STATE HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 105 



northern varieties best suited for this climate are Delaware, Ives, 

 Cynthiana, Nortons and Niagara; the Scuppernong flourishes here 

 to perfection. Apples are not at home here, yet T have to-day seen 

 a tree in a yard in Tampa with green apples and with blossoms too. 

 Watermelons grow to perfection if you will let them. I have seen 

 vines two years old in blossom and fruiting. To succeed with musk 

 melons is the exception, yet I have grown very fine ones. 



As to pears, nothing but the LeConte has been tried to any 

 extent, and good, fairly-grown trees are to be found. As yet I have 

 seen no fruit so far south. 



The strawberry is extensively planted, and more so in the 

 northern part of the State, where easy access to the northern 

 markets is to be had. The Neunan is the berry mostly planted; 

 the Wilson and Sharpless do well. The Hoffman Seedling may be 

 the coming berry for the south. The planting should be done iu 

 August and September if for the northern market; as late as 

 December, if for local trade, may do. The hill, or stool, system is 

 in vogue ; have never seen the matted row so far south. 



Raspberries are a failure. You may raise a few to look at, but 

 it does not pay, while blackberries are indigenous, and have been 

 cultivated to some extent, and bid fair to bring some reward to the 

 laborer. I am trying some of the northern varieties, but have no 

 report to make. I am planting some natives from the woods, of 

 which there appear to be varieties. 



Trucking or gardening is being made quite an industry. Where 

 good hummock land is used, and reasonable and favorable tran- 

 sportation available, it is fairly remunerative. 



Cabbages, cauliflower, peas, onions, etc., are now growing and 

 looking well, and some have set out tomatoes and egg plant for the 

 spring crop, which the owners will harvest if Jack Frost doesn't. 



The matter of transportation is the vital one among the horticul- 

 turists. When from one hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars 

 is charged for a car-load of oranges, containing three hundred boxes, 

 to the northern markets, the producer is ground exceedingly fine by 

 the process ; yet he lives and moves and raises another crop. From 

 New York to England and Germany, from thirty to forty cents per 

 box ; from New York to Paris, eighty cents per box. Now, if such 

 rates can be had and for such a distance, there is some hope for the 

 orange grower, especially as the foreign markets are said to be 

 reliable at paying prices. This transportation (juestion assumes a 

 magnitude beyond control. The railroad ''trusts'' are wise in their 

 generation, who shall say them nay? The power to produce the 

 golden fruit is literally being crushed out. 



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