IN THE EVERGLADES 77 



inch, lets in a little air from above, while the plants await the life- 

 giving air. With our system, as soon as the water stops running 

 the tile becomes a conveyor of air, which is supplied (so to speak) 

 from both top and bottom. Our system not only does these things, 

 but furnishes warmth from below, and as warm air rises from the 

 tile it has a marked influence on the growing crop, especially in 

 winter, when our most profitable crops are grown, for with us 

 September or October is seed time, and February and March the 

 harvest. You can understand that it matters little to us whether it 

 rains or not, for during the winter of 1906 it rained frequently and 

 in torrents, while the next year we had not a single rain from 

 September 15 to April 5, yet raised equally as good and profitable 

 crops. So rain is not necessary to plant, grow or perfect a crop." 



There are usually about two tons of vegetable fertilizer or 

 more applied to the acre, one ton of which is applied and worked 

 into the soil directly before any planting is done whatever, and 

 some ten days in advance of the planting. Fertilizer analyzing a 

 high percentage of ammonia,* usually 6 per cent, with 5 per cent 

 phosphoric a'cid and 5 per cent potash, is used. Some of the best 

 growers are lately applying as high as three tons to the acre, with 

 encouraging results. 



The variety of celery mostly used is Golden Self -Blanching, the 

 seed of which usually is imported from France, but is sometimes 

 procured from the best growers in the United States. 



The rows are planted thirty inches apart and the plants placed 

 at a distance of three and one-half to six inches apart in the row. 

 The seed should be sown in a well prepared and fertilized bed, 

 which is made eight or ten feet in width and as long as wanted. 

 It is sown rather thickly, the plants being picked out and trans- 

 planted when about two inches in height. They are ready for 

 the field when about the size of a finger. Seed-beds are made 

 September I, and plants are planted out at once upon reaching 

 the required size, into the open field. 



In planting the seed, it is customary to rake in or to cover very 

 lightly, great care being taken at all times to keep the surface well 

 saturated with water. Occasionally fertilizer sacks are spread 



* See last part of Chapter VI. 



