an irrigating plant and come out with flying colors. If it does not rain when your crop is nearly made, you will find your efforts doubly repaid, for the best prices are usually obtained in seasons wherein the most unusual freaks of weather appear. In fact, I have, governed by many experiences of the past, learned to quit guessing at the weather, but just to try and guard against all kind of excesses, and when caught unawares try and meet the situation, however unfavorable, as best I can, resolving in the future to try and guard against a repetition of the same mistake, with the result that I have met with flattering success. DYKE AND LATERAL DITCHES ON MR. WALDIN'S EVERGLADE FARM. Ni~ 4 TROUGH FOR SURFACE IRRIGATION. I Tx;,_..4 CHAPTER XI. IRRIGATION. O matter how rich our country may be in an ,ri..ilt .iral way, or how deep and black the soil, it would soon cease to produce if moisture were withheld, as all plant growth absorbs food in liquid form. In the first place the very microbes, whose function it is to prepare the meals underground,. cease action and become dormant when the soil becomes dry, but are awakened to active life at once upon coming into contact with moisture. -Unfortunately there is no known land on this wide earth where it rains just enough either to suit plant development or to please everybody, hence if we wish to be uniformly success- ful we must supply as well as remove water artificially. In loca- tions where the moisture supply is under absolute control, the most intensive and successful farm operations are carried on and the greatest amount of products grown per acre. Successful planters, being ambitious, are continually striving to do better, hence better methods are adopted as quickly as they are a proven success, and for this reason many are preparing to irrigate in all parts of South Florida, especially since our crops here are grown principally in or during the dry season of the year. There is considerable inquiry in regard to the irrigation sub- ject, and various kinds of plants are being installed. The styles of plants are governed by the kind of soil and subsoil, whether sand, muck, clay, or marl, the latter three possessing the faculty of retaining moisture to a much greater degree than the first named. The water supply also governs the kind of plant installed to a large degree. On land with sand or rock subsoil, irrigation is IN THE EVERGLADES accomplished by what is locally known as the overhead system. It is a very successful method, as it not only is economical of water, but it would be impossible to hold water in sandy subsoil on account of its leachy character. This style is the most costly to install. Besides the expense of mains, consisting of 2 to 4 inch pipe, laterals must be laid 25 to 40 feet apart, with long or short stand pipes (usually about 6 feet high) of 34-inch iron pipe placed a corresponding distance apart. These stand pipes are crowned with various kinds of spray nozzles, aiming chiefly to get such a nozzle as will distribute over as large an area as possible. This system has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. Among the former may be counted the prevention of damaging frost; it also washes off red spider and makes it unpleasant for leaf-eating insects; on the other hand, it has a tendency to produce a class of fungi such as flourish best where the foliage is damp. This overhead system requires a pressure of about 25 pounds per square inch to properly force the water and to generate such a spray as will best imitate a fine rain. Spraying is best applied evenings or during the night, but beneficial applications can be made during cloudy weather. In all attempts at irrigation, you will make no mistake by using a surplus of water and by keeping the soil-especially if of a sandy nature-constantly in a moist condition; and unless this is done religiously, absolute failure is liable to result. Probably the method that is most successful is the one of placing under-ground tiles and forcing water through them. This is the system so largely used at Sanford, Florida. However, this system is only feasible where there is a substratum of soil which is more or less impervious to water, such as clay, marl or hard-pan subsoil. When the Everglade drainage is completed it is proposed to install locks in the canals and thereby control the water level in the soil. This will at all times provide ample moisture and will eventually assure very cheap irrigation for this entire area. But until this work is completed, which will take some time to accom- TRUCK FARMING plish, smaller areas in this section can be controlled easily by put- ting in one of the shallow lift pumps of great capacity such as are used to pump out, or flood, rice fields. With all crops, especially vegetables, the increase in produc- tion is very marked when water is applied scientifically, the increase being often doubled; in fact, in seasons of protracted drouths little or nothing can be grown unless under water control. Not only is this increase in production to be noted, but the quality is proportionately improved and such products always bring an increased price in .the market and are in much greater demand. A great number of our tropical plants require considerable mois- ture and will not produce properly unless an adequate water supply is at hand. Care must be taken to provide water that contains no matter injurious to plants. This is occasionally found in artesian water, some of which contains chemicals that do injury to the foliage, but these cases are rare. On the other hand, the small per cent of sulphur often found in the water here is no doubt of some benefit, especially if used in sub-irrigation, as it has a tendency to destroy injurious fungi in the soil. Surface water, such as is found in streams or will be found in the canals of the Everglades, is admirably adapted for irrigation purposes. As in all other matters, success in irrigation depends on close attention to details, for as before mentioned, plants requiring their food in liquid form are at once stunted, rendered dormant, or destroyed entirely, if their water supply is inadequate; in other words, they not only die of thirst, but starve for want of food. In addition, all bacterial action ceases, thus causing further loss and injury to the soil. Hence, the careful trucker will examine his soil daily and keep in close touch as to the condition of both the surface and the subsoil. In short, he is not only intimate with this as well as all branches of nature, but loves the very scent of moist newly plowed earth. An additional reason why one of the forms of sub-irrigation is popular is that the water coming from below does not have the tendency to wash out the fertilizer, but in fact has a tendency to IN THE EVERGLADES bring these useful ingredients to the roots from below, in this way facilitating growth; whereas if the water falls in imitation of rain it has a tendency to leach out the fertilizer, and in case the precipitation should be heavy, will often wash out or leach the plant foods far below the reach of the roots, thus not only depriving the plants of their present ration, but robbing the soil of the greater part of its available nitrogen and other ingredi- ents. It is a sight never to be forgotten to see a carefully sub- irrigated garden, the rich dark green of the foliage showing plainly as far as the field can be seen, and such an area appears a veritable oasis when it happens to be surrounded by land that is not irrigated. The fertilizer* for an acre of vegetables (operated on the intensive plan as outlined in this book) costs not less than $40; the irrigation for this same acre need not cost over $5, but still is likely to be of more importance than the first item. Therefore, we need not wonder if all fields where these conditions can be easily and cheaply supplied will be equipped with some sort of irrigating systems in the near future; in fact, it is a cheap mode of crop insurance. See last part of Chapter VI, relative to lower cost of fertilizer on well aerated Everglade land. CHAPTER XII. STABLE MANURE AND FERTILIZER. HE first material used by mankind to promote plant growth, no doubt, was ordinary stable manure. Although we have found in commer- cial fertilizers valuable substitutes, we have today nothing better with which to promote plant growth than a well-rotted, properly pre- pared compost. I say properly prepared com- post, as I consider the preparation and care given a compost heap of such importance, that I am apt to have my judgment of a grower biased as to his ability, should he fail to properly care for and prepare his compost heap. The waste of stable manure is so common, taking place in such a silent, hidden manner, that it is liable to escape notice entirely. One can almost