IN THE EVERGLADES 13 



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 

 $1,000, and out of this a house costing $400 was built, and six 

 acres of truck planted, mostly in tomatoes, resulting after six 

 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. 



