Gardening in Florida

Introduction To Second Edition

The first Edition of " Gardening in Florida " being exhausted finother is called for, and with it the fulfillment of the promise given at the outset : that if the " Manual " met with a reasonable amount of encouragement at the hands of the Public, it should be succeeded by a more elaborate and substantial work.

The reception accorded the " Manual" was highly satisfactory, and in token of his full appreciation thereof, the Author offers this volume as its pledged successor. Nominally, it is the Second Editi(m of " Gardening in Florida," but in reality, it is a new work — almost entirely so. It has been carefully revised — in most instances, altogether rewritten. Large additions have been made to the list of garden vegetables ; and each article on vegetable culture, new or old, has been prepared with reference to the modifications in previous methods, which longer experience, and more extended and closer observation, made desirable.

Besides the cultivation of garden, and marketable vegetables — to which this book is primarily devoted — there is a feature well calculated to enhance its value — I refer to the insertion of short treatises on the most important Tropical fruits.

The supply of information relating to this new and attractive horticultural industry of Florida is so scant and difficult of access, as to invest with peculiar interest every hint or suggestion having a practical bearing upon this little known subject. Our collection of tropical fruits is quite meagre , and of those we have, the varieties, in very many instances, are considered by

Vi INTRODUCTION TO SECOND EDITION.

the informed, as of little account. Several new fruits, as is sllo^vn in these pages, may be successfully introduced from other countries and profitably cultivated ; their climatic requirements not materially differing from exotics already established.

To the inexperienced — and especially to strangers, those unacquainted with our soil and climate, this book is respectfully commended. For, notwithstanding the diversity of opinion which prevails among gardeners, in common with every other class, the hints herein contained— founded as they generally are upon actual experiment, or close personal observation — will largely tend to inspire confidence in their first observations.

The accompanying analytical tables will be found very useful. From them the specific food, required by each plant, may be readily obtained. By furnishing these constituents in quantities judiciously varied, the intelligent gardener, can, after a few experiments, determine for himself, precisely the kind and quantity of manure needed to produce any desired crop. And the result will show a great saving in the cost of production, as well as more satisfactory harvest returns.

The enlargement of" Gardening in Florida," apparent in this Edition, together with the illustrations, binding, superior paper, etc., has very greatly increased the cost of publication. The additional expense, however, was indispensable to the production of a book of durable form, and easy comprehension. Yet the price per copy has been fixed at a sum much below that charged for any similar work in the United States.

The descriptions, modes of treatment — indeed everything pertaining to tropical fruits, and tropical vegetation generally, has, with few exceptions, been taken from standard works accessible

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND EDITION. Vll

to me, such as " Firminger's Gardening for India," "American Cycloptedia," "Lindley," " Loudon " and others.

Should this little volume, despite its numerous defects, shed even a single ray of encouragement upon the toil of that thrice welcome class of immigrants to our fair land, for whom it was specially prepared — Developers of Homes — it will contribute no little to the happiness of the Author.

Introduction To First Edition

Market Gardening in Florida is fast becoming a great industry. Its importance to the State is almost incalculable and should receive every reasonable encouragement. It shows how the difficulties of self-support may be overcome by the man of small means while he is endeavoring to j^rovide a home for his family. By its aid orange groves may be secured and the hardy sons of toil look forward to a future period of independence and enjoyment, Avhich they could scarcely hope otherwise to attain.

A few years ago, two or three bushels of early vegetables were shipped North from one of the eastern counties, as an experiment. The returns being satisfactory, a larger lot Avas sent the following season. Encouraged by these tests, shipments have increased from year to year, until now the number of crates annually produced amounts to hundreds ^f thousands ; and yet the business is but in its infancy.

Market Gardening is attracting to our state a class of intelligent, industrious immigrants, who are rapidly converting the very wilderness into beautiful and valuable homesteads, the products of which are to add to our material wealth and prosperity.