judge of the size of a trucker's bank account by the size and condition of his manure heap, and a well kept com- post heap may be taken as the surest indication of thrift and success in one's farm operations. It is of vital importance to the farmer to know the value of all materials in his reach which can be converted into compost. Experiments carried on by our scientific people show that the excrement of a working horse, if carefully saved, will amount in weight to about six tons a year, of which, it must be remembered, the liquids are the most valuable part; ample bedding should, therefore, be supplied at all times to absorb the liquid. To carefully absorb and convert into plant food the greatest amount of the ingredients available, depends altogether on how well and how carefully the manure has been composted; to do this I have found it advisable to carefully fork over the entire mass every three or four days, after removal from the stable. If this forking-over process' is repeated four or five times-being IN THE EVERGLADES careful to mix thoroughly, break up all lumps and moisten each layer, and, better yet, add to each layer a liberal sprinkling of either ground castor pomace or cottonseed meal-you will have an ideal compost heap. It should not be used until the greatest heat has passed away, and a cover of earth or muck in a dry pul- verized state should be added at the final or last forking-over. Provision must be made to prevent leaching in wet weather or great loss will result. Well decomposed stable manure seems to have a value not accounted for by analysis, in that it introduces a necessary ferment congenial to plant growth. Among all manures, that from horses, when composted, seems to be the most valuable for starting plants on; especially is this so if the land is new, as, for instance, in the Everglade region, or of a swampy nature. The faeces of the horse's manure are covered with a yellow or white film which seems to contain and introduce germs that start nitrification in the soil and decomposition in the manure pile or compost heap. It is on this account that when only a small handful of compost is used under a newly set plant the seed spores of nitrification are simultaneously introduced and for this reason are of much more benefit than the mere fertilizing qualities contained. However, it must be remembered that in this handful of compost are also present, in a very finely prepared form, the ingredients of the elements necessary for plant life, which are absorbed by the tender rootlets at once, similar to a baby food. Thus the young plant newly set is not only supplied with a nourishing food to start with, but also is supplied with a working force of useful bacteria to co-operate and work for the plant through its entire life by freeing ammonia and other ingredients for its consumption. The very moisture in a well prepared com- post is a factor upon which little stress is laid ordinarily by the chemist, but like other secrets, seems to have slipped past his magic wand. The humus supplied through stable manure forms a body, in which also ingredients acceptable and congenial to all plant growth are stored. Humus also holds in store carbonic TRUCK FARMING mend in all cases to at least apply this side application.* It keeps the vines much healthier ard stronger and produces finer, smoother and a much greater quantity of potatoes per acre. There is no doubt in my mind whatever but what in the near future great quantities of this vegetable will be grown for ship- ping to the Northern markets in midwinter from this territory. At the present day, other vegetables are so largely in demand and their production is followed by such remunerative results, that we have not gotten down to growing these crops which would probably not bring us so much per acre. However, as the sweet potato crop in this vicinity can easily be made to produce 400 or 500 bushels per acre, and as they are usually sold locally for 75 cents per bushel (in fact, they often bring $1.50 per bushel), they pay very well indeed. They are seldom attacked by insects. I have known of one case, however, in which a field was almost annihilated by an in- vasion of the army worm. An application of arsenate of lead, however, in this case destroyed these insects entirely. The vines are not usually pulled up or loosened as is done in the Northern country; they are simply allowed to grow until they have matured their potatoes to such a size as the market may demand. Great care should be taken in this country not to let the potatoes grow too large, otherwise they are apt to become old and tough and are frequently bored and bitten into by different kinds of worms. The cut worm and wire worm are very disastrous in this respect. They can and, without a doubt, will be grown in later years as a cattle food and possibly to manufacture alcohol, for if they be left to grow for a few months after they have matured to marketable size, enormous quantities can be produced per acre. Instances are known where they have been grown to weigh as much as fifty pounds or more to the single potato. These, of course, are unfit for food, being more or less woody and tough and lacking flavor, but as a poultry food they are very fine indeed. In selecting vines to plant it is a wise precaution to take them from a thrifty bearing field, for if taken from an old worn out patch they have often run out to such an extent as to be almost worthless. * See last part of Chapter VI. I00 FIELD OF SQUASH, SOUTHERN FLORIDA. LAKELAND STRAWBERRIES-A MODEL FIELD. I 1 CHAPTER XXVII. CULTURE OF STRAWBERRIES. NE of the most fascinating as well as remuner- ative occupations one can possibly engage in on our richly drained soils of the Everglades is the culture of strawberries. Here they can be grown with great ease at such a time of the year that they will enter the markets with- out a single competitor in the fresh fruit line. When one stops to think how many millions of mouths are fed in the United States and that we have here in the South a monopoly of this fruit offered us at a time of the year when absolutely no other kinds of fresh fruits are to be had, the prospect is indeed attractive. There is no doubt but what the great bulk of this luscious fruit can be marketed throughout the North and at very remunerative prices. At present the supply has fallen far short of the demand. It seems that of all fruits grown the strawberry is most universally in demand. If the market at any time becomes glutted, a drop of a few cents per quart in the price will put the fruit in the hands of thousands who could not afford to invest at the former high price. In selecting a piece of land for strawberries, extra care should be taken. It should not only be well drained but of such a nature as to dry out readily after a heavy rain. It should be extra well enriched* in advance of planting, for after the plants are set out there is danger of burning them by heavy side dressings of com- mercial fertilizer. As to varieties, most any of the popular kinds from the North do well here, the Brandywine being one of the best. The Old Lady Thompson was in great favor, but has been superseded of late years by the best of the new introductions. See last part of Chapter VI. I02 IN THE EVERGLADES I have known of no large acreages being planted here, but it has been demonstrated that they can be grown to the extent of from 5,000 to Io,ooo quarts to the acre. As they will sell readily for $0.'35 per quart wholesale during January and early February, it does not take much figuring to see that they are interesting in a financial way. Plants can be set out during most any month in the entire year. A good way to start in the business is to buy plants in the early Spring from the North, set them out in well fertilized soil, and take good care of them until they begin to run, which they will do a month or six weeks after being set out, provided the plants are good and strong to start with. If great care is taken to prop- erly place layers on moist soil, a great number of plants can be grown. In fact, plants enough to plant several acres have been grown from a single thousand. Before the rainy season closes, say in September, these young runner plants can be transplanted to the permanent field. They should be set about eight inches apart in the row and the rows planted eighteen inches apart. An- other way is to set the plants about ten inches apart and place two rows together, a foot apart, leaving alternate spaces eighteen inches. This is a somewhat more intensive plan, but admits of mulching two rows at one time and helps to protect them from drifting rains which are apt to throw sand upon the fruit. As before stated, the ground should be thoroughly enriched some weeks before planting. The foliage and roots are