i8 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 



