IN THE EVERGLADES 71 



The fertilizers used are usually of a highly nitrogenous* char- 

 acter, cottonseed meal being a very popular content for this pur- 

 pose. My own experience has led me to believe that a bone-meal 

 basis has more lasting qualities, and for this reason I have used 

 this fertilizer as a basis. To prevent rust, I usually add about 

 200 pounds of kainit to this formula. Cottonseed meal and kainit 

 are used exclusively by some of the best growers. This is an old 

 formula, and is to be recommended. 



After this fertilizer has become thoroughly incorporated with 

 the soil and is left to decompose for this length of time, the fur- 

 rows may be opened up if it is advisable to plant the seed by hand. 

 About one and one-half bushels of seed of the green variety and 

 about three pecks of the wax variety are used to an acre. If the 

 seed drill is used, it must be set to plant rather thickly for the 

 green variety. I have usually been obliged to use my seed drill 

 twice through each row to get in the required amount of seed. 

 If you have a good strong strain of seed, they should show above 

 the ground the third day after planting, provided they have not 

 been planted too deep, which is considered rather injurious to 

 this crop, some of the vitality being lost in this way. About one 

 inch below the surface, soil and moisture being right, is what is 

 usually required. In very wet seasons, however, they must be 

 planted shallower. 



Cultivation is given at once as soon as they show their seed- 

 leaves above the ground. This is preferably done with a hand 

 cultivator near the row, breaking out the middles with a spike or 

 spring-tooth cultivator. As soon as they show their character 

 leaves, they should again be thoroughly worked, giving them what 

 additional fertilizer they require at this second working. Throw 

 the soil lightly toward the vines after this application. Should 

 the ground be inclined to be wet, three cultivations may become 

 necessary, which last should be done very shallow, otherwise 

 injury to the roots will ensue. 



* See last part of Chapter VI. 