very susceptible to strong fertilizer, especially those containing considerable potash. As quickly as they have taken root they should be worked very slightly on the surface. All weeds should be cut down and light applications of fertilizer* added semi-weekly. As soon as they begin to bloom, which will be about December Ist, a mulching of rotten grass or hay should be applied around and under the plants. Should the land be inclined to be dry, a thorough system of irrigation must be supplied as they are very susceptible to drouths; in fact, a crop will almost be annihilated should there be a lack of proper moisture. * See last part of Chapter VI. 104 TRUCK FARMING The fruit is picked for shipment as soon as it shows color. It should be very carefully assorted, any small, inferior or bruised fruit, or such as has been damaged by insects, not being allowed to go into the baskets. The baskets should be nicely top dressed, laying the fruit uniformly and placing the stem ends all in one direction. For the home market they may be allowed to ripen up over the entire surface. They are usually marketed in the ordinary quart baskets and for shipment are placed in refrigerator boxes or cars. In case grasshoppers or crickets, cut worms or any other in- sects should bother the plants, light sprinklings of paris green and bran, as prescribed for tomatoes, should be applied. CHAPTER XXVIII. CULTURE OF BANANAS. HERE is no doubt whatever in my mind but what in the near future great quantities of bananas will be grown in this extreme southern end of Florida. The rich black muck lands of the Everglades afford a particularly inviting field for this industry, and it is a practical cer- tainty that they will be grown here successfully in the next few years and with much profit. I have found that the dwarf varieties are best adapted for this climate. The reason for this is that they are not only more pro- ductive but have much stouter stems and resist storms much better. I have found all of the dwarf varieties equally good, there being very little difference in their quality. They should be grown on rich, alluvial soil, well drained at all times, and should be planted at a distance of ten feet apart each way. I do not think we have a plant in this region that responds as readily to cultivation as the banana. It seems that after each and every thorough cultivation, a new growth is made. Great care must be taken at all times to properly thin the hills, keeping them down to three or four stalks, endeavoring to have one bunch of fruit in development only and cutting out all suckers except two or three. Should you at any time neglect this, you will find your banana field becoming an impassable thicket, in con- sequence of which inferior bunches are produced, and eventually the entire field will go back and become unproductive and an undesirable eyesore. Planting at this distance apart, about 400 hills can be pro- duced per acre, allowing a little space for roads through the field which are necessary for the removal of the bulky crop. They should not be picked in this country until the first few ripe fruits TRUCK FARMING show. These are greatly superior to the half-grown green picked article usually imported from other tropical countries. If well grown, they will readily sell for two or three cents per pound in the wholesale markets. If well taken care of, as.far as cul- tivation is concerned, with three or four applications each year of fertilizer,* say 800 pounds per application, they should produce not less than 1,200 bunches per acre, weighing from forty to sixty pounds or more per bunch. The quantity of bananas consumed throughout the United States is something enormous, being the only fruit that is fresh on the market the year around. I have found upon inquiry that an average of twenty-seven carloads of bananas are consumed per day in the city of Chicago and suburbs alone. The quality of our southern Florida banana should in a short time become known throughout the country, for if they are picked after they have begun to show color, the flavor will be greatly superior to the foreign article. Aside from the price obtained from the fruit, a great many slips or suckers can often be sold for remunerative prices, forming an additional revenue. As they are of very rank growth, they should be kept well irrigated; in fact, the best bananas are grown upon such soils as are located only slightly above the general water level, the roots having at all times easy access to the moisture. There are other great possibilities in connection with banana culture, as the stems of the plant have a very tough fiber and my impression is that a very good quality of hemp could be derived therefrom. A variety locally known as the horse banana is used through- out the South and is much relished. It is fried and served as banana fritters and is certainly much superior to fried potatoes. * See last part of Chapter VI. PAW-PAW TREE ON MR. WALDIN'S FARM. CHAPTER XXIX. CULTURE OF PAW PAWS. HE ripe fruit of this tree eaten for dessert with cream and sugar is not only a delicious dish but takes upon itself the responsibility of the digestion of the preceding meal. It is said that the papaya (paw paw) fruit can be eaten every day for two years without any ill effects. One or two experiments in cooking the ripe or unripe fruit with tough meat will soon con- vince anyone that with the aid of the paw paw the toughest meat may be made as soft and tender'as you please. The paw paw is really a large herb and hence should be grown from seed in the same way as the tomato or melon. Professor P. J. Webster of the United States Sub-tropical Laboratory at Miami states that less than one per cent of a batch of Florida seedlings bear superior fruit and this accounts for the scarcity of the paw paw on the market. There are great numbers of this fruit growing wild throughout the South Florida jungles and hammocks. They are cross-fertilized by the numerous in- sects and moths. Such cross-fertilization can be avoided by ob- taining good varieties of paw paws from tropical localities where they come true from seed, and pollinating one or two flowers by hand, carefully tying them up in paper bags to keep insects from further pollinating them. By this method there is no doubt but what improved strains can be grown. The paw paw, like the willow and the date palm, has two kinds of trees, the barren which bears the staminate flowers, and the fruiting tree which has the pistillate flowers. Rather frequently the former may bear bisexual flowers at the ends of its long flower stalks, which flowers turn into rather small fruits. More rarely the pistillate tree may have some perfect flowers, provided with stamens. IN THE EVERGLADES All parts of the paw paw tree, except the perfectly ripe fruits, contain a milk white latex, which exudes from the slightest wound, 1i:,.i!ig rapidly at first and then slackening, probably because it coagulates in the latex tubes. The latex soon clots and dries on the plant and so tends to seal up any wound. It has a corrosive action upon the skin, and if the raw latex from green fruits, etc., is swallowed, it may tend to cause intestinal inflammation. The raw latex has an extremely potent digestive action upon proteids. Thus if a slice of tough meat, as a beef steak, which in the tropics may be cooked and eaten an hour or two after being killed, is well rubbed with the juice of the paw paw leaves or the green fruits, or even the pulp of the ripe fruit, and cooked, it becomes tender and is readily masticated. The ripe fruit, which does not contain the visible milky latex, acts in the same way on proteids. When perfectly ripe the fruit of the paw paw is quite soft, but has lost all acridity and the milky juice has disappeared. There is no doubt whatever that this dessert fruit eaten after a good dinner greatly aids the digestive process. It also, like the fig, acts as a gentle laxative. The paw paw requires a well drained soil and is readily killed by stagnant water about the roots. Thus it grows commonly in South F!...rida wild, in high hammocks and shell mounds. If grown on rather poor sandy soil, it should be enriched with plenty of humus. If only a few plants are grown, as for home consumption, the following method has been tried in a light vol- canic soil in the West Indies, securing excellent results: Dig holes about ten feet apart, in well drained soil, two or three feet deep and three or four feet square, fill them with a compost of soil, farmyard manure, rotting weeds, or humus of any kind, adding unleached wood ashes. Plant several paw paws in each of these holes and cover with any good mulch. Of course the young plants will need water. As soon as the first blossoms ap- pear, cut out the staminate ones so as to leave only fruiting trees. For