New lines of railway, just completed and in process of construction, are bringing vast and fertile areas within convenient reach of the great highways of transportation to the North and West. Freights are reasonable ; and the quick transit from even interior localities, added to the advantages of refrigerators, well ventilated cars and comjxirtments furnished by railroad

Introduction To First Edition. IX

and steamboat companies, will soon place Florida above the fear of competition from Bermuda, and the West India and Bahama Islands, in supplying our great country with early and choice vegetables.

Chiefly for the purpose of offering a few timely hints to the new-comers into our State, who design embarking in vegetable and fruit culture, has this little Manual been prepared. It lays iio claim to originality, but simply aims to present such varieties of products, and such systems of cultivation, as experience has shown to be best adapted to the soil and climate of Florida. Horticultural operations, when directed by intelligence and skill, are much the same the world over ; hence the modus operandi in planting, cultivating, etc., as practiced by Northern and European gardeners, is, with some modifications, equally applicable here. We are under obligations to Mr. Peter Henderson, of New York, for valuable hints in treating certain vegetables, ■especially for the present labor-saving or " level " culture of Celery, as opposed to the tedious and troublesome ditch or trench method. We have also profited by the experience of Johnson, Miller, and Knight — names well known in the horticultural world.

Prominence is herein given to those vegetables which are deemed most profitable to grow for distant markets ; at the same time brief directions will be found, sufficient to guide the inexperienced, in the cultivation of most all others which usually pertain to a kitchen garden.

Wood-cuts for illustrating vegetables, grounds, implements, etc., are omitted on the score of economy. They are useful, it is irae, but would hare added materially to the cost, and it was

INTKODUCTIOX TO FIRST EDITION.

decided to dispense with them in this issue. At some future time,, should this Little Bantling be favored with a warrantable degree of success, a more elaborate and complete work on themarketable fruits and vegetables of Florida will be published.

Index

Adj utan t-General 240

Akee 136

Alacliua county 241, 242

An Acre, to measure 243

Artesian Wells 27

Artichoke, Burr 34

Artichoke, Jerusalem 31

Attorney-Genera ' 240

Avocado, or Alligator Pear 137

B

Banana 138

Baker county 241, 1'42

Bean, Dwarf or Bush 41

Bean, Eunning or Pole 43

Beet 44

Bermuda Onion, cultivation of 102

Board of Education 241

Board of Internal Improvement 241

Board of Pardons 241

Bones, Formula for Dis- ■

solving 12

B orecole 47

Bradford county 241, 242

Bread Fruit 142

B roccol i 48

Brussel Sprouts -50

Budding 224

Bullock's Heart 177

Butter Tree 18a

C

Cacao 144

Calabash Tree 185

Calhoun county 241, 242

Cantaloupe 88

Capitol 220

Carrot 59

Cassava * 61

Cauliflower 63

Clerk of Internal Improvement Board 240

Clerk of State Treasurer 240'

Cocoa Plum 154

Coifee Tree 187

Columbia county 241

Commissioners of State Institutions 241

Xll

INDEX.

Celeriac 72

Cement 245

Cherimoyer 146

Chinese Yam 132

Clay county 241, 242

Cleft Graftfng 232

Clerk of Comptroller 240

Com ptroller-General

Congressional Districts....

Corn

Cotton Seed, for Manure,

Cress, Garden

Crown Grafting

C ucumber •

Custard Apple

85 234

76 155

D

Dade county 241, 242

Date and Date Palm 157

Date Plum 207

Durian 159

Durio 159

Duval county 241, 242

E

Egg Plant.

Endive

Escambia county 241, 242

Executive Department 240

F

Florida, (Capitol of 240

Franklin county 241, 242

Formula for Bones

Dissolving a

Gadsden county V4l,

Garden Vegetables, a List of..

Garlic

Geographical Divisions of State

26 80

Governor, Term of Office.

Grafting- AVax

Guava

Gypsum

240 229 229 204 23

Hamilton county 241,

Hernando county 241,

Plillsborough county 241,

H

242 Holmes county 241, 242

242 Horse*Pvadish 88

242 Housewife's Table 244

INDEX.

Xlll

Inarching 235

Indian Kiver 147

Internal Improvement Board 241