IN FLORIDA 19 



have kept them in a high state of fertility by putting back on 

 them all the waste and rubbish obtainable. We in the United 

 States, with a wonderfully fertile soil, have in a little over a 

 century so exhausted much of our land that it will scarcely 

 produce anything. My own ground, though mostly ordinary 

 pine land, is far richer and darker colored now than when it 

 was virgin soil, and all because I have put far more on it than I 

 have taken off. I have used but little commercial fertilizer on it. 



Much of the substance of vegetation comes from the atmos- 

 phere and quite a little from rain, and it stands to reason that if 

 all the waste material on a plantation goes back into the soil 

 it will be enriched instead of exhausted. It is in this way that 

 leaf mould has been formed in forests; in fact, that humus has 

 been made all over the earth. 



Of course it is best to use some commercial fertilizer on our 

 poor soil. Throughout the state quite generally stable manure 

 is purchased, often shipped in, and applied freely to vegetable 

 and ornamental gardens with excellent results to the plants. 

 But there are those who think its use draws the terrible mole 

 crickets, and it is certain that in many places in this vicinity 

 where it is used freely these insects have become an intolerable 

 pest, while in others where none of it has been used they do not 

 trouble. 



I think it a good idea to spread muck around trees and plants 

 on pine land, say a couple of inches in depth; then hoe or dig it 

 into the soil. If one can, it is better to give a little fertilizer 

 often, working it into the ground, than to put it on in large 

 amounts. 



During the winter in Florida, especially southern Florida, 

 we are liable to have warm spells with some rain. If the soil 

 around plants is worked through the cool season and fertilizer 

 is applied it is quite probable that growth may start, and then, 

 in case of frost, much more damage will be done than if the 

 plants had been left alone. It is a good rule to let plants go 

 without culture during the time of year when there is danger 

 of frost. Even hardy stuff is likely to suffer if frozen when in 

 full growth. I have had monthly roses when growing vigorously 