this purpose several plants should always be planted in a hill. A few paw paws may be planted near by on poor ground and Ino TRUCK FARMING one or two staminate trees out of these left to pollinate the others. In very dry weather the plants should be irrigated, for while they will grow in well drained soil they, at all times, should be well supplied with water. If they are well grown without a check, producing large leaved healthy plants, they will in this warm climate fruit almost continuously. I have known cases of paw paws reaching an age of several years; the best fruits, however, are produced on the young trees, say one year old. Heavy crops can be grown on well drained Everglade soil and no doubt this fruit on account of its medicinal qualities will steadily grow in demand. Should insects bother the immature fruits they can be annihilated by applications of tobacco dust. BANANA PLANTS, MR. WALDIN'S FARM. PINEAPPLE FIELD, SOUTHERN FLORIDA. CHAPTER XXX. CULTURE OF PINEAPPLES. ATIVES of cold countries and those living for S many years in the continuous heat of summer between the tropics, are apt to suffer sometimes from digestive derangements. Nature has planted the remedy in the shape of various fruits, such as the pineapple as well as the melon paw paw. For instance, an authority notes: "You can sup on many kinds of in- digestible food and sleep the sleep of the just and put all night- mares to flight if you who partake will assimilate a little pine- apple or eat a melon paw paw, as he prefers, before retiring. Of course, it will not neutralize acute indigestion but will prevent it, and as stated, is a .Godsend to him who dissipates." Pineapples are generally grown upon a soil which one who is accustomed to grow plants of any variety would be apt to call sterile or worthless. The simple fact that they will grow upon this kind of soil, in spite of its sterility, does not prove by any means that they prefer that class of soil. I have found in my past experience that the pineapple will produce much better upon a soil which, while light and porous, is at the same time rich in such fertilizers as are essential for all crops. Choose such a piece of land as.is naturally well drained. It is not neces- sary for it to be sand or even half sand, but better still a soil that contains a considerable amount of decayed vegetable mold or humus. Plant in patches (according to variety) from six to ten rows wide. The larger growing varieties, such as the Smooth Cayenne and Porto Rico, thrive much better if planted in wide rows, the beds being put some distance farther apart. Rows eighteen inches apart are considered about right for Red Spanish, twenty to IN THE EVERGLADES twenty-four inches, and even farther for Smooth Cayenne and Porto Rico. They should be planted preferably in the month of August; and by all means, if suckers are procurable, they should be given preference. After first cleaning off the surface leaves from the stem end, they may be laid aside for a few days in a shady place to start their roots, which they will do in the course of a week or ten days in this humid climate, and at this season of the year. In the meantime the beds should be carefully prepared by digging out all stones, sticks and trash of any kind. Rake to a smooth even surface, elevating the center of each bed slightly to facilitate the removal of surface water. Marks should then be struck out the desired distance apart; mark the other way in squares. A depression is then made with a pole or stick of suitable size corresponding in diameter with the butts of the pineapple slips and the plants firmly pressed into the soil. Care must be taken not to press them in too deep but just so they will stand upright firmly without toppling over. If the soil is sandy, there will be danger of their being washed in the crowns by heavy rains,and it is necessary, therefore, to drop a small amount of cotton seed meal or ground castor pomace in the hearts. Thus if sand should accumulate in the hearts, the castor pomace or cotton seed meal unites with it and makes a sticky mass, which will adhere to the leaves and will be removed by the growth of the plant as they grow from the center; the plant will thus clean itself. Another excellent method with which I have had splendid results is mulching the field thoroughly with any kind of grass, such as glade hay or weeds, from nearby fields. This is first spread over the entire surface of the field to a uniform depth of two or three inches and the plants are planted in this mass at regular distances apart as before stated. By following this method no trouble whatever will be had later with grass or weeds as this mulching will effectually smother out all such growth and will supply the pineapple plants for a number of years with decayed TRUCK FARMING humus and fertility, which is very essential to their growth and development. Our best growers usually fertilize four or six times a year, taking extra precaution to use no phosphate containing acid. Bone meal in its different forms is used for this purpose exclusively. At the same time no muriate of potash should be used as the salt in it is very injurious to the pineapple. A good mixture is one containing raw ground bone, cotton seed meal or castor pomace, relying upon the bone meal for phosphoric acid and the sulphate of potash for potash content. If not grown by the mulch method, it will be necessary to use the scuffle hoe frequently as all weeds and grass should be destroyed before they get large enough to injure the plants or crowd them in any way. In fact, here, as in all other cases, destroying the weeds before they get a chance to show any considerable growth is preferable to attempting their destruction after they have become established. If good stout suckers are used and carefully planted as out- lined above, fully 75 per cent and sometimes as high as 95 per cent will produce fruit inside of the next twelve months. I have carried on in an experimental way small plantations of pineapples on Everglade land, having planted them by the mulch method, and out of io8 suckers planted had 96 apples averaging over four pounds each within thirteen months of planting. This variety was the Smooth Cayenne, which is considered a winter bearer and for this reason is often very profitable. However, fruit of this particular kind should be picked in rather a green state, as it is so heavy and juicy that it is liable to bruise and leak if picked when showing the least bit of color. The crop should not be picked until thoroughly filled; the fruit is known to be ready to pick when the eyes are plump and when the skin begins to color. Some of our growers here are shortsighted and frequently pick the pineapples before they are thoroughly filled, and for this reason great injury is done annually. The importance of marketing nothing but nice plump juicy fruit cannot be overestimated; partially ripe pineapples are liable to wither and dry out, and this has a detrimental effect IN THE EVERGLADES 115 upon the market. Should a novice chance to buy one of these withered pineapples he can hardly be induced to buy the second time. If, on the other hand, he should happen to procure a fine juicy fruit, he will ever after be a customer for this product. The variety mostly grown for market is the Red Spanish as it will stand shipment best. But a few of the finer varieties, such as the Abacca, Porto Rico or Smooth Cayenne, should always be grown for home use, for while they are too soft for shipment they are of much superior flavor. CHAPTER XXXI. CULTURE OF JAMAICA SORREL. AMAICA SORREL, better described as the Southern Cranberry, is very easily grown in the South. It is best planted in February or March. The seed should be placed in well pre- pared ground, preferably in hills about two feet apart. The rows should be placed about three to four feet apart. Shallow culture should be given at all times with an abundance of fertilizer.* As this plant is very subject to root knot, precaution should be taken not to place it in such localities as are apt to be infested. It is also subject to mildew, but this can be prevented by dusting with sulphur. Heavy crops of this succulent novelty can be grown and profitably marketed throughout the South during the entire Fall and Winter months. The sprouts and calixes should be gathered when tender and before they have reached a mature age. They are usually mar- keted in six-basket carriers. The profits vary largely with the market, but $1.50 is the standard price per crate. See last part of Chapter VI. MR. WALDIN AND HIS FAMILY. YOUNG GRAPEFRUIT TREE ON THE WALDIN FARM. CHAPTER XXXII. CULTURE OF FORAGE PLANTS. HE industry of growing forage plants, either for feed or soiling purposes, is still in its infancy in this part of the South. However, demon- strations have been carried on to such an extent that we already have a large number of plants suitable for both feeding animals and enriching the soil. The plant that is probably the most easily' grown and which I would highly recommend to the amateur grower is the velvet bean. It stands foremost in this respect, the only drawback being that it is hard to save and cure properly for forage purposes. Considerable has been written about this crop. Some find much difficulty in making hay of it and are, therefore, ready to condemn it at once. In my past experience, however, I have found it an excellent, nutritious feed, comparing favorably with alfalfa and clover hay. Of course, in our humid climate, it must be cured with great care. It must not be cut when the dew is on it, and it must be raked in shallow windows or piles at once, allowing it to cure in this shape. I have frequently raked it directly (not even cutting it) with a steel sulky rake, tearing the roots from the ground, and have found this practice a splendid one. It must be left to cure for several days after raking, ac- cording to the atmospheric conditions, after which it must be turned; a great deal of labor can be saved by tearing the bunches apart with a sulky rake, for if put in large heaps the long tendrils are apt to hold the heaps together and make it practically im- possible to handle it or fork it thereafter. It must be thoroughly cured before putting into hay mows or stacks. This does not alone pertain to the leaves or foliage but to the vines themselves. IN THE EVERGLADES It is so nutritious that although it should turn black from fre- quent heavy dews or light rains it is still well worth while to preserve it for feed, as it can be fed during the season of the year when animals are not hard at work. Fed green to cows, it is a most extraordinarily nutritious feed, producing milk unsur- passed in richness. It is also the very best of green poultry feeds, poultry preferring it to any other green feed-they even eat the ends of the green tendrils or vines. Horses must be fed very sparingly of it, as it will cause them to bloat readily. The hay should be salted before curing and putting in mows, as it is then much more relished by all animals. It is much to be preferred to cow peas from one point of view, as it is not subject to root knot. I have frequently experienced considerable trouble from this source. Cow peas can be sown broadcast as light as three pecks to the acre with splendid results. They are usually planted in rows, very much as described in chapter on string beans. The hay should be cured in the same manner as velvet beans but it does not require as much attention, as this crop per acre is much lighter in bulk, Velvet beans a'.e usually sown in rows about ten feet apart. I have found, however, that they cover the ground much more quickly if the rows are sown one-half this distance, using for this purpose a much heavier seeding, sowing one or one and one-half bushels of velvet bean seed to the acre. Of the different kinds of cow peas, we place first the Iron variety as much to be preferred. A pure strain of these, if care- fully saved, are less apt to produce root knot. In my experience, however, I have found them subject to this disease, particularly if planted on land which is already infested with the injurious nematode. Among the native Florida grasses suitable for forage the beggar-weed stands foremost. This, if cut at an early stage before the seed is developed, will sprout up repeatedly from the root and several crops can be cut, similar to alfalfa. I consider the hay of beggar-weed in no way inferior to the latter. It must TRUCK FARMING be sown on well prepared soil at the rate of fifteen to twenty pounds per acre. Different varieties of millet and Kaffir corn are also easily grown and if carefully cured make very good feed indeed. It is best in this humid climate, however, to feed all hay within a few months after it has been stacked away, as there is much more danger of hay becoming musty here than in the more northern and temperate countries. I find for soiling, the velvet bean is probably one which will add the greatest amount of nutritive matter to the soil. It is more free from diseases and more rank in growth than any of the other plants before named. Before plowing the velvet beans under, should it be desirable to use the land shortly thereafter, it is'best to cross cut the entire field with a sharp disc harrow, leaving them to cure for a few days in this stage, and then plow the entire mass under with a turn plow. However, should it not be desirable to farm the land for some four or six weeks thereafter, they can if first planked down thoroughly to the ground, be plowed under directly without the process of discing, using a heavy coulter on the plow for this purpose. It is claimed in the northern countries that leguminous plants will add from $4.00 to $Io.oo in ammoniates to each acre of soil, but I am under the impression, as our fertilizers are valued much higher in this territory, that we receive twice this amount, with even better results from the velvet bean. Another fact that must not be lost sight of in this connection is that these leguminous crops benefit the soil directly by shad- ing it during the protracted summer months, thus having a ten- dency to add to the soil a value which cannot be computed by a chemist's analysis. Para grass will produce great quantities of forage here also and makes excellent hay. A number of our northern weed seeds seem to have acclimated themselves to this country and may be used with great profit for soiling purposes also. Among the latter are the Spanish Needle, Rag Weed, and various other weeds. IN THE EVERGLADES It is possible that we may be able to acclimate some of the clovers and alfalfa. Various favorable reports have been made upon these useful leguminous plants. In all cases, it is best to have the field thoroughly drained before attempting to grow them, since they do not thrive in a sour or stagnant soil. In seeding clover or beggar weed, great care must be exercised not to get the seed too deep in the ground. Neither should the seed be sown when the surface soil is exceptionally dry, because under such conditions the sun's rays are apt to penetrate and destroy the vitality of the seed before it has a chance to sprout. A very good way is to first thoroughly prepare the field and then sow the seed directly after a heavy rain. Often much can be gained by sowing these seeds directly be- tween the rows of vegetables at their last working. The land at that time is free of weeds and the growth of the young plants is not apt to interfere with the vegetables before they can be harvested. By this method, considerable labor can be saved. Should it be desired to save seed of any kind, great care must be taken to choose a dry time of the season to pick and cure them in, as otherwise the vitality will be impaired. Velvet beans are best if picked right from the field and cured in an airy, shady packing house. Should they be infested with weevil, as they are liable to be, the seed, directly after being threshed out, should be placed in a tight receptacle and treated with bi-sulphite of carbon, placing about a gill in a shallow dish in the top of the barrel or receptacle in which the seeds are deposited, covering it over tightly with newspapers and other covers to exclude the air. Precaution should be taken not to expose the fumes of this dangerous explosive to the open fire as there is danger of its igniting. Seed thus treated may be kept for the following season. In fact, all seed should be sown only in the season fol- lowing the one in which they are grown, as the humid atmosphere here has a tendency to destroy their vitality in a very short time. 121 CLUSTER OF GRAPEFRUIT. CHAPTER XXXIII. INSECTS AND FUNGI. S WE have no freezes to help destroy insects, we no doubt have a greater number to contend with than our Northern growers. We have lit- tle trouble with them during our rainy season, but on the other hand, we are invariably pes- tered with them in a protracted drouth, thus showing that wet as well -as cold weather is detrimental to them. It seems a fact that fungi and insects of all kinds adapt them- selves to the particular crops grown, and no sooner is a certain crop produced successfully a'number of years in succession in any locality, until injurious fungi and insects appear, at first in a scattering way, but soon making themselves conspicuous by their number and the consequential damage done; thus the tobacco worm, the tomato worm, the boll weevil and other kindred insects and fungi grow abundantly, and are each known in the country where these certain crops are largely grown. Their stealthy ap- proach generally finds the unsuspecting and otherwise busy farmer unprepared to meet their onslaught. In fact, even after the grower has, by years of experience, become thoroughly ac- quainted with their injurious habits, they still come almost every season as more or less of a surprise. It is nothing uncommon, therefore, for him to awake some fine morning and find his thrifty beautiful crops already partly devoured by these destructive vermin, and I will venture to say that not a single season has passed by but what dozens of growers are in this way discour- agingly surprised and disappointed. As in most cases of this kind, prevention is always to be preferred to an actual remedy. It thus behooves the grower to keep a sharp lookout, thereby endeavoring to anticipate these TRUCK FARMING unwelcome guests. This is best done by applying substances known to be nauseous to them, by disguising the scent or smell of the young plants, using harmless non-poisonous substances such as powdered sulphur, or finely ground tobacco dust, etc. I prefer to use in addition a combination of fungicides with poisons added (such as Dry Bordeaux Mixture with Paris Green) there- by being enabled to both prevent and annihilate insects and fungi with the same applications. We have found in a practice of many years, that the different forms of Bordeaux Mixture, both wet and dry, are preferable for this purpose to any other remedy exploited at the present day. By the addition of Paris Green to this mixture, we obtain an insecticide and fungicide, which, be- sides having the virtue of destroying both of these enemies, seems to have the faculty of stimulating certain varieties of plants. Whether this is purely imaginary, probably caused by the dark, rich appearance produced by heavy applications of this fungicide, or if it really has this stimulating effect, I am not entirely clear. This I know, however, that such plants as tomatoes, egg plants, peppers, or Irish potatoes, which have been regularly treated to applications of this Bordeaux and Paris Green treatment, in- variably have an appearance indicating thrift and rapid growth. Next in importance is a fungicide I would name Flowers of Sulphur. This, when applied in the early stages of plant growth, seems to give almost as beneficial results as Bordeaux Mixture. Paris Green can also be mixed with this, and if it is first adul- terated, to the extent of about one-half, with air-slacked lime (the lime having the effect in this case of neutralizing the other- wise caustic action of the Paris Green) it answers almost as well as Bordeaux Mixture and is much cheaper. Foremost among useful poisonous insecticides stands arsenate of lead. This form of arsenic will not dissolve in water and therefore has no caustic action upon foliage. This insecticide if properly prepared can be used upon any foliage without in- jurious effects whatever. It mixes very readily with water ana is held in suspension for a considerable length of time. It will IN THE EVERGLADES probably come to more general use as we become better ac- quainted with its beneficial results. As a spray for sucking insects, like the green aphis, for ex- ample, which often does very serious damage in our fields of cucumbers and egg plants, I have found nothing better than a solution of whale oil soap. It has the power of not only destroy- ing these insects together with their eggs, but the disagreeable fishy smell seems to drive away the adult insects and keeps them from depositing their eggs for some length of time after an ap- plication. Great care must be taken always in applying these remedies to make sure that the caustic effect will not burn the foliage. Before applying insecticides it is best to first make individual tests upon each crop, for a crop that is growing luxuriantly is much more easily damaged by such strong applications than one which has its foliage hardened through drouth or other detrimental con- ditions. As before mentioned, it is much better to combat both fungi and. insects by anticipating or preventing their appearance, for after they have once gained a strong foothold it is a difficult matter to exterminate them. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." In view of the fact that so many of the insecticides and fungi- cides are either fraudulently combined and are extremely ex- pensive considering the value of the ingredients employed, it would be well for the public to be very sure of the composition and value of any such compound before purchasing it in quanti- ties, and for this reason I would advise the grower to obtain samples and send them on to the State Chemist at Tallahassee for analysis. In many cases a great deal can be found out by consulting bulletins from Experimental Stations dealing with this subject. It is to supply this want that the Bureau of Chemistry has issued bulletins which are a preliminary report to a bulletin more tech- nical in character, which can also be gotten from the Agricultural Department at Washington and which should be in the possession of all contemplating truck farming in this country. TRUCK FARMING We seldom find a luxuriant thrifty field damaged by insects, but on the other hand they seem to delight in damaging a field which is hampered in growth in any way. Thus, vegetables are frequently attacked by mildew in extremely dry weather, and disastrous conditions are more frequently met with when the soil is in want of moisture or the foliage has not been washed suf- ficiently by rains heavy enough to benefit the crop. Thus light rains are of little or no benefit and heavy fogs and dews during drouths (this happens quite often early in the mornings in Florida) encourage mildew as well as injurious insects when the soil is very dry and the plants are in an unthrifty condition gen- erally. Early applications of sulphur are probably the remedy of greatest benefit here. I have found heavy applications of sul- phur beneficial under these conditions even after the mildew had advanced considerably. You will find that the successful trucker who has his crops well in hand as regards culture, irrigation, etc., is troubled but little with insects or fungi; a healthy plant seems to have the same immunity from disease that healthy humans or animals have. By the scientific breeding and selection of plants much has also been done. Occasionally healthy plants are found in dis- eased fields and by carefully saving the seeds therefrom valuable acquisitions are added to our lists. Sulphur, if applied when plants are young, will prevent tomato rust and the spotting of egg plants and peppers. Should a field be known to be particularly subject to these diseases, kainit should be harrowed in at the rate of 600 pounds per acre, as described in notes on fertilizing. This seems to destroy injurious germs and at the same time supplies abundant potash. Isolating a field is often practiced with good results, as such a field will often mature an entire crop before it is found by a sufficient number of insects to do material damage. I have found one of the best remedies for the extermination of cut and other worms to be frequent applications of poisoned bran made by thorough mixing (while dry) one pound of Paris Green with 50 to Ioo pounds of wheat bran, moistening af- terwards just enough so it will stick together. This can be applied IN THE EVERGLADES 127 around the roots of small plants, or a tablespoonful scattered under and around a larger plant. We once had a field so badly infested with cut worms that out of a thousand plants set out in the evening, scarcely a hun- dred remained unharmed in the morning. We at once applied poisoned bran broadcast, sowing it like oats, and when setting out two days afterwards found scarcely a plant touched. The satisfaction gotten from this test was probably worth as much as the crop to us. Great care must, of course, be exercised not to drop any large lumps of bran, otherwise fowls or animals may be able to partake of enough to destroy them. When planting cabbage, cauliflower and egg plants in the early Fall it sometimes happens that they are infested by a small greenish or yellowish worm; this worm can best be destroyed by applying a pinch of fresh strong pyrethrum directly to the tender heart of the plant. I have never found them troubled much after the plants are half matured. MAKING AN ORCHARD PAY FOR ITSELF BY PLANTING VEGETABLES BETWEEN THE TREE ROWS. 9--- SUMMER FORAGE CROP IN YOUNG EVERGLADE GRAPEFRUIT ORCHARD. CHAPTER XXXIV. TREE GROWING IN CONNECTION WITH TRUCKING. FAR-SIGHTED grower invariably looks for- ward far enough to see that the most important adjunct to trucking is to produce a crop of useful trees in connection with his vegetable industry. In fact, all varieties of useful trees, particularly the citrus variety, thrive best on a thoroughly cultivated and fertile soil, which has been carefully drained and irrigated. For best results the land should be plowed in widths corre- sponding to the distance apart that the trees are to be planted. I find in heavier soils that thirty or thirty-five feet is none too far apart to have the rows of citrus trees; this pertains particularly to grape fruit. I have known of grape fruit trees which pro- duced a diameter of top thirty feet across when they were ten years old. It is preferable to plow lands for trees twice in the same direction, plowing the lands toward the centers each time and planting the trees upon the apex, leaving the furrows to connect with lateral and sublateral ditches for drainage. For the first two years the trucking industry can be carried on among these trees indiscriminately, planting such varieties of vegetables upon which it is necessary to use fertilizer of a highly nitrogenous* nature, as tomatoes, Irish potatoes, peppers or egg plant. It is best, however, to be more careful in regard to heavy applications of vegetable fertilizer after the second year, as the disease known as "Die Back" (due to overfertilization) is apt to gain a foothold. I have found that fine crops of beans can be grown between the tree rows, without detriment to the trees, the third and fourth year by applying only such fertilizers as are locally known as fruit and vine fertilizers, or in other words, See last part of Chapter VI. TRUCK FARMING containing a low per cent of ammonia,* probably 2/2 per cent or 3 per cent, and increasing the potash and phosphate propor- tionately. It is also advisable to keep away from the trunks of the trees several feet the third year with this fertilizer, and increase the distance each year, corresponding with the development of the growth of the trees. On the other hand, such trees as pecans and tropical fruit trees can be grown for as much as six or seven years under heavy applications of ordinary vegetable fertilizer without detrimental results. In fact, my experience has prompted me to believe that these heavy applications are beneficial to any of the above trees throughout the first six or seven years of their growth. Much has been written about -the influence of the stock upon the scion, but in no variety of fruits is it so marked as in the citrus family. That the soil has considerable to do with this can hardly be questioned, as trees that produce satisfactorily upon certain stocks in one section of Florida are an absolute failure in other localities of the State. For instance, most of the growers in Central Florida have used the trifoliata stock with success, but it certainly has proven an absolute failure in the southern part of the State. Because of the failure of this stock to produce here, it was at one time considered impossible to grow oranges and grape fruit in extreme Southern Florida, but just at this critical time the sour or rough lemon stock showed its adaptability here and successful crops are now grown upon it. One serious fault they have, however, is that this fruit goes dry or pithy too early in the Spring, and another is that a sort of second growth is produced in the fruit when the sap starts in February which has a tendency to thicken the skin, and for these reasons hurts its marketing quality and even makes it unsalable. To produce a fruit par excellence, one having the finest quality and flavor and one that will retain its weight throughout the sum- mer, a sour orange stock should be used to bud on. As this stock will not thrive on ordinary thin or poor pine land (sand), it can- not be recommended for this soil, but it is pre-eminently adapted See last part of Chapter VI. IN THE EVERGLADES 131 to the rich soil of the Everglades where it will grow and thrive as it does naturally along the margins of the hammocks. Being immune to the disease known as "foot-rot" further commends it for Everglade planting. Other varieties of trees should be grown as wind breaks around the edges of each separate field. I find that bamboos, cocoanut trees and the eucalyptus respond very well in the Ever- glades proper. These should be planted rather thickly in a belt encircling, if possible, each ten acre plantation. Bamboos are very valuable in this 'respect, as they not only offer great resistance to the wind but produce a great number of stakes which can in future years be used as braces to hold up the i.:i-r!ii:.ui crops of grape fruit and oranges, etc. There will also be a market for this useful wood in time. At present a great quantity of it is imported annually from foreign countries, particularly China, it being in strong demand for baskets, ornamental work, furniture, window shades, porch screens, etc. CHAPTER XXXV. NOTES ON FROST. LTHOUGH this part of the South is generally termed a frost-proof section, this claim does not apply to tender vegetables. Citrus and tropical fruits, however, are practically immune to such light frosts as we have. The truth is good enough and we need not try to impress anyone with anything but the facts as they exist here to induce immigration. From the middle of December until the middle of March we are in more or less danger of light frosts for short intervals. These frosts extend well to the south end of this peninsula. As to the conditions which produce damaging frosts, they are as numerous as the kind of crops raised and vary with local topography and proximity to bodies of timber or water. Soil conditions have also considerable.to do with their severity. The temperature of the air, in some instances many feet above the earth, and the presence of clouds are other important controlling factors also having effect. Calm or comparatively still air is a con- dition which favors the formation of frost. On windy nights, the air is not permitted to arrange itself in layers according to its density. Ordinarily the densest and coldest air is near the surface of the earth, but if it is at all windy it is kept stirred up or mixed by the wind and is not allowed to settle and do injury to tender vegetation. The prospective grower has, therefore, a great many different conditions to take into consideration. For instance, a body of land that lies south and east of a body of water will almost cer- tainly have ample protection from frost. Soil conditions also often have the effect of driving away a frost as well as bringing about such conditions as will have a tendency to draw frost. IN THE EVERGLADES Thus it has been proven that land that is not well drained is much more subject to severe frosts than land which is thoroughly drained. Again, a thorough irrigation just before a frost has been found to drive it away, probably by reason of the greater radiation taking place from the earth's pores. Interesting experiments have been made by the United States Government in the cranberry region, and it has been found that thorough under drainage of the land has had the effect of raising the temperature from four to eight degrees. It has also been noted in these regions that large areas of certain well-drained fields were unhurt, while other fields lying adjacent, but not drained, suffered serious injury. Thus we may expect more damage from frost to those fields that are not properly drained. Again, when fields are thoroughly drained, nitrification sets in and heat is at once produced, thus having a tendency by gen- erating warmth and with the aeration derived therefrom of driv- ing the frost upwards, showing that underground drainage has an additional beneficial effect in furthering this decomposing or nitrogenous action in the soil. Large applications of nitrogenous substances, such as are contained in compost or humus, also have a desirable effect. One fact that must not be lost sight of in this connection is that while these frosts are generally looked upon as disastrous to the country in general, they have a beneficial effect in this way: If it should destroy some of the fields in any locality, it will enhance the market value of all products in fields remaining unhurt. The profits in my experience have often doubled and trebled under these conditions. I have experienced times when I was under the impression that I had lost as much as 75 per cent of my crop when really the gain on the remainder was such that it had really increased the value of my entire output-or what would have been formerly my entire output-by Ioo per cent or more. Hence, I would advise everyone who is confronted by this dilemma to first make sure that it is not visionary and apply himself closely to the remnants of his crop, giving it the best of culture and supplying other conditions conducive to its growth, thereby in a large measure making up in value and often really increasing TRUCK FARMING his income from what seemingly would have been a loss. Another beneficial effect of frost is that in this tropical climate nearly all insects are at once destroyed for the time being and such crops as are greatly hampered by them can be grown without ex- periencing any trouble from this source for some months to follow. One can always rest assured that when frost touches this section it has wiped out everything north of here and that the market on all perishables will advance strongly in consequence. Inasmuch as frost in this territory is infrequent and light, it often happens that only the foliage of tender growth is damaged. In this case liberal applications of nitrate of soda will often have the effect of restoring this foliage in a comparatively short time, thereby bringing the plants, if otherwise thrifty and healthy, back to their original state of vigor in a very short time. I can here relate from my own experience an instance wherein I had several acres of beans badly scorched by an unexpected frost-in fact, there were large parts of the field that seemed entirely destroyed. The sun had hardly risen until I was on my wav to our nearest fertilizer dealer, from whom I at once bought all the nitrate of soda at hand and before night of the same day had made liberal applications to the entire field. Before ten days had elasped I had the original foliage of this crop restored and the profits in this case were as high as $2,000 per acre. We at this same time saw numerous instances in which this same remedy could have been applied in the neighborhood, but where, through want of care or knowledge, mildew and other diseases quickly ruined the crops. For further protection, the grower must depend upon artificial appliances. These appliances are designed to produce the fol- lowing effects or results: To prevent a rapid radiation of heat from the earth. To artificially charge the air with moisture by applying a light spray to the cold air. To create artificial drafts whereby the warmer air is mixed and the cold air is not allowed to settle to the surface of the earth. To actually cover or roof the plants. IN THE EVERGLADES Of course, the latter is found impracticable on large areas, but can be taken advantage of in cases of valuable seed beds. 'Devices designed to prevent rapid radiation of heat from the earth include screens which can be drawn over the plants. These devices are of a necessity limited to very small areas on account of the great expense incurred. Probably the great remedy of the future will be to build smudge fires of any material which will create considerable smoke. For this purpose litter of any variety can be used. However, it is impossible in many cases to get enough of this material to continue a smudge for any great length of time and for this reason piles of: logs or stumps can be collected from clearings of land and .can be stored to great advantage. Tar has been used for this purpose with beneficial results. Of late we are offered a variety of,smudge pots, using as fuel crude petroleum, which is supplied from storage tanks or wagons driven through the fields. These .have been largely used in the peach and apple belts of the north. A number of them are placed upon the market in this country and so far results have been very gratifying. SWe may possibly be able to utilize briquettes made of peat, and I am under the impression that if these were thoroughly dried and saturated with crude petroleum they could be stored for future use on the edges of the fields, and if they were burned in an oven or sheet iron stove they would no doubt last for a great length of time and give correspondingly good results. Where an overhead spray is available frost cannot do damage and a number of fields have already been protected in this way. In the Everglades sub-lateral ditches can be filled with water by pumps of large capacity, and if this water is allowed to flow slowly through the dir.:!,, it will thoroughly protect a field from frost. 4 j --. w~. MOONLIGHT ON BEAUTIFUL BAY BISCAYNE, MIAMI. CHAPTER XXXVI. BIRDS. IRDS play a very important part in the economy of Nature, and by their destruction of insects lend material aid to the farmer and horticul- turist. We are greatly indebted to birds for the extermination not alone of insects, but also for the destruction of numerous weed seeds. Everything should be done, therefore, to en- courage birds to nest and stay near our vege- table gardens. In former years in the northern and central States, in which I have had considerable experience in truck gardening and hor- ticulture before coming to this country, I used to do all I could to encourage the blue bird, of which there were a great many in that vicinity, to nest near my truck gardens. The English sparrow was at that time making a general invasion and monopoly of the country, thereby driving the blue birds from their usual haunts. By placing boxes, such as are suitable for their nesting, around the edges of my vegetable field I found every one of them inhabited by these little friends. The sparrow insists upon in- habiting boxes or receptacles near a human habitation, but the blue bird will nest in any box or cavity such as, for instance, where a woodpecker has formerly had its habitation. While these little friends do not inhabit this southern country, and I must say I miss them very much, I find numerous other varieties of birds from the North here during our winter months. Much as has been written both for and against the English sparrow, but from years of experience and close observation my impressions are strongly in his favor. The complaint is made that the adult spar- rows are grain eaters, and that they feed only their young on insects. Of course this is not so, but even if it were, they rear TRUCK FARMING such a number of broods that they are busy during the greater part of the year carrying and feeding them insects; especially is this so here in the South where Winter interferes but little with their brooding season. I think, judging by their number, that every wren in the United States winters in South Florida. I have seen these little fellows by the hundreds throughout our pine woods and fields in the Winter season. Robins also make this their home, besides many other north- ern birds, during the Winter, and as this is the season of the year that we grow our vegetables, they are a very useful and necessary adjunct to our success. We should, therefore, do all we can to encourage them to stay near our vegetable gardens. Shrubs and trees, such as are apt to attract birds, should be planted, or if already at hand, should not be destroyed. Elders often feed large numbers of birds and the small wild fig grown upon what is locally known as the wild rubber tree, is greatly sought after by all kinds of birds. Dog-wood and wild grapes also have a tendency to draw them from outlying districts. Prob- ably nothing surpasses the mulberry for alluring birds for this purpose. There are a number of early bearing varieties of mul- berries that can be planted and many of our tropical fruits, such as the mango and surinam cherry, are much sought after by these little friends. Woe be to the man who is so avaricious as to shoot a bird which pilfers a few of his fruits! Every time he kills one to save a few cents worth of fruit he is virtually destroying dollars. I was once tempted to shoot a lark that was caught pecking holes in half grown tomatoes; upon examining his stomach I found the heads of thirty-six cut worms therein. I have never shot a lark since that day nor permitted one to be killed on my place by any one else. CHAPTER XXXVII. SUMMARY. SUITABLE finale for this effort would em- body more thought and labor than one of the pioneer order can be expected to have at his command, but I deem a word in regard to the future development of this great country as at least not out of place. My prophecy is that this great Everglade district will not only. develop into a most beautiful and prosperous country, but will in a short time prove itself the Eden of North America. Imagine one solid body of rich soil, embodying several millions of acres of land, all under a natural system of sub-irrigation, surrounded by the tropical waters of the Gulf Stream and con- nected on all sides by numerous deep canals, fanned by the con- genial warmth of the trade winds-a veritable giant greenhouse, basking under a Florida sun by day and under the dome of an Italian sky by night. With these prosperous conditions once exploited, backed by adequate capital, it will be easily possible to travel across the entire peninsula on beautiful, wide palm-lined boulevards in a few hours' time. Come! 0, come with me, down to the Everglades! Contact Us | Permissions | Preferences | Technical Aspects | Statistics | Internal | Privacy Policy © 2004 - 2010 University of Florida George A. 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